(NEW YORK) — The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is turning words into action when it comes to building the next generation of maritime leaders. Answering the powerful call by the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings that, “If they can’t see it, they can’t dream it,” NAMEPA invited more than 80 middle and high school students from Connecticut to Baltimore to participate in its Maritime and Marine Science Career Fair at SUNY Maritime College on Oct. 30. This immersive experience was designed to introduce the next generation of maritime leaders to the diverse and exciting opportunities available in the maritime industry.
The Career Fair introduced students to a wide spectrum of opportunities across commercial shipping, environmental stewardship, port operations, naval architecture, engineering and more. Students engaged directly with maritime professionals, gaining insight into the skills and pathways that power the global maritime industry. In addition, SUNY Maritime cadets led tours of the college campus and its new training ship, Empire VII, offering students a firsthand look at life as a maritime student and future mariner.
“NAMEPA is putting opportunity within reach,” said Molly Dushay, executive director of NAMEPA. “We are showing students that maritime careers come in many forms – they’re about technology, innovation, engineering, seafaring, trade, sustainability and more. Congressman Cummings was right: Visibility creates possibility. By connecting students to industry and education, we are making sure they can see the pathways.”
Following the morning Career Fair, students attended NAMEPA’s 2025 Annual Conference, where they participated in discussions about innovations, environmental initiatives, and the real-world challenges shaping the future of global shipping. This powerful pairing of youth engagement and industry leadership underscores NAMEPA’s role in bridging education with maritime workforce readiness.
This initiative was made possible through the support of NAMEPA’s student breakfast and lunch sponsors, as well as its Career Fair table sponsors: ABS, The American Club, Blank Rome, Cargill, Carnival Cruise Lines, CLIA, DNV, Dorian LPG, International Seaways, ITOPF, MOL Chemical Tankers, Morgan Marketing and Communications, Navios, OPA 90 Forum, Pasha Group, Port of Corpus Christi, Resolve Marine, SMIT Salvage, Triworld Shipping Services, and Wasteline Solution.
– North American Marine Environment Protection Association
