IRPT’s We Work the Waterways Hosts South Louisiana Students for “Maritime Industry Interaction Day”

This week Inland River Ports and Terminals’ We Work the Waterways hosted an immersive interaction to educate high school students in the area the importance of waterborne transportation and the diversity of career paths available on the waterways.

Held at the Port of South Louisiana, and Cargill, Inc., the event hosted hundreds of high school students from St. John the Baptist Parish and surrounding areas who experienced visually engaging presentations at The Port of South Louisiana and immersive tours at Cargill, Inc.

We Work the Waterways brings the maritime industry to students through education, hands-on learning, and engagement opportunities with maritime representatives. Students can experience firsthand maritime skills such as line throwing and knot tying. Students will also learn more about commodities shipped on the Mississippi River and the lifelong career paths the waterways have to offer.

We Work the Waterways’ organization’s career development program director Errin Howard states “In this role, I will be working to expand IRPT’s career opportunities initiative into a career development program,” Howard said in a message to supporters. “IRPT’s Career Development Program, We Work the Waterways, focuses on four things: promote, market, encourage and education.”

“For decades, Louisiana’s strategic location on the Mississippi River has attracted industry and businesses that have created thousands of jobs for River Parish families,” said PortSL CEO Paul Matthews. “Port of South Louisiana is proud to once again host this spectacular event that exposes Louisiana high school students to high paying jobs and career paths that are available to them upon graduation. We Work the Waterways opens doors to create generational wealth for families, helps to build a skilled workforce for industry that keeps our kids right here at home in Louisiana.”

Billie Dinvaut-Duncan, Coordinator of Curriculum & Assessment said “ I feel that career exploration events like ‘We Work the Waterways program at the Port of South Louisiana’ allow students to enhance their workplace knowledge and build career awareness. It definitely connects academics to the workforce. It also allows students the opportunity to ask questions and observe the workforce in action.”

Event partners include AccuTRANS, American Barge Line, Associated Terminals, Cargill, Cooper Consolidated, Crescent Towing, Ingram Barge Company, Louisiana CAT, Open Waters, Turn Services, Mississippi Valley Trade and Transport Council, Marquette Transportation, Wood Resources LLC, Consortium for Public Education, Furgo USA, Women In Maritime Operations, Port of South Louisiana and Cargill, Inc.