Op-Ed: Maritime Education Starts With Local Action

Over 400 years ago, Jamestown was founded, chosen for its deep waters and defensible position—an ideal seaport. Today, our region thrives as a maritime hub, home to commercial, private, and military vessels that benefit from our central location, extensive waterways, and the bounty of the ocean.

The Problem: A Decline in Maritime Workforce

Despite this rich maritime history, our seafaring future faces significant challenges. Fewer young people are entering the maritime industry as high school students and young adults seek careers in other fields. A project manager at a major local shipyard described the situation succinctly: “Attrition at the shipyard is essentially one-for-one.” The average age of a shipyard worker? Fifty-five years old.

The trend isn’t limited to shipyards. Enrollment at the nation’s six maritime academies has dropped dramatically, from 7,350 students in 2017 to 5,918 in 2023—a 20% decline. Unlimited license track graduates fell from 1,086 in 2017 to just 813 in 2023.

This isn’t just a ship…