Marine Trades Skills Training Program
Learn more about our grant from the California Workforce Development Board’s Workforce Accelerator Fund to provide accelerated training that increases opportunities and pathways to highly skilled well-paid employment in the maritime industry. The project places a particular focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, working with partners rooted in local communities to recruit participants who would not ordinarily have access to these opportunities.
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Why is the Marine Trades Skills Training program important to the community?
The Bay Area is home to some of the largest ship repair and maintenance facilities on the West Coast. Employers at these facilities report a significant shortage of skilled workers in the marine trades. Maritime jobs typically start at $50,000 annually, and workers can advance quickly to six-figure salaries. Jobs and careers in this industry include marine technicians, machinists, welders and electricians, as well as station agents, captain assistants and captains.


Key Milestones
What are the key milestones & outcomes of Marine Trades Skills Training Program?
Establish Marine Trades Skill Training (MTST) Advisory Board
Identify Marine Trades Skill Training site
Complete training outline and secure IAB review and approval
HRTP grant begins
Select training site and complete lease
MTST site, classroom, and training facility equipped for Cohort 1
Second semi-annual progress report due
Cohort 1 MTST starts (15 participants)
Cohort 1 Graduation
Cohort 2 MTST starts (15 participants)
Cohort 2 Graduation
MTST program evaluation




“A key feature of the project will be to offer short-term focused training that rapidly prepares participants for entry into the marine trades. In addition to input from the MTST board members, the program will partner with the Machinists Institute in Seattle, union partners and other industry experts on development of the training curriculum.”
Sal Vaca, WDBCCC Project Lead – Marine Trades Skills Training (MTST)