HLSCC offers ‘recovery courses’ for marine industry

The H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) is offering short introductory courses in the marine industry.

Head of Marine Studies at the college Clive Petrovic said the courses are inexpensive and were introduced in an effort to help rebuild the local marine industry following the catastrophic hurricanes last year.

The courses began this month and offer training in basic diesel engine troubleshooting, marine electrical wiring, and basic woodwork and joinery.

The four-week courses also give students two weeks of on-the-job training.

“In a month you are not going to become an expert, but you will get enough of an introduction so that you can enter the workforce as an apprentice or you can continue your education at HLSCC and get into those fields in much more detail,” said Petrovic, who described the courses as being relevant and crucial.

“If you pass around the island, you would see how many boats are damaged and there is a huge amount of effort to try to rebuild the industry. Because obviously, we need it for the economy.”

Attracting women to the industry

Speaking with BVI News ahead of the start of the courses, Petrovic said he hoped the courses would attract a wide cross-section of society, including women.

He said, historically, there have not been many women in the marine industry.

“There’s not much in the marine industry that women can’t do as well as men. I don’t want to sound sexist but there are many ways that women are more meticulous than men,” he said.

Following the hurricanes, HLSCC had also began free construction courses to help with recovery.