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The Ohio River was the focus of our region's economy for generations. As transportation and commerce have evolved, it remains vital not only to us, but to communities across the country whose power plants are fueled by the coal we watch pass us on barges -- to give just one example.
These days, the possibility of a career on the river does not come up as often in conversations with young people. But the Sardis Inland Waterways Maritime Academy and Visitors Center hosted an event last week that reminds us it should. The industry is growing again.
We Work the Waterways hosted a maritime interaction day, which allowed students to explore jobs including operations, engineering, conservation and logistics. Industry experts helped give students hands-on experiences such as learning some of the skills necessary to become a deckhand. Would you be able to direct someone through a maze of obstacles via handheld radio while that person was blindfolded? (That exercise was meant to simulate listening and following instructions in the fog and darkness, while the captain in the wheelhouse and the deckhand on the barge are 200 feet apart.)
Data suggests more than 90% of all goods moved in this country are moved over water, and in the next 10 years the industry will see a 30% growth and a need for more individuals to go into maritime careers.
These are good-paying jobs, too: Wages for a starting deckhand are $55,000 a year and up to $150,000 to work in the pilot house.
The maritime interaction day was planned to help showcase the new training center for mariners at the renovated former Riverside Golf Club house. Given the possibilities it may have opened up to some students, it sounds as though it should become an annual event.