Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG), a naval architecture and marine engineering firm based in Seattle with offices in New Orleans and Ketchikan, took part in the Alaska Construction Career Days & Maritime Trades on October 14 to foster enthusiasm for future careers in ship design and engineering. The firm, which opened its Alaska office in September, said it is committed to expanding Ketchikan's burgeoning maritime sector and sees this event as a step in that direction.
EBDG's representatives at the event included Lydia Benger and Curt Leffers, who lent their years of engineering expertise to the more than 230 young people in attendance at Vigor Alaska formerly Alaska Ship & Drydock, where exhibitors were set up. The event provided EBDG an opportunity to introduce students to the varied career and technical paths available in naval architecture and marine engineering.
"As a new employer in the state, we felt we should definitely be part of a popular and successful program to help introduce kids to ship design," stated Benger. "We hope that they will become as passionate about naval architecture and marine engineering as we are."
Alaska Construction Career Days & Maritime Trades is a statewide program which is sponsored by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Civil Rights Office and a number of local businesses, school districts and civic organizations. It includes hands-on activities for students to explore interactive exhibits, trade industry displays and heavy equipment demonstrations, and try their hands at various maritime occupations including joinery, marine engineering and naval architecture, electric power generation, CNC cutting, float plane maintenance, marine electrical and others.
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