San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center construction progresses

Maritime Technology and Training Center at 3700 Old Highway 146 in La Porte under construction.
Maritime Technology and Training Center at 3700 Old Highway 146 in La Porte under construction.
Maritime Technology and Training Center at 3700 Old Highway 146 in La Porte under construction.

PASADENA, Texas – The San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center at 3700 Old Highway 146 in La Porte is set to open in January 2016. Construction has been ongoing since Fall 2014. The facility will serve as the site for certificate and associate degree maritime training delivered through U.S. Coast Guard-required and approved course work.

The following list provides an update on the Summer 2015 progress of the San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center:

– Bulkhead work and dredging is nearing completion

– Brick is installed on the south elevation and is being installed on the west elevation

– Exterior sheathing is complete

– Damp proofing of exterior walls is complete

– Installation of windows continues

– Roof cap sheet installation is underway

– Interior walls are being closed and taped and floated

– Installation of ceiling grid is underway

– Tile work has started in restrooms

– Work on sidewalks under building continues

– Paving work at north and west continues

– Pool construction has started

Next phase of activities to begin:

– Continue window installation

– Continue brick work

– Finish closing walls

– Continue taping and floating walls

– Startup of HVAC system

– Continue sidewalk and paving work

– Start priming walls

– Continuing the coordination of moving the maritime program’s three full-mission ships bridge simulators

The San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center sits 14 feet above ground. The ground level showcases a training dock with lifeboats, davits, and fast rescue craft, and a separate industry dock for crew changes. This will allow for vessel specific training for local maritime companies and will serve as an aquatic training facility for sea survival and life raft training, complete with men’s and women’s locker rooms.

Once complete, the facility will have 15 classrooms; engineering simulators to train maritime engineers for hydraulic, electric, pump control, motor control, heating and air conditioning, and refrigeration; and a multipurpose space for industry conferences and corporate partner meetings.

Highlights of the new facility include three full-mission ships bridge simulators, donated by the Houston Pilots in 2013. These room-sized replicas of ship control bridges will become a part of a 3,748 square-foot simulation suite, complete with instructor stations, debrief classrooms, and development stations. A full-mission engine room simulator also is planned for the future and will interact and interconnect with the bridge simulators to allow vessel management exercises to accommodate deck and engineering officers and crew at the same time, in the same scenario.

Tellepsen Builders serve as the general contractor for the development of the Maritime Technology and Training Center. Texas IBI Group is the architect; Brooks & Sparks is the civil engineer; and Rizzo & Associates is the program manager.