Hanwha Philly Shipyard Welcomes CCP Naval Welding and Nondestructive Testing Students for a Site Visit

Students in the inaugural cohorts of Community College of Philadelphia’s Naval Welding and Nondestructive Testing programs attended a tour and site visit of Hanwha Philly Shipyard Feb. 17. Hanwha Philly Shipyard (formerly Philly Shipyard, Inc.) is a leading U.S. shipbuilder pursuing a mix of commercial and government work, ranging from shipbuilding to repair and maintenance. Interested students can apply to their apprenticeship program following completion of their certification from CCP.

During the visit, students saw the ins and outs of the shipbuilding projects currently underway at the Navy Yard. Seeing the work up close proved to be eye-opening for many of them. “Seeing the scale of the shipyard operations was really stunning, especially learning about the welding and shipbuilding work that goes into maintaining large vessels,” said Kasim Washington, a Welding student. “What stood out to me most was how many different skilled trades work together there. It made me even more excited about the possibility of working at the Navy Yard and being part of that kind of team environment.”

Many of the students in the program are drawn to the team environment that Kasim is talking about. They like the idea of being a part of something much bigger than themselves. “With the state of global events, America needs more welders,” said Myjia Barrett, another student in the Welding cohort. “For me, it's exciting that the work that we'll be doing—thanks to the Naval Welding program—directly contributes to our country's success.”

Being able to see this work helped give perspective to the students who might potentially find lifelong careers in Naval Welding. “This program shows students that a meaningful career in advanced manufacturing and shipbuilding is within reach,” said Dr. Djuradj Babic, associate provost of Workforce Development at CCP. “When they meet employers and see the work firsthand, the path from training to career becomes clear.”

For Hanwha, site visits are an important way to showcase the possibilities they can offer students. “Seeing the Shipyard up close allows students to connect what they’re learning in the classroom to real-world applications,” said Pedro Velis, director of Talent Acquisition and Workforce Development at Hanwha Philly Shipyard. “And, we hope it inspires them to see the exciting and meaningful career opportunities available at Hanwha Philly Shipyard.”

CCP will celebrate the first cohort of 22 graduates from the Naval Welding and Nondestructive Testing programs during a graduation ceremony on March 23. As part of the celebration, elected officials will be on campus to congratulate them and cut the ribbon on the new state-of-the-art welding lab at the Career and Advanced Technology Center (CATC).