MaritimeX
Paid Maritime Career Exploration Fellowship
Explore and experience marine trades, engineering, and vessel navigation
Every ship at sea needs a builder, a fixer, and a navigator. Which one pulls you?
MaritimeX is a five-month, paid fellowship that takes you deep into the maritime industry through two hands-on pathways.
- In Build & Fix It, you'll work on the trades and engineering alongside tradespeople and marine engineers at industry training facilities, exploring the welding, electrical, and rigging skills that keep vessels running.
In Navigate It, you'll step into the world of deck officers and ship’s crews, experiencing a bridge simulator and sailing on the San Francisco Bay. You’ll also get some exposure to the business and logistics side of the maritime industry.
Along the way, you'll build the durable skills — character, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, leadership — that carry into any career and create a personalized career plan informed by months of hands-on experience.
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
Hear from students and get a feel for Ridgeline programs in this Hands-On Deck video feature.
Program highlights
paid:
MaritimeX fellows who meet program attendance and engagement requirements receive a learning stipend of $1,000
whAT:
30+ hours hands-on experience and 30+ hours durable skill building in a maritime context
who:
- 11th and 12th graders in the Bay Area’s Contra Costa County
- Priority given to applicants from low-income backgrounds
- 50 spots available
WHEN:
- December 2026 - April 2027
- Weekly afterschool on Tuesdays 4:30 - 6:30 PM + full-day work-based learning intensives
- See full schedule here
Location:
- Afterschool sessions in West Contra Costa County (likely Richmond; final location confirmed by early October)
- Full-day intensives at industry partner sites (primarily in the East Bay)
Application deadline:
- Priority deadline: September 25, 2026 9 AM
- Final deadline: October 9, 2026 9 AM
- We review applications on a rolling basis, and spots are limited, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible
Get paid to launch your future in maritime
This five-month, out-of-school time program is built for 11th and 12th graders in the Bay Area’s Contra Costa County who are curious about what’s next beyond high school.
Through site visits, hands-on training, and conversations with professionals, you’ll:
- Discover high-paying maritime jobs in the trades, marine engineering, and vessel navigation
- Explore different career paths – from apprenticeships and hands-on training programs to college
- Build durable skills like communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and self-awareness
- Build your resume and career plan
- Get paid!
Whether you want to work the trades that keep ships running or take the helm, MaritimeX is your starting line.
APply here today!
Priority deadline: September 25, 2026, 9 AM
Final deadline: October 9, 2026, 9 AM
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The earlier you apply, the better your chances of securing a spot!
Application & Selection Timeline
Sept. 15
Information session:
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
(Zoom Link)
Sept. 25
Priority application deadline:
9:00 AM
oct. 9
Final application deadline:
9:00 AM
OCT. 5 - Oct. 30
15-minute virtual interviews
Oct. 21 - Nov. 3
Decision notifications
What You’ll Need to Do
To apply for MaritimeX, complete the online application by October 9, 2026. As part of the application, you’ll need to:
Answer a few questions about your background and career interests
Submit one video response (2-3 minutes) - Why MaritimeX? Introduce yourself and tell us why you are interested in the MaritimeX Fellowship and how you think MaritimeX can help you reach your career goals.
Submit one written response (300-500 words) - Initiative & Problem-Solving Story: Describe a time when you noticed a problem, stepped in without being asked, and saw it through, even when it wasn't easy. What led you to act, and what did you do? It's okay if it didn't go perfectly; we're just as interested in how you handled it as in the outcome. What did this experience teach you about how you show up when no one is directing you? (This can be something from school, work, or your personal life. It doesn't have to be maritime related.)
For Application assistance
Have questions about your application, need help uploading your video response, or want a second set of eyes before you submit? Sign up for a free 15-minute slot with our team. Bring your draft, your tech troubles, or just a "does this sound okay?" We'll help you sort out logistics, answer any questions, and give honest, quick feedback so you can apply with confidence.
Why should I join this pathway program?
Join a program that goes way beyond the classroom. If you're already thinking about a career on or near the water — MaritimeX Fellowship: Paid Career Exploration Fellowship is your chance to explore, experience, and start building your future. Here are some of the program benefits for MaritimeX.
Explore a range of maritime careers
From deckhands and marine engineers to lesser-known roles like riggers and marine oilers, you'll get to discover maritime jobs you might not have heard of, but could be a great fit for your talents and interests.
Learn by doing - and get paid!
You won't just hear about careers, you'll experience them. Through hands-on trade rotations, a bridge simulator, sailing with a crew, and site visits, you'll get a feel for what different roles are really like. And yes, you'll get paid for showing up and putting in the work.
Connect with employers
Meet maritime professionals, ask questions, get advice, and start building your network and social capital. You'll gain insight into what it takes to succeed and how to start preparing now.
Get clear on your next career steps
With the help of career reflection tools, you'll walk away with more clarity, confidence, and a plan for the next steps in your career journey.
Am I eligible to join?
Ridgeline’s MaritimeX fellowship is designed for young people who are:
In 11th or 12th grade
Note: Students under 18 will need a parent/guardian consent form to participate.
Living in or attending school in the Bay Area’s Contra Costa County
Priority given to applicants from low-income backgrounds.
Can commit to attending ALL afterschool sessions and full-day intensives
From December 2026 through April 2027.
Review the detailed schedule here.
Curious about maritime career options
Excited to learn, meet new people, and try new things.
No GPA or Maritime experience required
Just motivation, curiosity, and commitment!
Can I commit to the program requirements?
Regular program times:
- All program sessions meet in-person from December 2026 through April 2027
- Weekly afterschool sessions run on Tuesdays, 4:30 - 6:30 PM
- Full-day intensives typically run 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Understand attendance requirements
To receive the learning stipend, fellows must be present, prepared, and fully engaged at each session with at least an 85% attendance rate. Successful participation in the capstone showcase at the conclusion of the program is also required prior to final payment disbursement. Please review the session dates and times carefully.
What if MaritimeX overlaps with my school schedule?
Before you apply, check with your school counselor about independent study contracts. MaritimeX's full-day intensives are scheduled around school holidays and breaks, but Bay Area school districts don't all follow the same calendar. If an intensive date falls on a school day for you, an independent study contract ensures your absence is excused and your school keeps its funding.
The MaritimeX Journey
Actual program scope may vary based on employer and training partnerships.
December-January
Sea Trials
Build your professional foundation. Reflect on who you are, how to make a strong first impression, and how to communicate and problem-solve like a maritime pro. Pass your durable skills assessment to earn your MaritimeX polo — your ticket to work-based learning. Take a field trip to the USS Hornet, a decommissioned WWII aircraft carrier now docked as a museum in Alameda, where you’ll walk the flight deck and engine spaces of a historical working ship.
February
Below Deck
Get hands-on with marine trades and engineering. Spend two days trying trade skills in an industry training facility — welding, electrical, painting, and hoisting at the Working Waterfront Coalition, plus hands-on time at Cal Poly Maritime Academy.
Along the way, reflect on your growing strengths and skills, and get an introduction to social capital: the relationships that can open doors in your career.
March
Safe Harbor
Get a taste of what safety and responsibility look like on the water, the mindset every maritime professional needs before they ever step aboard.
Build your networking skills through informational interviews, start planning your next steps with goal-setting and backwards mapping, and get real-world financial literacy — including what it actually costs to pursue a maritime training program.
April
At the Helm
Get hands-on time in the bridge simulator at Cal Poly Maritime Academy, practicing chart-reading and navigation, and out on San Francisco Bay sailing with Afterguard Sailing Academy — learning knot-tying and what it takes to work as part of a crew.
Run through a job search bootcamp, then move into capstone prep, building your career poster and practicing your final presentation.
.jpg)
April
Making Port
Bring it all together. Present your career plan at your Making Port showcase — celebrating five months of exploration, skill-building, and relationships with maritime professionals.
What kind of jobs can I get in the maritime industry?
Navigation
Marine Engineering & Shipyard Trades
Wage ranges reflect BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) percentile data for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro areas.
Want to explore more?
The tables above cover sample jobs within the MaritimeX pathways, but the maritime industry offers dozens more career routes. Here are two free tools that can help you go deeper:
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook – Water Transportation Workers: Browse detailed profiles for water transportation careers, including job duties, education requirements, pay, and job outlook.
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook – Marine Engineers and Naval Architects: Explore the four-year engineering and design side of maritime careers, covering education requirements, pay, and job outlook for degree-track roles.
O*NET OnLine: Search any specific maritime job title — deckhand, marine engineer, ship's mate, and more — to see typical duties, required skills, and career outlook.
APply here today!
Priority deadline: September 25, 2026, 9 AM
Final deadline: October 9, 2026, 9 AM
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The earlier you apply, the better your chances of securing a spot!
FAQs
Yes! In fact, qualifying fellows receive a learning stipend of $1,000. We’ll also cover snacks, materials, and certification costs.
The term fellowship is often used for programs that are funded, cohort-based, involve an application process, and offer resources to support your development. Fellowships typically ask for a bigger commitment than traditional extracurricular or after-school programs — and lead to more advanced outcomes as a result. We're proud to call this program a fellowship and our participants fellows to highlight this sense of commitment, community, and growth. Plus, it helps boost your resume!
No experience required. The program is designed for curious students who want to explore maritime careers from the ground up. Your willingness to learn and commit matters far more than prior knowledge.
Not at all! This program is about deep maritime career exploration. If you’re curious about maritime, open to learning, and ready to discover new paths you might not have considered before – MaritimeX is for you.
Yes. All MaritimeX fellows who complete the program will receive a Certificate of Completion that can be added to your resume.
Qualifying fellows will receive stipends with payments distributed twice throughout the program and once at the end – after key work-based learning requirements are met.
You’ll receive more details about payment and expectations if you’re selected. Just remember: showing up, participating fully, and staying engaged is how you earn your stipend and have the most rewarding experience!
Your learning stipend can be used for transportation to participate in this program. We will also offer need-based prepaid transportation cards or reimbursement options to support participants who need assistance getting to work-based learning sites.
Print or share flyers and download or share graphics for your school, class, newsletters, social media, or websites, or digital screens, using this marketing toolkit. Reach out to bonnie@ridgelinepathways.org if you would like to collaborate on marketing or need additional materials.
Thank you to our community partners and funders!
Ridgeline is offering the MaritimeX Fellowship as a paid program for students thanks to the generous support of philanthropic funders, donors, and community partners, including Cal Poly Maritime Academy, the Ignite Fund of the Roberts Foundation, Payette River Foundation, USS Hornet Museum, and Working Waterfront Coalition.
Let's partner!
We’re looking to fundamentally change how education connects to economic opportunity. Are you ready to get involved?
Reach out to hello@ridgelinepathways.org
Ways to donate
Donations have an immediate and long-term impact. Your support means young people have the resources and pathways to reach their education and career goals.
PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Let’s create hands-on learning opportunities and build career pathways together. Grow your organization’s engagement, build your talent pipeline, and be a part of community impact.
