The Owen Sound Campus Great Lakes International Marine Training Centre (GLIMTC) hosted a series of workshops, sessions and roundtables with speakers from the marine industry March 3 to 5.

Students in Marine Engineering – Technology and Marine Technology – Navigation programs who took part in the three-day Ideas in Motion event learned more about environmental awareness as it relates to the marine industry.

They also participated in a ship-handling competition on the Campus’ bridge simulators as well as a ship visit and logbook mentoring session aboard a vessel in the Owen Sound harbour.

The event wound down with a team-building exercise March 5. Workshop topics covered marine sanitation devices, oily water separators, hybrid tug boats, sustainable oil, and more.

“Watching the action in the simulators and control room was invaluable. I can’t imagine how we might have got that kind of insight without actually being there . . . the only way we would have seen things clearer is if we had been scuba diving,” said first-year Marine Technology – Navigation student Brent Starling.

“This kind of event keeps us current with what is out there. Having it come to us was really great,” added second-year Marine Engineering – Technology student Mitchell Tobin.

Some of the participating marine companies and organizations included the Canadian Coast Guard, Nalfleet Marine Chemicals, Seaway Marine Transport and Transport Canada.

Although marine transportation is one of the world’s most environmentally friendly means of shipping goods, the North American industry is taking steps to further reduce its environmental impact. GLIMTC is a partner of Green Marine, a North American initiative to adopt an environmental program designed to drive a process of continuous improvement along the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes corridors.

“Caring for the environment is one of the most important issues facing the marine industry today,” said Cpt. Colin MacNeil, marine program co-ordinator. “The workshop series was designed to help our students understand the issues before embarking on careers in the marine industry. The event also adds value to marine education at Georgian.”

The series started two years ago with just one speaker, but has since expanded due to its popularity and the need to spread the message about environmental responsibilities within the marine industry.

PHOTO: First- and second-year students in Georgian’s marine programs took part in a team-building exercise as part of the Great Lakes International Marine Centre Ideas in Motion workshop series at the Owen Sound Campus last week. The teams completed a scavenger hunt where they answered questions related to the workshops and built a marine-related item.