The following is the text of a news release from San Jacinto College:
(PASADENA, Texas) — The San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center on the Maritime Campus now features a dock for industry crew changes and student training, thanks to a partnership with G&H Towing.
The dock is located at the center at 3700 Old State Hwy 146 in La Porte, Texas. G & H Towing has been instrumental, along with other industry partners, in guiding the San Jacinto College maritime program since it began in 2010. The Maritime Technology and Training Center opened earlier this year.
“We’re glad to be able to provide this dock for maritime students and for vessels along the port,” said Stephen N. Huffman, G&H Towing president. “Over 6,000 vessels in the United States need crews, and where else will they get their mariners than right here at San Jacinto College.”
G&H Towing operates more than 30 harbor tugs in Houston, Galveston, Texas City, Corpus Christi and Freeport. The company, established in 1934, is one of the oldest along the Texas Gulf Coast. San Jacinto College’s maritime program offers professional mariners courses that enable them to test for U.S. Coast Guard certifications. The college also offers the state’s first maritime transportation associate degree program.
In addition to the G&H Towing dock, the 45,000-square-foot Maritime Technology and Training Center houses equipment to prepare students for careers at sea. This equipment includes an aquatic training facility; full mission ship bridge simulators and suite, donated by the Houston Pilots; and stations for global maritime distress and safety system training, automatic radar plotting aid training, radar training, and liquid cargo handling training.
“We thank G&H Towing for being a partner in our efforts to train more mariners,” said Dr. Brenda Hellyer, San Jacinto College chancellor. “They have been with us every step of the way with our maritime program, from the beginning to the building of our new center and now this dock. It is because of such generosity that we’re able to offer a comprehensive maritime program for current and future mariners, one that provides them with the training they need for their career endeavors and for the nation’s maritime industry.”
