Marine Atlantic Partners with NSCC to Provide Students with Hands-on Learning Opportunity

St. John's, NL – Marine Atlantic is proud to partner with Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) to facilitate on-vessel study tours for first-year Navigation and Engineering students. Over the last six weeks, students from NSCC’s Nautical Institute had the opportunity to sail round trip with Marine Atlantic, North Sydney to Port aux Basques, and experience first-hand what it’s like to live and work at sea. 

“For a first-year student to get to see the inner-workings of a vessel and be able to relate it to what they learned in the classroom is an important experience,” said Murray Hupman, Marine Atlantic’s Vice President of Operations. “This is part of our ongoing recruitment partnership activities with marine schools which helps to showcase our fleet, operations and company. By providing these opportunities, we are hopeful that the students of today will become the future of the marine industry.” 

The study tours provide hands-on learning experiences to the students, allowing them the opportunity to visit the ship’s bridge and engine room, explore the equipment, and speak with staff about life at sea. Each tour allows for the participation of 10 students, accompanied by an NSCC instructor. 

NSCC's Nautical Institute offers Transport Canada-approved marine training for students who want to start or advance their career at sea. Students learn in specially designed marine facilities, including a wave tank, free-fall lifeboat and fire training centre, and with state-of-the-art simulation equipment for navigation and engine room training. “Our students are trained on state-of-the-art equipment to prepare them for work at sea,” stated Captain Vivek Saxena, Academic Chair, Nautical Institute, NSCC Strait Area Campus. “To augment that training with this opportunity with Marine Atlantic vessels is invaluable. The students are at sea, can chat with the captain and crew, tour the vessel and get to experience, first-hand, the marine sector they are training for.” 

The Nautical Institute is part of the Strait Area Campus and is Canada’s oldest marine training institution. Training ranges from quick-start career programs, diplomas and advanced diplomas, to courses for those who are already working in the sector. The Nautical Institute also offers training to industry. 

Media Contacts: 

Darrell Mercer
Corporate Communications
(709) 772-0073 or (709) 727-2405
[email protected]

Kathleen Cameron
Manager, External Relations 
Nova Scotia Community College 
(902) 499-7844 
[email protected]