Delgado Updates NOLA Deckhand Training Facility

Delgado Community College is putting the final touches on a self-funded, $300,000 upgrade of its deckhand training facility at its Maritime and Industrial Training Center in eastern New Orleans.

With no additional state or federal funds available, Rick Schwab, the center’s director, said he was able to move the funds within his budget to completely gut the aging annex building and convert it to one large classroom, plus a second gathering area with complete galley that will also be used as a classroom.

Renovations included a new roof, walls and flooring, new bathrooms and nearly $100,000 in air conditioning upgrades.

“It would not do to have 50 students in the building and not enough air conditioning to keep them comfortable,” Schwab said of the air conditioning expense.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MarAd) has awarded Delgado its center of excellence designation.

The full galley will be available to teach deckhands safe handling during food preparation and cooking of mostly simple meals. Schwab noted that different colored cutting boards will be used to stress the importance of avoiding food contamination.

The classroom and gathering area feature large flat screen televisions for screening instructional videos. The galley was designed with an oversized island for students to gather around for demonstrations.

Outside is a simulated wheelhouse and deck pad, which will be painted with the outline of two barges strung out end-to-end and fitted with cleats, winches, bollards and H-bitts to teach students the make-up of tows by running wires and lines. Deckhands will also practice throwing single and double lines.

Many of the fittings were donated by companies like Enterprise Products and Ultra Tug, among others, who send new hires to deckhand classes. State grants help companies pay for much of the training. Members of Delgado’s office staff help companies meet grant requirements.

Next on the upgrade agenda is construction of a covered, open-air swimming pool, which will create current for high-water training. The pool area will feature three changing rooms and will be connected to the main training building, which opened a decade ago.

Schwab said the pool area will be designed to be fully enclosed when funds are available. Currently, students in water survival classes have to travel to the University of New Orleans, where scheduling can conflict with training schedules for local swim teams.

The pool will be 30 feet by 40 feet with a maximum depth of 10 feet. Each side will have raised platforms for students to meet STCW requirements for water entry from a height while wearing life jackets and immersion suits. The pool should be complete and available by the end of 2026, Schwab said.

In addition, Delgado has upgraded simulator hardware and software for its Wartsila-based wheelhouse and firefighting, command-and-control training. Props on the fire field have also undergone upgrades.

Schwab said any companies interested in learning more about training opportunities should contact him at 504-915-7480 or rschwa@dcc.edu. In addition, individuals can apply for rapid response funding with a discount of half-off tuition.