Any experienced mariner will tell you, each time you step aboard a boat there’s a learning opportunity—Northwest Maritime doesn’t declare the sea ‘the greatest teacher we know’ for nothing.
Still, not all waterborne learning experiences are created equal and, this month, a group of Maritime High School (MHS) seniors in the vessel operations pathway have been engaged in some of the most exciting education imaginable through a partnership with the Washington State Ferries (WSF).
This collaboration, called Classroom on the Water, is the latest in a line of engagement programs hosted by WSF, but is unique in that it was developed in partnership with the education teams at Northwest Maritime and specifically MHS. Classroom on the Water spans two weeks and gives students hands-on exposure to every facet of work on the ferries—from the engine room to the car deck, from the wheelhouse to repairs at the terminal and, on Wednesday when I was aboard, a full test run of the firefighting equipment and protocols.
The group gathered for an orientation on the passenger area, before heading out to the car deck to don firefighting gear. They stopped short of the oxygen masks, but were otherwise outfitted from boots to helmet. As you might guess for teenagers, getting dressed with your classmates is equal parts humorous and awkward, but once fully attired, they were transformed. Engaged, focused, intent, ready to go… all with a healthy dose of enthusiasm. This is real-world maritime stuff!
As students enrolled in another MHS partnership with Seattle Colleges’ Seattle Maritime Academy, each of the 10 students in attendance has already completed their Basic Safety Training (BST), which includes firefighting. So while there was excitement and eagerness aplenty, these young mariners comported themselves like experienced hands with a matter-of-fact competence that belied their ages.
Savvy as they are, standing at the stern of a ferry in lines of three, bathed in September sunshine and overheating in their heavy kit, braced against the power of a firehose as they directed it out into the prop wash in the foreground as the Seattle skyline faded into the distance—students and ferry workers alike were clearly enjoying the moment. And indeed, one student mentioned how cool she thought it was to see how the firefighting techniques they’d learned previously would be employed on a boat, but all the students I spoke to characterized the experience as fun!
After a lunch break and a return to street clothes, the group headed to the wheelhouse to observe the docking process at the Seattle terminal. They had already been given a thorough rundown on systems and how the array of equipment worked, and now watched two different mates drive the boat, and got to talk to and ask questions of mates and the captain.
It’s hard to say whether these students recognize how unique this opportunity is, but it couldn’t have been clearer to me. These kids have self-selected into this rich maritime track, and Classroom on the Water is tangible and directly applicable in layers upon layers of ways. And as it all was, WSF Outreach specialist Adam Dahl told me that part of why they’re getting so much out of it is because these students are a “unique group of mariners, they’re so engaged and asking questions.” On top of that, Bryn Hunter, who works on the WSF Communications team, shared that it’s a huge morale boost for the WSF crew who get to interact with the students. Good vibes all around doesn’t say nearly enough. It was legitimately inspiring.
Hunter told me that WSF recruiters find exposure to maritime opportunities influencing new hires’ interest and readiness at least as much as dedicated maritime training. Lucky for these MHS students, they’re getting both. Moreover, opportunities like this are incredibly important in building a foundation for a positive employment experience. Dahl noted that the first year employee retention is something WSF is working to increase from its present rate around 60%, and students getting such an immersive experience on board the ferries helps ensure that they will know what to expect at work should they find future employment here.
That employment is rightly desirable, too. Dahl said an 18 year old MHS graduate can start out making $33.28/hour as an Ordinary Seafarer, with a variety of paths for advancement. The horizons are remarkably broad—a current WSF Captain, Jennifer Johnson, advanced to her role after starting as an Ordinary Seafarer only 9 years earlier.
Now in its second year, Classroom on the Water has already paid dividends. A member of the inaugural MHS graduating class recently began work with WSF, and will be speaking with the students about his experience later this week.
Classroom on the Water is one of the most vivid examples of workforce development and experiential education that I can ever recall encountering. I love what I do, but can I go to Maritime High School, too?
Maritime High School is CAPS affiliated program in Seattle, Washington.
The originally published article by Northwest Maritime can be found here.
