The GUANABARA BAY SHIPYARD-SCHOOL Project has the strategic objective of contributing to the resurgence of the production chain for building fishing vessels in the State of Rio de Janeiro, having as its central axis the perspective of training and community empowerment of fishing communities by carrying out extension and specialization course aimed primarily at fisherfolk and crab gatherer from seven (7) municipalities of the Guanabara Bay Hydrographic Basin (Duque de Caxias, Guapimirim, Itaboraí, Magé, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro and São Gonçalo). The project also anticipates the development of a Popular Communication Plan (Educommunication).  

The training course for craftsmen/artisans in Artisanal Shipbuilding will last 18 months, with the training of two (2) groups of 30 students each throughout the project (a total of 60 students) and will be taught by professors-researchers from public universities (UFRJ and other partner technical-scientific institutions), instructors and artisanal fisherfolk with practical experience in the areas of naval carpentry and joinery.  

In order to provide an effective participation of fisherfolk in the courses and reduce dropouts, considering that they are experiencing a serious situation of digital exclusion that was aggravated by the sanitary pandemic (COVID-19), the project will fund the following direct benefits: (1) Data package of Internet for all those enrolled in the courses; (2) Costs related to transport (commuting to classes) and food for the fisherfolk-students so that they can dedicate themselves to studies and practical activities in the Shipyard-School workshop and efforts aimed at exchanging knowledge; (3) Taking out an insurance policy against possible accidents at work. The course grid will address issues related to accident prevention and these worker health protection measures will be considered and required during practical classes with the use of equipment and tools. 

One of the goals of this technical proposal is to promote an “ecology of knowledge” through a dialogical exchange between technical-scientific knowledge from academia (academic-scientific knowledge), with the perspective of valuing traditional knowledge and/or knowledge in the field of Artisanal Naval Construction. In this way, the aim is to value, in the training/capacity-building provided during the courses, the practical experience of small-scale fisherfolk who work as artisans/craftsmen and, therefore, are professionals who work with naval joinery/ carpentry and have proven practical experience in the field of construction of fishing vessels, although most of these workers do not have a diploma (certificate) or have taken courses at technical-scientific institutions. 

The SHIPYARD-SCHOOL will be headquartered in the Shed (Marine Hangar) managed by NIDES/UFRJ, located on Fundão Island. The training courses for artisans in Artisanal Naval Construction will be taught by professors and researchers from UFRJ and other partner technical-scientific institutions, and by specialists with proven experience in light naval construction and by master craftsmen in the art of naval carpentry and joinery. 

From the 1st month of execution of the project, the Popular Communication Plan (Educomunicação) will be launched with the production of the project’s logo; organization of workshops, management of social media and the website, development of didactic materials for courses and production of video-documentaries. 

The project foresees the holding of the 1st State Seminar for Strengthening the Productive Chain of Fishing Vessels and Promoting Handcrafted Naval Construction for around 90 participants, during the 2nd semester of the project, which will discuss the policies and actions necessary to regain the strength of this production chain, with the participation of government institutions, communities, companies and researchers.