The following is the text of a news release from Maritime Professional Training:
(FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.) (Oct. 9) — Maritime Professional Training (MPT) — the largest private maritime training school in the nation — has announced the selection of Fort Lauderdale-based Gulf Building Corp. as the general contractor for the construction of its planned 25,000-square-foot facility expansion at its Fort Lauderdale campus.
“We are pleased to have such an esteemed, highly-reputable contractor as Gulf Building Corp. in place to help us carry out our vision for this new facility,” said Capt. Ted Morley, COO of Maritime Professional Training. "This expansion builds on our current SMART Campus simulation facility, bringing the latest technology for deck and engine room simulation to the industry. It represents the most state-of-the-art simulation in the country, and the fact that we are locating it in South Florida is a testament to our commitment to the marine industry here."
MPT is the largest private maritime training school in the United States and serves more than 10,000 students per year, providing training for mariners pursuing careers in both the commercial and yachting maritime industries. The school first announced its plans in July for the $5 million expansion project, which will effectively double the size of the school’s simulation department, and will include the addition of more classrooms and maritime training resources and technology. The entire facility is expected to take four months to complete, with construction scheduled to begin at the end of this month.
“We are thrilled to have been selected to oversee such an exciting new project that will benefit and enhance the city of Fort Lauderdale and local community,” said John Scherer, owner and president, Gulf Building Corp. “We look forward to working with Ted and the rest of the professional staff at MPT in bringing their vision to life.”
MPT will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, Oct. 13 beginning at 5:30 p.m. during a VIP reception at its Fort Lauderdale campus, located at 1915 S. Andrews Ave. Representatives from Gulf Building Corp. along with city officials including Mayor Jack Seiler and local industry leaders including Phil Purcell, executive director of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, will join MPT to celebrate this important milestone as the school continues its efforts to bring more aspiring mariners to the city of Fort Lauderdale to pursue their training and certification.
Students come from all over the world and typically stay from a week to six months for classes. Prices for courses, many of which are designed for continuing education, range from $100 up to $20,000. The expansion will bring its total training space to about 61,000 square feet, which includes a simulation center off State Road 84 in Fort Lauderdale. The school's expansion also will benefit the local economy as many of its students and their families stay in hotels and frequent local restaurants, retailers and businesses during the duration of their stay.
"Since we opened our doors over 30 years ago, an increasing number of aspiring maritime professionals have trusted MPT with their training and certification needs,” added Morley. “This facility will allow us to train more students in the commercial and yachting industries, ultimately benefiting the local economy and maritime industry in Fort Lauderdale as a whole. This project has received tremendous support from the community, and we're anxious to get the construction underway."
