Weld It, Build It, Sail It!
A Reimagined Maritime Careers Festival
Presented By the Hampton Roads Maritime Training System
Date: Sunday, May 17th
Time: 9AM – 5PM
Where: Nauticus
One Waterside Drive, Norfolk, VA 23510
Whether you’re a student, job seeker, or just curious about opportunities in the maritime industry, this event is your chance to connect with industry experts, learn about diverse career paths, and experience hands-on demonstrations that bring the world of maritime to life.
A Reimagined Maritime Careers Festival will feature:
🔹 Meet-and-greetss with professionals from across the maritime field
🔹 Exploration of interactive exhibits and career opportunities
🔹 Exclusive VIP tour aboard the Battleship Wisconsin
🔹 Schooner Virginia deck tours – Offered 10AM-4PM
🔹 Add on: Aquarium Behind-The-Glass Experience
🔹 Add on: Sailing aboard our Harbor 20’s
Ticket Pricing:
Admission: $1 when purchased online in advance.
Tickets increase to $5 on the day of event (May 17) so purchase early!
Members visit for free. To become a member, click here.
🔹Battleship Tours
🔸Battleship 101 – 10AM | 1PM | 3:30PM
🔸Command & Control – 11AM | 2PM
🔸Life in the Engine Room – 12PM | 3PM
🔸VIP Battleship Experience – 1PM
🔹Schooner Virginia Deck Tours – 10AM-4PM
🔹Coloring Zone featuring FREE coloring book – 9AM-5PM
🔹Sailing Workshop
🔸 Enjoy a one-hour intro sail aboard a Harbor 20 with an experienced instructor who will introduce you to the basics of sailing. No experience needed, just a love for water! Runs every half hour from 10AM-4PM. All ages welcome!
🔸Secure my spot now!
🔹Aquarium Behind-The-Glass Experience
🔸 Get a glimpse behind the scenes of our aquarium space in this 30-minute tour. Join a Nauticus Educator to learn about our aquarium animals and what it takes to keep them alive, from water quality and quarantines to feedings and the life support system.
🔸 Learn more here!
Featuring Hands-On Exhibits & Experiences from Our Incredible Partners:
Hampton Roads Maritime Training System – Promotional Table
Learn more about the HRMTS training and career opportunities offered by the Regional Maritime Training System.
Advanced Technology Institute – Interactive Welding Experience
Discover maritime welding technology through curriculum information, welding samples, and an interactive welding display.
Auxiliary Systems, Inc. – Promotional Table
Learn about maritime ship repair through informational materials, company insights, and take-home resources.
Colonna’s Shipyard – Ship Coatings Station
Participants will apply different coats of paint to small steel shims, demonstrating how various coatings are applied to marine ships and emphasizing the importance of corrosion control in the shipyard industry.
Crofton – Outdoor Display Exploration
See the Crofton crane up close and in person in the Nauticus front loop.
East Coast Repair & Fabrication – Ship Repair Trivia Challenge
Test your knowledge of the ship repair industry with a fun and interactive spin-the-wheel trivia game.
Fairlead – Welding Careers & Technology Display
Explore maritime welding careers through video displays and engagement with welders and test coordinators.
Glico Trucking with Port of Virginia – Outdoor Display Exploration
View and interact with the show truck and container for the Port of Virginia.
The Hampton Roads Workforce Council – Workforce Activity Booth
Explore career pathways and workforce resources, with the opportunity to participate in an interactive foil boat challenge.
Naval Criminal Investigative Service – Table Display
Discover careers in federal law enforcement and learn how NCIS supports naval operations worldwide.
Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire & EMS – Outdoor Display Exploration
Explore the Navy Region’s Mid-Atlantic Fire & EMS equipment and visit their booth for hiring information.
NOAA, Office of Coast Survey – Table Display
Explore careers with NOAA while learning how we map the seafloor and create nautical charts through interactive activities.
Old Dominion University – Table Display
Learn about ODU’s maritime and STEM programs and connect with pathways to future careers.
Port of Virginia Maritime Incident Response Team – Outdoor Display Exploration
View and interact with the Port of Virginia’s Maritime Incident Response Team Truck.
QED Systems Inc. – Engineering & Welding Experience
Discover maritime engineering through informational materials, a welding simulator, and interactive electrical demonstrations.
Schooner Virginia – Outdoor Display Exploration
FREE deck tours available behind Nauticus from 10AM – 4PM.
Tidewater Community College – Skilled Trades Academy – Electrical / HVACR Simulator
Step into the world of skilled trades with hands-on electrical and HVACR simulator experiences.
US Coast Guard – Outdoor Display Exploration
Check out the US Coast Guard’s 29ft small boat.
US Navy – Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Six
Check out this outdoor display and demonstration!
Virginia Digital Maritime Center (ODU) – AquaTrak Sphero Challenge
Students will design an attachment for a Sphero Bolt to carry a load across the AquaTrak. They’ll test their designs to see if they can transport the load without taking on water or losing it. Additional tabletop activities may also be available.
Virginia Ship Repair Association – Table Display
Learn about the Virginia Ship Repair Association at Weld It, Build It, Sail It!
Thank You 2026 Sponsors!
Parking is available in all downtown Norfolk garages. We recommend either West Plume or West Main Street garages for a quick stroll to Nauticus. No parking is available onsite at Nauticus.
Please contact our Development Department at development@nauticus.org.