Ocean Point Terminals has welcomed 15 students into its annual summer internship program, including an engineering student placed through a new partnership with the V.I. Legislature’s summer internship initiative.
The participants range from high school juniors to recent college graduates and are completing assignments lasting between five and eight weeks. Their academic and career interests include finance, automotive technology, information technology, maintenance, operations and engineering.
Ocean Point has partnered with the V.I. Department of Labor since the company’s inception, providing internships through the Labor Investing for Tomorrow program and Summer Youth Work Experience Program. The company also maintains a year-round partnership with the University of the Virgin Islands’ Process Technology program, through which students receive practical experience and exposure to the industry.
The addition of the Legislature’s internship program marks the first time Ocean Point has partnered with that initiative.
“At Ocean Point Terminals, we are committed to creating opportunities that allow students to apply what they have learned in the classroom while gaining exposure to potential career paths within our industry,” said Human Resources Manager Brian Dore.
Dore spoke during a recent meet-and-greet, facility tour and training event for the interns. He said the program is intended to connect students’ education with workplace experience.
“Our goal is to provide a well-rounded experience that helps interns build confidence, develop practical skills, and make informed decisions about their professional futures.”
Dore said the program may also introduce participants to occupations they had not previously considered.
“Our summer internship program provides these students with insight into areas they may not have been aware of and allows them to explore the many opportunities that exist within our industry and this facility,” he added.
All 15 interns completed Site Awareness and Safety Essentials training during the onboarding process. The Safety Essentials course covers fundamental safety rules, regulations and principles within the petroleum industry and serves as an industry benchmark.
Depending on their departmental placements, some interns were also required to complete additional safety and compliance training before starting their assignments.
The students began working at different points during the summer. Some started in June, while others joined in July based on the schedules and requirements of the programs through which they were placed.
Each intern was assigned to a department aligned with the student’s interests, educational background or career goals. In addition to daily duties, participants complete projects and assignments intended to deepen their understanding of departmental responsibilities and the company’s broader operations.
The interns are supporting 12 areas across Ocean Point: Auto Garage, Capital Projects, Finance, Health, Safety and Environmental, Human Resources and Training, Information Technology, Maintenance Craft, Maintenance Engineering, Marine, Supply Chain and Warehouse, Security, and Terminal Operations.
At the end of the program, each intern must deliver a final presentation to the department where the student worked. The presentation will cover major projects, lessons learned and insights gained during the internship.
The exercise is also intended to allow participants to reflect on their professional development, explain how the experience affected their educational and career goals, strengthen their communication and presentation abilities, and demonstrate the value of their contributions to the company.
Ocean Point also recognized the employees serving as mentors to the students.
“Thank you to the departments and team members who have invested their time, expertise, and encouragement to these students,” Dore said. “Your guidance has helped create a meaningful and impactful experience that reflects Ocean Point’s ongoing commitment to developing local talent and fostering excellence within our community.”
The company’s announcement included a group photograph of 12 of the summer interns following the meet-and-greet and facility tour.
Ocean Point Terminals describes its St. Croix operation as an energy logistics hub serving customers that include global oil companies, refiners, trading houses and operators of international infrastructure and distribution networks.
The terminal stores, separates, blends and facilitates the movement of crude oil, fuel oil, liquefied natural gas, bunker fuel, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and liquefied petroleum gases.
The facility contains 167 tanks with approximately 34 million barrels of capacity. It has deep-water access to 11 docks, including an offshore single-point mooring buoy capable of receiving and loading vessels up to very large crude carrier size.
According to the company, Ocean Point is currently the fifth-largest active marine oil and petroleum-products terminal in the world.
Additional information is available at opterminals.com. Ocean Point Terminals Communications may be contacted at 340-692-3209 or [email protected].
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