The SA国际影视传媒渘ext generationSA国际影视传媒� of aspiring NWT sailors recently received some valuable training in North Vancouver.

Capt. Dennis Kean, program coordinator at the Western Arctic Marine Training Centre (WAMTC), and one of the organizers of the excursion, is hopeful it will help the group take their studies to the next level.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 to be seen now when I get them back in the classroom here [in Hay River],SA国际影视传媒� he said with a laugh when asked how the training will benefit students.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e the next generation. ISA国际影视传媒檓 finished with [sailing] myself. I spent a lifetime at sea. All I can do now is pass on the knowledge I gained, and I hire instructors to do the same thing, to share their knowledge and experience with the next generation.SA国际影视传媒�

There were eight students on the three-week trip to North Vancouver, all of whom are enrolled in the collegeSA国际影视传媒檚 Bridge Watch Rating North course. Several members of the group had never been outside the NWT before.

The trip itself saw the students undertake their marine emergency duties (MED) training, a component of the larger course. The MED training was broken into SA国际影视传媒渢hree parts,SA国际影视传媒� according to Kean.

SA国际影视传媒淢arine advanced firefighting is the first part,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey do that at the Justice Institute of British Columbia [in Maple Ridge].

SA国际影视传媒淭he second part is basic safety, and the third part is the lifesaving appliances and rescue boats [component]. Those two parts are done at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in North Vancouver.SA国际影视传媒�

Upon completing the training regimen, the students all received three Transport Canada-issued certificates.

When the trip concluded, they headed back to the NWT for a hard-earned week off.

TheySA国际影视传媒檙e set to return to the classroom on March 16.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e going to be plunging into the next six weeks [of the Bridge Watch Rating North program],SA国际影视传媒� Kean said. SA国际影视传媒淭here will be some simulator training. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to line up an instructor to do the helmsman [training]. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e just going to continue to expand their knowledge base of everything ship-related SA国际影视传媒� the bits and pieces of a ship, from the forward back through to the stern.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey have to know everything about the anchoring, the mooring, the maintenance upkeep and being part of the bridge management team, as well as lookout and wheelman, if required.SA国际影视传媒�

There will be many employment possibilities for the eight students who visited North Vancouver once their course is done SA国际影视传媒� due in large part to the ever-present need for trained sailors in Canada.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Canadian Coast Guard is looking for every one of them, to begin with,SA国际影视传媒� Kean said when asked about employment opportunities. Marine Transportation [Services] here in the Northwest Territories needs people. B.C. Ferries is looking for people. Upper Lakes Shipping Company SA国际影视传媒� all the shipping companies SA国际影视传媒� may have a shortage of certified seamen. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 critical for shipping companies to be able to find and keep certified people.

SA国际影视传媒淓ither they have the required number of people on board [these vessels], or they canSA国际影视传媒檛 go,SA国际影视传媒� he added. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 where [WAMTC is] fitting in now in the industry: talking to the industry and offering our people to them.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 quite a bit of excitement in that.SA国际影视传媒�