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Fincantieri and NWTC Sign Long-Term Partnership to Grow Shipbuilding Industry

leader of ship repair and maintenance companies
July 11, 2023

Partners expand customized training program to meet the growing maritime workforce needs. 

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN (July 10, 2023) – Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS) and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) are expanding their partnership to advance the maritime manufacturing industry and meet growing workforce demand within the region. 

“This partnership is important as we continue to grow, hire and retain the best workforce in the region,” said FBS Vice President and General Manager Jan Allman. “When it comes to upskilling our employees, we believe it is important to have community-based training with experienced, highly-skilled instructors like those at NWTC.” 

In fall 2022, the partners designed a specialized training program for FBS employees to advance their welding and ship/pipe-fitting techniques. Since the launch, 97 participants have successfully completed this five-week course offered through the NWTC Sturgeon Bay campus. This course serves as an entry point on a path to becoming a skilled, professional tradesperson with a family-sustaining job. In all, 106 participants completed a total of almost 15,000 hours of training in the past year.

With the success of this pilot training program, the partners have solidified a one-year contract and expanded in areas of higher student capacity, longer course curriculum, and more.

“The maritime industry supports thousands of jobs in Northeast Wisconsin each year and is a multi-billion-dollar industry statewide,” said Jim Draeger, NWTC dean of corporate training and economic development. “Strengthening our area workforce through customized training is vital to our region’s economic growth. NWTC is thrilled to continue our work with FBS and build an industry-leading workforce.” 

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding has years of work underway and planned, such as building additional LNG bunkering barges and critically important SOVs, which are vessels that transport technicians to service and sustain power-producing wind turbines at sea. FBS also assists sister-shipyard, Fincantieri Marinette Marine, by building large hull sections of Constellation-class frigates for the U.S. Navy. 

As part of Fincantieri Marine Group, FBS built its rich shipbuilding history in Wisconsin over more than a decade. The FBS shipyard in Sturgeon Bay is a 63-acre, custom-built facility designed for efficient new construction, major conversions, repairs, and sustainment of commercial and government vessels.

NWTC is designated a Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education, by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration. As the only designated Center of Excellence on the Great Lakes, the College is committed to serving the region’s booming shipbuilding industry. The College also operates the North Coast Marine Manufacturing Training Center®, offers maritime safety training, and contracts training for Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette

“NWTC has the flexibility and agility to quickly meet industry needs through customized training with our business partners, as evident by our continued partnership with FBS. Our college is excited for future growth with the FBS training program to mirror our many successes with all industries across the district,” said Draeger.

FBS offers a wide variety of rewarding career opportunities, and seeks more candidates for their skilled trades, supporting labor, engineering, and management positions. To learn more about open positions and to apply, visit fincantierimarinegroup.com/careers

For more information about starting a career in shipbuilding or upskilling your workforce through Corporate Training and Economic Development at NWTC, visit nwtc.edu.

Point of contact: 

Eric Dent | Director of Communications | (202) 488-4783 | eric.dent@us.fincantieri.com

About Fincantieri Marine Group

Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest and most diversified maritime companies, employs more than 21,000 shipbuilding professionals in 18 shipyards on four continents. Fincantieri operates in the United States through its subsidiary, Fincantieri Marine Group. This company, which serves commercial and government customers including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, has three shipyards (Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Fincantieri ACE Marine) located in Wisconsin on the Great Lakes.  

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ADDRESS

Headquarters Washington DC
655 15th St NW, Suite 450
Washington, DC 20005
Fincantieri Marine Group - GBO
2465 Marina Circle
Green Bay, WI 54304
ACE Marine
201 S Pearl Street
Green Bay, WI 54303
Marinette Marine
1600 Ely Street
Marinette, WI 54143
Bay Shipbuilding
605 N 3rd Avenue
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
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