Maritime Technology and Training Center

Despite long-term growth in all maritime sectors on the Gulf Coast, the region is facing a national shortage of young and highly trained employees. This led the Port Authority and San Jacinto College to purchase a 13-acre site situated within the Houston Ship Channel Industrial Complex, for the creation of the new Maritime Technology and Training Center. 

It is the only institution in the state offering an associate degree in Maritime Transportation, at the request of local industry for a higher quality and well-rounded entry-level professional Mariner.  Its symbolic design is naturally reflective of the center’s curriculum. All credit and non-credit courses are U.S. Coast Guard and Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping approved.  Interior spaces include multi-purpose meeting rooms with full glazing for view of the ship channel, adaptable classroom environments, instructor office suite, collaboration spaces and a high-functioning kitchen galley. 

The facility shines brightest inside its state-of-the-art simulation labs, which provide realistic training in radar/navigation, full-bridge, mini-bridge, liquid cargo handling and joint control rooms. It also boasts a U.S. Coast Guard approved Aquatic Training Pool featuring training platforms, dressing rooms, lockers, scuba gear and equipment storage areas with water depth ranges from 4’0” to 12’6”.  At the waterfront, a boat slip and a commercial maritime training dock with davit was built for lifeboat and fast rescue craft safety training.