Hundreds of area high school maritime students and Sea Scouts are expected to attend the Third Annual Maritime Youth Expo on Saturday, April 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The event will be held at the Port of Houston Authority’s Bayport Cruise Terminal, which is located at 12855 Port Road in Pasadena (Seabrook), Texas.
Maritime students will have the opportunity to hear mariners talk about opportunities on tow boats, harbor tugs and barges, learn about maritime salvage and see salvor equipment in action, and watch state-of-the-art Coast Guard helicopters and small boats perform on-water demonstrations. The Port Authority’s M/V Sam Houston, fireboats and the Emergency Command Center will be on display.
Representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas General Land Office, Port of Houston Authority and local community colleges will also be available to talk to students about maritime training and career path information.
The event is being hosted by the Port of Houston Authority in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Harris County Pct. 2 Commissioner Jack Morman, Houston Pilots Association, Economic Alliance Houston Port Region, San Jacinto College, Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife, Texas Southern University and the West Gulf Maritime Association.
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department; U.S. Coast Guard recruiters and Port of Houston Authority will have booths at the event.
Participants include students enrolled in maritime academies at Jack Yates, Stephen F. Austin, Pasadena and La Porte high schools and in maritime programs at other local Independent School Districts, as well as youth from Sea Scout Ship 1926, Sea Scout Ship 77–S.S.S. Raggety, Sea Scout Ship 17–S.S.S. Gilded Lady, Sea Scout Ship 31–S.S.S. Perla Negra and Sea Scout Ship 306 (Houston Gateway Academy). Lunch will be provided for participants.
The Port of Houston Authority collaborated with Houston ISD on the Port of Houston Maritime Academy, which debuted in fall 2009 at Stephen F. Austin and Jack Yates high schools and now has more than 600 students enrolled. Maritime programs are also offered by La Porte ISD, Pasadena ISD, Galena Park ISD and Houston Gateway Academy. At the university level, the Port Authority partners with Texas Southern University on an academic degree program in Maritime Transportation Management and Security.
The maritime industry offers many opportunities for fulfilling and well-paying careers, including such jobs as U.S. Coast Guard officer, U.S. Customs & Border Patrol officer, vessel pilot, engineer, harbor tugboat operator or inland push boat operator.
