AVTEC, the statewide post-secondary vocational training center, has received a $95,000 donation that will support its arctic and ice navigation readiness project, upgrading the school’s full mission bridge ship simulator to enhance its ice navigation capabilities.
The donation from the refining, marketing and logistics company Andeavor was prompted by a two-day training event sponsored by Andeavor (formerly Tesoro) and hosted at AVTEC’s Alaska Maritime Training Center. The event gave more than 30 ship masters and pilots the opportunity to hone their skills in navigating the ice-covered waters of Cook Inlet.
The licensed deck officers participated in 10 training scenarios navigating through ice in Cook Inlet that was programmed into the Alaska Maritime Training Center’s three interactive full mission bridge ship simulators. Andeavor announced the gift during the training event.
State Labor Commissioner Heidi Drygas said the donation would ensure that AVTEC continues to be a leader in providing top quality maritime training for Alaskans.
“With a long history of responsible operation in the state, we know that Alaska’s maritime environment is one of the most challenging in the world,” said Marc Bayer, senior director, marine operations at Andeavor. “This investment in AVTEC and our collaboration with the Alaska Maritime Training Center to strengthen regional preparedness is keenly aligned with who we are and our steadfast commitment to protect the environment and create cleaner, safer communities.”
