RiverWorks Discovery Hosts Two NOLA ‘Who Works The Rivers’ Events

RiverWorks Discovery and representatives from the New Orleans area’s maritime industry joined forces November 15 and 17 to host two “Who Works the Rivers” events at the Port of New Orleans. The first day drew more than 180 students from high schools in Jefferson Parish, while day two attracted an estimated 230 students from Orleans Parish. In total, those students represented 24 area schools.

During the career discovery event, students had the chance to interact with pilots who guide deep-draft ships between the Gulf of Mexico and ports along the Lower Mississippi River, hear the importance of personal protective equipment like steel-toe boots and hard hats, learn about transloading cargoes at inland ports and terminals, test their line-handling skills on the Maritime Throwdown’s mobile course, try on protective gear with the New Orleans Harbor Police, hear a presentation on opportunities within the maritime industry and much more.

RiverWorks Discovery, an outreach program of the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and the National Rivers Hall of Fame, hosts Who Works the Rivers events throughout the year. For more information on how the organization works to educate communities about the commerce, culture, conservation and careers on the rivers and watersheds of the United States, visit www.riverworksdiscovery.org.

(Photos by Frank McCormack)