Maritime Academy nears completion

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Classes will be underway at Ingalls Shipbuilding's Haley Reeves Barbour Maritime Training Academy by the end of summer. The academy, funded through a Hurricane Katrina community development block grant, is meant to provide a skilled workforce and will help Ingalls expand its 2- to 4-year apprentice program to about 1,000 students. It's named after the former governor, who was instrumental in its creation. Mobile, Ala.'s Ben M. Radcliff Contractor Inc. was awarded the $15.6 million contract to construct the facility. It should be complete by August. (Source: Mississippi Press, 05/19/13)