Maryland offshore wind training center opens for business

Arcon’s new training center which will support the U.S. offshore wind and onshore industries has opened its doors after receiving approval from the Global Wind Organization (GWO).

The new purpose-built center has been developed by ARCON Training Centre in Maryland, along with the UK’s AIS Training.

Located at Arcon’s existing training facility in Salisbury, the center passed the comprehensive GWO audit process and is now approved to offer GWO Basic Safety Training.

Besides delivering GWO Working at Height, GWO Manual Handling, GWO Fire Awareness and GWO First Aid, it will offer GWO Sea Survival courses in a short time, with sea survival being the added module required for personnel working offshore.

The new training facility incorporates a 24-foot-high training tower, climbing and rescue platforms and an open area for manual handling training, a fire awareness training structure and area, as well as newly equipped classrooms, office space and communal areas.

AIS Training helped design the new center, develop the course portfolio, train the instructors and supported obtaining the GWO accreditation.

“We are delighted and extremely proud to have gained the highly coveted GWO-approval, which allows us to now offer industry-accredited training for the fast-growing U.S. wind industry for the very first time,” said Katarina Ennerfelt from Arcon Training Centre.

“The growth and positive impact that this opportunity will have for the Eastern Shore of Maryland is limitless. We have always pushed and advocated for jobs and continued education in the trade and labour market and to be part of something that will create thousands of jobs and opportunities for people in the Maryland and Delmarva area is truly an amazing feeling.”

AIS Training and Arcon announced the center at the end of 2019 and planned to have it completed by April 2020, which was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.