Students in the Maritime Program are called “midshipmen.” Kagman High School midshipmen, from left, are Michael Tomokane, Stanley Delia, Raymond Borden, Frances Borja, Roby, Leanalyn Reyes, Kenshiro Yanai, Marvin Reyes, William Priest and Vynna Tudela. Flanking the midshipmen are Principal Ben Jones and Captain Mike Bacher.
(WPMA) — Western Pacific Maritime Academy is pleased to announce that it graduated nine Kagman High School students in the Basic Training Personal Safety and Social Responsibility or PSSR Course.
WPMA is teaching maritime courses in a pilot program at KHS and Da’ok High School and will eventually expand to the rest of CNMI high schools. The first course of instruction for training the next generation of professional mariners is applying for a Merchant Marine Credential or MMC.
Students in the Maritime Program are called “midshipmen.” The KHS midshipmen are Michael Tomokane, Stanley Delia, Raymond Borden, Frances Borja, Roby, Leanalyn Reyes, Kenshiro Yanai, Marvin Reyes, William Priest and Vynna Tudela.
The PSSR course is one of several courses that are required for working off shore on ships. PSSR includes topics such as emergency procedures, safe working practices, marine pollution prevention, shipboard communications, and human relations. PSSR is an eight-hour course that was instructed over several sessions.
At KHS, seven of 15 students have completed the MMC application process. The MMC application process consists of getting a Transportation Workers Identification Card, a U.S. Coast Guard medical examination, a Department of Transportation drug test, and other required documents. The MMC application and all maritime courses are generously funded by PSS.
WPMA’s PSS maritime 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.
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.
For further information about PSS programs, contact your principal or talk about it at your PTSA meetings. For additional information about our programs to the general public, or information on how to apply for an MMC, please contact Selina Taitano at staitano@wpma.net/.
