San Jacinto College maritime program the recipient of Port Houston grant

Thanks to a generous grant from Port Houston's 2020 Community Grant Program, the San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center will introduce a new incipient fire protection and control course in spring 2021.

"This grant will allow San Jacinto College Maritime to provide world-class incipient firefighting training and education to hundreds of plant and terminal workers operating in the Houston region," said John Stauffer, associate vice chancellor, Maritime Technology and Training Center. "We are thankful for the continued support and generous contribution from Port Houston."

This four-hour course will combine classroom learning within the center and hands-on training at its newly-built fire field. In addition to workers in area manufacturing and chemical plants, this course will support the regional maritime industry through highly-trained mariners better able to respond quickly to incipient stage fires.

"Port Houston and the Community Relations Committee are delighted for the opportunity to support San Jacinto College and the Incipient Fire Protection and Control Course through the Port Houston Community Grants Program," said Leslie Herbst, director of community relations and events at Port Houston. "We look forward to working with San Jac to create meaningful impacts in our communities."

The $17,000 grant will fund the start-up costs for this program, including the development of OSHA- and U.S. Coast Guard-approved curriculum and the purchase of required training equipment, as well as funds needed to promote the newly-developed program to area businesses and industries who currently must send their employees out of the area for their required training.

In the Houston region alone, there are over 6,400 manufacturers employing more than 230,000 skilled workers in industries such as fabricated metal, machinery, and chemical manufacturing. The Houston Ship Channel alone is home to some 200 petrochemical plants. With the heightened risk of fire due to combustible materials and use/storage of flammable liquids at these locations, it is crucial that plant workers (as well as maritime workers) are properly trained on incipient firefighting.

To learn more about the maritime program at San Jacinto College, visit sanjac.edu/maritime.