With energy security and infrastructure investment becoming top 21st century national priorities, the New England Regional Council’s commercial diving training tank in Millbury, Mass., is an exercise in 20/20 foresight.
“One of the areas we knew was going to get bigger was the offshore gas pipeline industry,” said Dave Borrus, business representative for Local 56 in South Boston. Borrus wrote the grant to the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development that brought in the funds for the 7,000-gallon tank, which debuted in September.
“We’re teaching underwater welding, but there are a lot of underwater tasks that can be taught in it,” Borrus said. Underwater bridge inspection, underwater welding inspection, and remote vehicles control are among other potential courses.
Government contracts and regulations often specify that workers be certified in underwater skills, Borrus said.
The enhanced training opportunities allow signatory contractors to bid on a greater range of construction and maintenance projects.
“In our state there’s a $3 billion road and highway infrastructure package,” Borrus said. “We wanted our contractors to have a jump start on it.”
And new federal infrastructure initiatives as part of the Obama economic stimulus plan may make that $3 billion sum look paltry. The new commercial training tank will make a big splash in that regard.
“It’s a really good tool for marketing ourselves and our skills,” said Borrus.