Maritime surveyor wants students to bank on STEM for career opportunities
Published:Thursday | April 3, 2025 | 12:11 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Kenre Valentine, a maritime surveyor with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), wants primary and secondary school students across the country to embrace science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to prepare themselves for careers as shoreside navigators and engineers in the global shipping industry.
Valentine, who was addressing Manning’s School’s second annual STEM Day activities in Westmoreland yesterday, made the appeal to the students against the backdrop of a major shift in the shipping industry – one that will drastically reduce human interaction aboard cruise and cargo vessels due to advancements in STEM-related technologies.
“The future of shipping will see vessels navigating without any human interaction on board. Research is advanced, and trials have already been conducted,” said Valentine. “The crew will be significantly reduced, and, in many cases, replaced. This shift will improve safety as vessels navigate our waters.”
The annual STEM Day activities was staged under the theme ‘STEM in Jamaican Culture: Exploring the Intersection of Heritage and Technology’.
In keeping with the modern trend, Valentine told the attendees that with the STEM-related jobs, it is possible for them to work from the comfort of their homes.
Valentine further explained that the transformation that is taking place is being driven by automation, artificial intelligence, and remote monitoring systems, all of which are reshaping maritime operations on a global scale.
He also noted that the shipping industry is now exploring the use of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships, which are vessels capable of operating with varying degrees of independence without human interaction. These advancements, he noted, could potentially lead to full autonomous or remote-controlled operations.
Despite the changes that are looming on the horizon, Valentine said it would create the scope for new technological advancements, which can be readily exploited by persons who have attained the requisite skills.
“This will increase the demand for shoreside support, engineers, and shoreside navigators. Just as you sit and play games on your phone, you could soon be navigating a ship from Kingston Harbour to Montego Bay from your living room,” said Valentine.
“There are several career opportunities within STEM, including software engineering, environmental science, medical and healthcare, maritime engineering, and logistics. As we look towards the future, we encourage you to get involved, whether in robotics, science, or other STEM-related fields,” Valentine told the attendees.