Weld It, Build It, Sail It: A Reimagined Maritime Careers Festival
On Sunday, May 17, at Nauticus in Norfolk, VA, students, job seekers, and other individuals curious about opportunities in the maritime industry may attend the Reimagined Maritime Careers Festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This event, presented by Regional Maritime Training System, is your chance to connect with industry experts, learn about diverse career paths, and experience hands-on demonstrations that bring the world of maritime to life.
The festival will feature opportunities to meet and greet with professionals from across the maritime field; explore interactive exhibits and career opportunities; take an exclusive VIP tour aboard the Battleship Wisconsin; and do family-friendly activities such as coloring books, story time, live music by Joe Gosman, food trucks, and more!
Schedule of Events:
Tours
Battleship 101, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Command & Control, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Life in the Engine Room, 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
VIP Battleship Experience, 2 p.m.
Sailing workshop
Enjoy a one-hour intro sail aboard a Harbor 20 with an experienced instructor who will introduce you to the basics of sailing. No experience needed, just a love for water! Every half hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All ages welcome!
Hands-on exhibits and experiences:
- Regional Maritime Training System: Learn more about the RMTS training and career opportunities.
- Colonna’s Shipyard Ship Coatings Station. Participants will apply different coats of paint to small steel shims, demonstrating how various coatings are applied to marine ships and emphasizing the importance of corrosion control in the shipyard industry.
- The Hampton Roads Workforce Council Activity Booth: Explore career pathways and workforce resources, with the opportunity to participate in an interactive foil boat challenge.
- QED Systems Inc. Engineering and Welding Experience: Discover maritime engineering through informational materials, a welding simulator, and interactive electrical demonstrations.
- Virginia Digital Maritime Center (ODU) AquaTrak Sphero Challenge: Students will design an attachment for a Sphero Bolt to carry a load across the AquaTrak. They’ll test their designs to see if they can transport the load without taking on water or losing it. Additional tabletop activities may also be available.
- Integrity Staffing Services: Connect with staffing professionals and explore job opportunities through an informational display.
- Auxiliary Systems, Inc.: Learn about maritime ship repair through informational materials, company insights, and take-home resources.
- Advanced Technology Institute Interactive Welding Experience: Discover maritime welding technology through curriculum information, welding samples, and an interactive welding display.
- Fairlead Welding Careers and Technology Display: Explore maritime welding careers through video displays and engagement with welders and test coordinators.
- East Coast Repair and Fabrication Ship Repair Trivia Challenge: Test your knowledge of the ship repair industry with a fun and interactive spin-the-wheel trivia game.
The Reimagined Maritime Careers Festival unfolds at Nauticus, One Waterside Drive, Norfolk, VA 23510. Tickets cost $1 in advance and $5 on the day of the event. Members enter for free. Learn more about the event and membership at nauticus.org/maritime-careers-festival.
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