Los Angeles Maritime Labor Training Pipeline for Youth Economic Advancement

Youth economic advancement

South Bay

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Los Angeles has a rich maritime history, with the Port of LA remaining one of the region’s largest employers. However, there is a significant shortage of skilled workers to support the various marine businesses that require knowledge of seafaring, with reports indicating that labor shortages are at a 17-year high. The average age of U.S. seafarers is over 50, and many are approaching retirement without enough younger professionals entering the field to replace them. Increased automation and a higher demand for tech-skilled workers in ports has exacerbated workforce gaps. These trends, coupled with historical imbalances in gender and racial equity, has intensified recruitment challenges. Our goal is to develop a Maritime Labor Training Pipeline to provide LA youth -especially from disadvantaged communities adjacent to the Port- with modern training opportunities including pre-apprenticeships and CA accredited apprenticeships leading to equitable, good paying maritime careers.

This grant will support the pilot year of the Maritime Labor Training Pipeline. The pipeline will leverage new and existing programming to train workers, starting with a pre-apprenticeship led by the Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI) for youth preparing to enter the workforce, and ‘feeding’ into the 2-year AltaSea and Maritime Environmental Training Trust (METT) Maritime Apprenticeship Program (not funded by this grant). In addition to supporting AltaSea’s role as the pipeline lead, the focus of the LA2050 grant will be LAMI’s new ship-based pre-apprenticeship training program for future seafarers aged 16-19. The Beginning Mariner Training Program will feature an enriching 6-day training course aboard the tall ship American Pride to provide future mariners with hands-on experience in essential mariner skills; boat operation & navigation; maritime safety; and sea time. The pilot year will support one cohort of 25 participants. At the end of the course, participants will be able to: locate and use safety equipment aboard boats; understand and adhere to safety practices; operate shipboard plumbing, including dewatering pumps; handle lines safely; set, douse, and furl sails; tie several useful knots; use appropriate Nautical Terminology; understand VHF radio etiquette and operation; perform basic navigation; and understand relevant maritime laws and best practices. These skills will provide the essential foundation for the next step in labor training: the apprenticeship.

The Pipeline aims to resolve workforce challenges in LA County ports and maritime industries by training youth for good paying, equitable jobs. The San Pedro Bay Port Complex is one of the busiest seaports in the world, wielding tremendous economic impact across LA County and beyond. Regardless of economic or political fluctuation, container ships will continue carrying vital supplies into and out of Ports and skilled workers are required to keep operations moving smoothly. The Maritime Labor Training Pipeline will prepare youth for a myriad of in-port vessel jobs, including deckhands, engineers, tankermen, boat pilots, and more. Maritime careers significantly impact global trade and national security, and every job is crucial to ensure port efficiency; none are exclusive to gender, culture, or race. Maritime and inland waterway careers offer financial stability and require technical skills instead of advanced degrees, thereby increasing accessibility for LA youth economic advancement.