Lessening the Carbon Footprint

On October 24th, 2019 the junior class of Vessel Operations and a few students from the junior class of Marine Policy went to the NAMEPA Conference aboard the Hornblower Infinity. That conference was a huge learning experience for all the students that we're able to attend. This conference gave students the opportunity to get a glance of what the maritime industry is going to be like when we enter the workforce. I felt that this helped me with my skills in being able to network and make new connections in the maritime community and give me experience in the real business world. This conference gave us a glance at what changes to expect overtime when we are still going through college. Throughout the conference, they exclaimed how the maritime industry is making its mark to try and save the environment and the steps that they would be taking to achieve their goal by decarbonizing ships by 50% by 2050. I felt that this was a good segway on what the future has to offer and the way that the companies plan to operate the ships when I am going to be entering the workforce. The main event was the keynote event where many keynote speakers had the chance to speak from many positions throughout the maritime industry and present on how their companies are trying to make the world a better place by lowering carbon emissions. The keynote event was an interesting way to get a glance at how every company is pushing its agenda to make the world. Another thing that I learned from the keynote event was how all the companies were still following a guideline for carbon emissions even after President Trump got rid of the Paris Agreement. All of the companies in the maritime industry are following guidelines and regulations from the International Maritime Organization. After the keynote event, the Harbor School students were tasked to make 3 contacts from the maritime industry and learn their point of view of what the industry is like from the inside. I had the ability to learn about international shipping from a company that ships over 20% of the world's food supply. I also had the honor to speak to Captain Jason P. Tama of the United States Coast Guard. I was able to get guided on a track to a future military career of which I wish to pursue. In the end, attending the NAMEPA conference was a great experience for a rising maritime industry student. This experience would not have been possible without the help of the New York Harbor School and the guidance of the Vessel Ops course.

~ Jason Hoffman