Gulf Copper Launches Apprenticeships

Gulf Copper, headquartered in Port Arthur, Texas, and the College of the Mainland in Texas City, Texas, have partnered to create two new apprenticeships registered by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The organizations announced the joint venture October 5. The apprenticeships are designed to prepare Gulf Copper employees for careers as quality inspectors and shipfitters, according to the Gulf Copper website. The apprenticeships involve full-time employment along with paid on-the-job training and technical instruction at College of the Mainland. Tuition and training materials are to be covered in full by Gulf Copper.

Following Davie Defense’s acquisition of Gulf Copper’s Galveston and Pot Arthur shipbuilding assets in December 2025, the company said a planned $1 billion modernization is expanding the shipyards’ capabilities. As a result, the College of the Mainland and Gulf Copper are working together to help build the skilled workforce to support it. Gulf Coper estimated that the modernization is expected to create approximately 2,400 direct jobs.

The apprenticeships will include a seven-month quality assurance/quality control inspector program or a 15-month program in shipfitting, fabrication and structural assembly. So far, about 25 students are involved in each program.