NAMEPA Conference

Hello, my name is Jasmine Rodriguez and I am currently a junior attending The Urban Assembly New York Harbor school. My Career Technical Educational Program at the Harbor School is Vessel Operations. Where our students are equipped and focus on learning the knowledge of navigating vessels and performing maintenance engineering from our vessels. In the Vessel Operations program, we are granted some amazing opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and our vessels and to meet influential people that take major roles in the maritime industry. One example of this occurred on October 24th where we vessel juniors were allowed to engage in a conference overseen by an organization named NAMEPA discussing a civic issue that is has developed over some time in the industry. Decarbonization. Decarbonization is the motive of improving and removing carbon from our atmosphere. On vessels one of the major concerns in wanting to improve our environment to start an eco-friendly environment is providing different solutions instead are carbonated fuels to operate vessels all around the world from tankers to cruise ships and even tugs. An organization that seeks on preserving the marine environment by instilling best practices and educating others is the North American Marine Environment Protection Association also known as NAMEPA. This conference was created to engage many occupations from the maritime industry to discuss solutions that can instill for the change of our earth. It was a great opportunity to listen to benefits and solutions where people can seek help for our world, Although this opportunity was given at the conference the highlight of my day was introducing myself to an ITM graduate student, M.S at Suny Maritime, her name is Christine Spencer. She provided me with so much knowledge about attending college. But that's not even the most valuable part of having a conversation with her she connected me to one of her closest friends Brittany Klutz who is dedicated and has similar dreams as I do, in wanting to become a cruise captain so she further gave me specific guided lessons and advice that was truly helpful with this career. I am grateful for Christine and being able to provide me with the information I need to focus on my path to become successful and follow my dreams. Something that really will always stand by me while I motivate myself to want to succeed in my goals is when Christine told me “Never give up on your dreams.” It was great coming from a female perspective just some motivation and encouragement in wanting to follow my goals. Getting to receive this opportunity does not really happen to high school students and I thank my Vessel Operations course for allowing me to seek many opportunities like this and I look forward to many more to come.

~ Jasmine Rodriguez