Next Era Xceptional Technology for Shipbuilding and Education in Americas’ Seas

The NEXTSEAS initiative is a four-year effort to address the U.S. shipbuilding industry’s acute shortage of skilled workers, estimated at more than 300,000, through an international fellowship and training pipeline that blends advanced European expertise with U.S. industry adoption. As prime applicant, Massachusetts Maritime Academy will oversee project management, fellowship selection, and the dissemination of curricula across U.S. training institutions. SAMK will lead the design of a Train-the-Trainer model and contribute specialized modules in engineering, robotics, automation, and Arctic maritime management. WinNova will deliver vocational training in welding, CNC, and fabrication, while RMC provides a live shipyard environment for immersive fellowships. Bollinger Shipyards will anchor U.S. integration by validating curricula, hosting bootcamps, and retaining graduates through wage progression and long-term career pathways.
The project will advance in four phases: (1) benchmarking and curriculum development; (2) Train-the-Trainer implementation; (3) fellowships and Living Lab training in Finland; and (4) U.S. transfer, accreditation, and nationwide expansion. Expected outcomes include the creation of an internationally recognized shipbuilding curriculum, training of U.S. educators and workers in high-demand trades, and the establishment of durable workforce pipelines embedded in U.S. community colleges and shipyards. Sustainability will be achieved through accreditation, institutional adoption, industry cost-share, and integration into U.S. apprenticeship systems.
By leveraging global best practices and embedding them in U.S. institutions and shipyards, NEXTSEAS will revitalize domestic manufacturing capacity, expand career opportunities for American workers, and secure the long-term competitiveness and resilience of the U.S. shipbuilding sector.