Esbjerg is the world's largest shipping port for wind turbines, and the work of handling blades, towers and nacelles requires trained labour. That much is clear after Thursday's conference for the Port and Terminal Training, which took place in the so-called Mønstringhus in Esbjerg Harbour.
The dock workers are day laborers who come in at 07, 10 or 13 – this is where the day's work is distributed. Qualifications play a big role here, because driving licences, truck licenses and crane operator's licenses are skills that are questioned. That is why the vocational training (EUD) for port and terminal workers was established in 2012. Now, 12 years later, one woman is starting the training. She will be the first woman to receive the education when she finishes.
Esbjerg is the center of the education, and regardless of whether you come from Kalundborg or Copenhagen, there is no way around AMU West, although some modules may be taken at other AMU centers during the education.
Enormous interest in the conference
The organizers of the conference had hoped for 20 or at most 30 participants – but expectations were put to shame, and all 60 places available were filled.
- It has become a much bigger conference than expected. This clearly shows the need to get young people into this education, said Jan Larsen, who is an internship placement consultant at Transportererhvervets Uddannelser (TUR), which also includes port and terminal worker training.
One of the speakers, perhaps even the most important Esbjerg Port director Dennis Jul Pedersen, had canceled because he was hospitalized after feeling unwell on Wednesday. However, several participants in the conference reported on SMS contact with the port director, who is popular and respected both among the dock workers and the trade unions. However, the port director was present in a video about the training.
- As Dennis just said, Esbjerg is number one in the world for shipping offshore wind turbines. We are because we have a competent and trained workforce. Our port is number one because we have an agreement as well as qualified and educated people, otherwise we would not be here today, said 3F chairman Jakob Lykke, who also had a warning:
- If we don't continue to educate, then others will run with the work in five and ten years.
The trade unionist had recently returned from Australia, where he had been meeting with other unions for dock workers from around the world. And he sees differences in Esbjerg compared to the rest of the world.
- We talk to Siemens Gamesa and Vestas, so we know their needs. That is why we are in the super league here in Esbjerg, said Lykke.
The young people must take the education
Education consultant Michael Ørum Henriksen from Transport Industry Education (TUR) drew a clear picture of who takes the education.
- All are men and they are over 25 years old, he said.
Here came the 3F chairman with a message for all parents.
- We must be better at telling about this education and the work as a dock worker, so that our children also choose that education, said Jakob Lykke.
Easy to get started
Department manager John Møller Jensen from AMU West in Esbjerg made it clear at the same time that it takes a lot to get young people in.
- We need up to 12-15 apprentices to create a study environment among the young, says John Møller Jensen, who is doing his part to attract more people to the programme:
- We offer a school home for young people here in Esbjerg, and the older ones are sent to Ribe.
However, it is possible to take parts of the education at the other AMU centers where you live.
- It is typically eight to ten weeks for the adults in Esbjerg. We do what we can to make it easier for those who come a long way from Esbjerg, he says.
You shouldn't hold back here either if you struggle with the book skills.
- I have not yet experienced someone with challenges such as dyslexia or bad school experiences in their baggage who has not made it through the education, says John Møller Jensen.
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