NWTC, Fincantieri Partner to Grow Shipbuilding Industry

A Fincantieri welding student. Submitted.

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) and Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS) are expanding their partnership to advance the maritime manufacturing industry and meet the region’s growing workforce demand.

In the fall of 2022, the partners designed a special, five-week training program for FBS employees to advance their welding and ship/pipe-fitting techniques, and since the launch, 97 participants have completed the course through NWTC’s Sturgeon Bay campus. In all, 106 participants have completed a total of nearly 15,000 hours of training during the past year.

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

“The maritime industry supports thousands of jobs in northeast Wisconsin each year and is a multibillion-dollar industry statewide,” said Jim Draeger, NWTC’s 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.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration has designated NWTC as a Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education, and as the only one on the Great Lakes, NWTC is committed to serving the region’s expanding shipbuilding industry.