The Maritime Logistics Education Taskforce, perhaps best known for its successful “Follow the Container” project, has placed its first group of high school interns into the local maritime industry to learn more about careers in the business.
The students began their paid after-school internships Monday, but not before they experienced the soup-to-nuts hiring process as if they were applying for full-time jobs after graduation.
Partnering with the taskforce, Sullivan’s Staffing led a two-day effort to prepare the students for their interviews and jobs.
Pat Yovich, a business educator, developer and wellness coach, led the class through a series of soft skills, including how to write a cover letter and resume, as well as what to say and do in an interview.
One-on-one mock interview sessions were then held with more than 15 human resource professionals representing the U.S. Coast Guard and the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Unit, Sullivan’s Staffing, Georgia Ports, TICO, Sticky Fingers, Port City Logistics, MetroPorts, Matson Logistics and JIT Warehousing and Logistics.
One task force member, Image Hotels, gathered business attire for the students so they could “look the part.”
Martha Sullivan and Kim Jones of Sullivan’s Staffing walked each student through the application process, which included establishing references, completing a skills test, background check and even a drug test.
More to come
This group of 12 students is the first of what MLET hopes will be an ongoing program to introduce area students to the variety of maritime and logistics career possibilities in the Savannah area.
Under the leadership of Freightliner’s David Mihuta, 30 applicants were narrowed down to 12 students, all college or technical school candidates. The students are from Savannah-area high schools, including Jenkins, Groves, Johnson and Woodville-Tompkins.
Through the program, each student will work after school in a paid internship five days a week, four hours per day, for a 10-week period, amassing a total of 200 hours of experience.
Participating logistics companies include Port City Logistics, Matson Logistics, United Arab Shipping Co., John S. James Co., JIT Warehousing, JCB Inc., HWC Logistics, Damco, Coastal Logistics Group and Alliance Customs Clearance.
The Maritime Logistics Education Taskforce was formed in partnership with the Propeller Club-Port of Savannah, Savannah Traffic Club, Savannah Maritime Association, the Independent Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of Savannah, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals and the Navy League Savannah Council.
Its mission is to reach, educate and grow the current and future workforce of the logistics and maritime industry in Savannah and surrounding coastal areas.
In addition to sponsoring the Maritime Logistics Pathway internship program, the group has hosted a series of successful “Follow the Container” tours, which lets groups of students and teachers follow a container from the ports to its destination, pointing out all the various logistics jobs along the way.
Senior business reporter Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for the Savannah Morning News. She can be reached at 912-652-0324 or at mary.mayle@savannahnow.com.
SHIPPING SCHEDULE
These are the ships expected to call on Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City and Ocean Terminals in the next week. Sailing schedules are provided by Georgia Ports Authority and are subject to change.
TERMINAL SHIP NAME ARRIVAL
GCT CSAV LLANQUIHUE Today
GCT ZIM QINGDAO Today
GCT HANJIN IRENE Today
GCT ITAL LIBERA Today
OT TAMPA Today
OT BBC EUROPE Today
GCT CMA CGM MELISANDE Saturday
GCT LOS ANGELES EXPRESS Saturday
GCT HYUNDAI TIANJIN Saturday
GCT CMA CGM AMBER Saturday
GCT MSC ILONA Saturday
GCT WASHINGTON EXPRESS Saturday
GCT MSC MESSINA Sunday
GCT ROTTERDAM EXPRESS Sunday
GCT MSC STELLA Sunday
OT STAR JUVENTAS Sunday
GCT YM SINGAPORE Monday
GCT ISLANDIA Monday
GCT CONTI HARMONY Monday
GCT NYK DEMETER Monday
OT GRINDANGER Monday
OT SAGAR SHAKTI Monday
OT TIRRANNA Monday
GCT MUSTAFA DAYI Tuesday
GCT APL GARNET Tuesday
GCT BARCELONA EXPRESS Tuesday
OT ANET Tuesday
GCT SEA-LAND EAGLE Wednesday
GCT CMA CGM MANET Wednesday
GCT APL SPINEL Wednesday
GCT CGM UTRILLO Wednesday
GCT FOUMA Wednesday
GCT LONDON EXPRESS Wednesday
GCT ZIM CONSTANZA Wednesday
GCT MSC BARBARA Thursday
GCT CSAV LUMACO Thursday
GCT ZIM MONACO Thursday
GCT CMA CGM KINGFISH Thursday
GCT MSC RITA Thursday
GCT UASC SHUAIBA Thursday
GCT MAERSK ROUBAIX Thursday
GCT MAERSK DENPASAR Thursday
GCT CMA CGM JAMAICA Thursday
GCT HANJIN WILMINGTON Thursday