Bristol Community College and Maersk Training announce international offshore wind training partnership

Bristol Community College’s National Offshore Wind Institute (NOWI) announced today that it has entered a global partnership with one of the world’s largest and most trusted providers of offshore wind training, Maersk Training.  

“Bristol is proud to partner with globally recognized Maersk Training, whose expertise and experience will elevate the college’s leadership in training the workforce needed for the emerging offshore wind industry,” said Laura L. Douglas, President, Bristol Community College. “This partnership will connect the college's faculty and staff with the expertise of industry experts throughout Maersk Training’s expansive global network and will strengthen the development of employment opportunities for Bristol students in the offshore wind supply chain.”

The collaboration is the next step in securing Bristol’s National Offshore Wind Institute as the region’s leader in basic safety training and basic technical training programs certified by the Global Wind Organization (GWO).

“We are really excited about this partnership with Bristol Community College and the wind energy developments in Massachusetts on the East Coast of the United States. Having a local workforce that has a strong level of competencies, technical skills and safety, that drives operational and safety performance, is essential for the industry and the success of these projects,” said Johan Uggla, CEO, Maersk Training. “This is an important milestone that supports creating further job opportunities and being a strong provider for the local economy.”

Maersk Training is part of A.P. Moller - Maersk Group, a company that has been in the U.S. for many years focusing on shipping, ports and logistics. Alex Øbell Nielsen, Head of Business Development for Maersk Training, said that the partnership will tap into decades of offshore wind training experience. A strong benefit for students who attend the college and the local community.

“For more than 40 years, Maersk Training has been delivering training to the offshore industries and helping our customers improve safety operational performance. Maersk Training will work closely with Bristol in developing new courses and participating in a close partnership supporting offshore wind in Massachusetts with the skills and competency to work in the industry. We look forward to this long-term partnership,” said Alex Øbell Nielsen.

NOWI’s basic safety training modules include the areas of first aid, manual handling, fire awareness, working at heights and sea survival, whereas the basic technical training courses focus on hydraulics, mechanical and electrical concepts regarding offshore wind. Maersk Training is at the forefront of offshore wind skills development. The partnership will establish the skills development training portion of NOWI and develop new GWO courses offered by Bristol Community College that are currently tailored to in-demand industry skills and knowledge.

The GWO is a non-profit organization, founded by leading turbine manufacturers and owner/operators, with the goal of creating a safer, more productive workplace. The GWO Basic Safety Training program (GWO-BST) was created as the safety standard for those working in the wind industry.

NOWI will span the knowledge spectrum with GWO-accredited skills development in partnership with Maersk Training on one side, while meeting the demand on the business / non-technical side through the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center, which will stimulate new venture and job creation supporting economic development in Massachusetts and throughout New England.

In addition, Bristol Community College is leading in offshore wind education by offering dedicated certificate and associate level programs to become an offshore wind power technician. In the programs, students learn aspects of engineering technology such as electrical machinery, fluid systems, materials science and strength of materials, and they gain hands-on experience with assembly, installation, operation and maintenance of wind power systems.

Although the college was unable to host an in-person event to celebrate the innovative partnership due to the pandemic, a joint video release (available at https://youtu.be/wnz6mG5125w ) premiered featuring President Laura L. Douglas from Bristol Community College; Johan Uggla, CEO, Maersk Training; and Alex Øbell Nielsen, Head of Business Development for Maersk Training. The following community leaders also shared their support: 

“The Bristol Community College National Offshore Wind Institute's partnership with Maersk Training is an exciting step forward in cementing our region as the hub for offshore wind energy in the United States,” said Congressman Bill Keating. “This partnership not only means that local workers will construct and maintain the first large offshore wind projects in the United States, but it also means that our local workforce will soon find the skills they learned there in demand across the country and around the world. I continue to see the National Offshore Wind Institute as a model program for communities across the nation to replicate as they prepare for the future of offshore wind. That is why I sponsored the Offshore Wind Jobs and Opportunity Act, which would provide more than $25 million annually to help support this program and the many others that will follow. I look forward to highlighting this partnership as an example of what can be done to ensure that America's offshore wind projects are built by American workers.”

“Bristol remains at the forefront of preparing our residents for good careers in the emerging offshore wind industry,” said Massachusetts Senator Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford), who helped secure the landmark legislation authorizing the nation's first major offshore wind development. “Their partnership with experienced experts in this field will ensure our workforce is equipped with the knowledge and skill set necessary to lead the region and the Commonwealth.”

“Bristol Community College’s National Offshore Wind Institute is an integral part of the Commonwealth’s ability to be a national leader in offshore wind energy, and this innovative partnership will provide it with the best training available,” said Massachusetts Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “I applaud Bristol Community College for their efforts to support the development of regional workforce opportunities in this emerging industry.”

"With Bristol's partnership with Maersk Training, the South Coast can now move one step closer to establishing our region as the epicenter of offshore wind development for the Commonwealth," noted Massachusetts State Representative Patricia A. Haddad, architect of the state's offshore wind industry legislation in 2016. "The college's efforts aid us greatly in collectively moving ahead."

“I am pleased that Bristol Community College and Maersk Training, the world’s premier offshore training company, have developed this partnership for training at Bristol’s institute. The college’s leadership on offshore wind training strengthens New Bedford’s position in the industry on the East Coast," said New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchel. “We are so pleased that Bristol Community College and Maersk will incorporate UK leadership and expertise as they develop the college’s National Offshore Wind Institute. Offshore wind has been at the heart of the UK strategy towards decarbonisation, and we’ve been proud to help partners like Bristol, the city of New Bedford, and the state of Maine to explore offshore wind’s potential for New England,” said Harriet Cross, British Consul General to New England.

“Bristol Community College is an important partner in the Commonwealth’s offshore wind workforce development and training efforts, and MassCEC has been pleased to support the establishment of the Global Wind Organization’s Basic Safety Training and Basic Technical Training programs at the National Offshore Wind Institute,” said Stephen Pike, CEO at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. “With the addition of Maersk Training and its strong experience and network of industry experts, the NOWI will be well positioned as a leader in offshore wind workforce development.”

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates 43,000 new jobs will be created in the offshore wind market by 2030. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center published an assessment of the jobs and economic impacts associated with development of 1,600 megawatts in Massachusetts. That study estimated that over the next decade, offshore wind farms will create nearly 3,000 jobs and generate economic impacts between $1.2B and $2.1B in the region.

In 2019, Bristol Community College announced a partnership with JDR Cables, part of the TFKable Group. The collaboration enables the college to train technicians and workers with the complete set of technical, health, safety and environmental skills required for successful careers in the U.S. offshore wind industry. Through this partnership, Bristol will develop and deliver innovative training courses that result in the technical skill development and student competency in all aspects of work directly associated with the offshore termination and testing of array cables as well as coordinating with the state network of MassHire Career Centers to recruit, screen, assess and refer possible technician candidates to JDR.  

For information about Bristol Community College’s National Offshore Wind Institute (NOWI), including information about Bristol’s previous offshore wind industry initiatives, please visit www.bristolcc.edu/NOWI. 
 
About Bristol Community College
Bristol Community College (Bristol) has core values rooted in student success and lifelong learning. For more than 50 years, Bristol has served as a leading resource for education and workforce development in the region including locations in Attleboro, Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton. 
 
The college offers a rich variety of degree, certificate and training programs along with flexible online offerings that lead to an associate degree, a career-ready certificate or the ability to transfer to baccalaureate colleges throughout the state and country. Bristol’s Business Solutions & Partnerships provides customized training for businesses and the community. The college also strives to put the needs of learners first with support services and career advancement opportunities that lead to student success by reducing barriers to educational access. 
 
Bristol annually serves more than 11,000 credit students and 18,000 students who participate in noncredit activities. The college is one of the largest employers in the region and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment with a rich diversity of beliefs, cultures, languages, abilities and lifestyles. Bristol is a public community college accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). http://www.bristolcc.edu/. 

About Maersk Training
Maersk Training trains organizations, crews and individuals in the oil & gas, maritime and wind industry on how to improve safety and operational performance in offshore and maritime operations. Maersk Training trains as close to real-life operation as possible, teaching how to handle challenging situations. Maersk Training covers a wide field of offshore industries and training needs, targeting each field with specific expertise.