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Maritime school offers 1st USCG-approved course in CNMI
Western Pacific Maritime offered its first inaugural maritime course to the public last Oct. 17 at the Northern Marianas Technical Institute in Lower Base. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Western Pacific Maritime Academy has announced that it’s offering its U.S. Coast Guard-approved course on the CNMI.
Last Saturday, Oct. 17, WPM offered its first inaugural maritime course to the public The vessel security course was given to a full house of 12 candidates who are either mariners holding a Merchant Marine Credential or those who wish to become professional mariners.
WPMA is a non-profit corporation located right here on Saipan with its maritime offices and classrooms located at Northern Marianas Technical Institute in Lower Base. The academy will be offering a full suite of USCG-approved maritime courses and services to the seafaring public. Included in its offerings are free seminars to the public on how to obtain an MMC.
WPMA’s workforce development program steers candidates into high-paying jobs in the maritime sector as entry level credentialed professional mariners as deck seamen, engineers, or members of the catering department.
An entry level seaman in the U.S. Merchant Marine can earn upwards of $5,000 per month through one of a number of Maritime Unions or Military Sealift Command. In the wake of COVID-19, the maritime sector is experiencing a huge demand for credentialed mariners.
Education Commissioner Dr. Alfred Ada has approved a four-year high school vocational maritime track at Kagman High School, and has signaled his intent to expand the program CNMI wide in the very near future. The PSS Maritime Vocation Track will graduate students to be fully credentialed to enter the maritime workforce as fully credentialed mariners. Within the vocational courses are college-bound STEM courses that will prime students to further their education in one of several Maritime Academies. Maritime colleges graduate deck and engineering merchant officers who may also serve on active duty or reserve officer in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Coast Guard.
For further information on programs, contact Selina Taitano at staitano@wpma.net or Capt. Michael Bacher at (670) 789-1636, mbacher@wpma.net. (PR)
