The Tribune

AFTER participating in the Shipyard Apprenticeship Programme – a four year academic and on-the-job training course designed to prepare apprentices for a career in ship repair, Theo Pelecanos will go to Florida International University (FIU) to study Mechanical Engineering courtesy of the Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS).

Pelecanos joined the Shipyard in 2010 as an apprentice and will be graduating from the Apprenticeship Programme next month. He has received a full four-year scholarship valued at over $100,000 and will also receive a portion of his salary while attending FIU.

“The GB Shipyard has been here for 15 years,” said Carl Rotkirch, CEO of GBS. “We are in our infancy here but as we grow we take seriously our responsibility to training Bahamians to work and run this business. Theo is an exceptional young trainee who my staff has recognised as a leader and an exceptional potential engineer for the yard.”

Don Forbes, GBS Training Manager, noted that after graduating from Sunland Baptist Academy, Pelecanos had excelled from day one. “Its very exciting to see this young man going off to study abroad and knowing he will come back and be a great resource for our team,” Mr Forbes said.

Pelecanos will leave this week to start his studies and has lots of support, including from former recipient of a GBS Scholarship Miles Wilkinson, who he said was a great mentor for him during his time at the yard.

“I am so grateful for the possibilities the yard is giving me today,” said Pelecanos. “I am honoured to be chosen from my apprentices to receive additional study grants and because of people like Miles, I know I can come home and show the stakeholders what I am capable of. There are huge possibilities here for Bahamians.”

As the Bahamas is beginning to play a greater role in ship repair and thanks to the opportunities being afforded young Bahamians like Pelecanos and others the industry in the Bahamas will continue to grow in a positive direction. “The talent of Grand Bahama is truly impressive,” concluded Mr Rotkirch. “I have every reason to see it continue and thrive.”