As the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) is a practical teaching school, having the right tools for students to use is essential. Recently, the Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS) donated a ‘Grizzly lathe machine’ with a milling attachment to the school so that students would be able to put their new knowledge into practice and not just learn the theory of machining.
“This significant donation will help to produce quality machinists in The Bahamas,” said Don Forbes, Training Manager at GBS. “As The Bahamas is currently lacking in machinists, we thought it was extremely important that we donate this piece of equipment to BTVI, as quality machinists are vital to the Shipyard business.” Currently, twelve of the Shipyard’s first year apprentices are enrolled in BTVI’s machinist course, which provided further incentive for the company to donate the machinery. Although the apprentices were the incentive for the donation, all students at BTVI will be able to use the machine.
“Because we saw there was a need for the machine, we decided to purchase the tool for the school,” continued Forbes. “Our apprentices noted they were getting the knowledge but wanted to practice what they were learning. When it comes to our apprentices, we spare no costs to ensure they are trained properly.”
Instructors at BTVI were quick to thank the Shipyard for the donation and noted that the lathe machine has given the school a much needed tool to increase the success of their students. "We are elated that we received yet another donation from the GB Shipyard,” said Veronica Collie, Associate Vice President, BTVI, Freeport. “When the students leave us now, they’ll be able to go into the field and put into practice what we teach here at BTVI.”
Godwin Scott, Metal Machine and Fabrication Instructor noted, “Thanks to this donation from the Shipyard, we can train students to a higher level locally, rather than them having to go overseas.”
During the history of the Apprenticeship programme, GBS has trained hundreds of young Bahamians for careers in the ship repair industry, with twelve young Bahamians in this year’s apprentice class. The programme is a four-year programme where students are employed at the yard and taught various ship repair skills at the yard and at BTVI. You can learn more about the apprenticeship programme on the Shipyard website at http://grandbahamashipyard.com/.
About GB Shipyard:Located on Grand Bahama Island in the Freeport Maritime Centre, 73 miles east of Florida, Grand Bahama Shipyard is one of the biggest ship repair companies in the region. With 3 floating docks that feature all the capabilities and resources for dry-docking, repairs, upgrades and conversions of ships, as well as the ability to fabricate marine structures. GB Shipyard is now also ready to take on fabrication projects, especially for offshore industry.Learn more at www.gbshipyard.com
