Anchors away at Marine Tech International

In March 2002, the NMC Small Business Development Center hosted 14 students who were in the process of enhancing their career options through a unique four-week intensive boat captain-licensing course.

According to Marine Tech International Corp. the primary objective of the course was to help the students obtain their boat captain license, improve their livelihood, and kick-start their career in the marine industry.

MTI is devoted to serve as a training/document center for Merchant Mariners who work and live in the Marianas and hold U.S. Coast Guard licenses.

Jervy Babauta, who recently graduated from the Captain’s Course, said, “I got hired full-time with Saipan Crewboats Inc. and will be making three times more money with full benefits when my license comes in a week.”

“I really enjoy my work as it takes me to Guam, Rota, Tinian, Alamagan, Pagan, Agrihan, Wake Island and the Philippines. I also wish I could have been involved in a recent rescue operation the company did in China but I wasn’t able to due to being in the captain’s course,” Jervy added.

The professionally certified staff and management of Marine Tech International is continuing to offer CNMI and Guam residents that are age 18 and older the opportunity to get quality training to start a career in the maritime field working in the deck department as a seaman.

“This is a very large industry that welcomes you to start a professional career and travel the world. These professional positions are very well paid and advancement is unlimited so that you can obtain your desired goals,” MTI said.

For example, you might have seen opportunities in various newspapers about employment with Norwegian Cruise Lines that operate cruise ships in and around the Hawaiian Islands. They are currently looking at hiring several thousand people over the next two years to work onboard their cruise ships. The Seaman’s International Union has an office in Guam that hires for NCI and other large shipping companies.

Justin M. Reyes just came back from working four months on the deck department aboard an NCI ship, the Pride of Aloha, in the Hawaiian Islands.

“To all my CNMI friends, this is a great opportunity to start a career, with benefits that will go toward advancement, not just a job to work for a couple months. This is where all interested applicants need to concentrate in order to better and improve their lives. My next contract will be four months on and one month paid vacation with a ticket home, four months on and so on. …I’m looking forward to relaxing for the next month and going back to work strong,” Reyes said.

MTI said it recognizes the favorable circumstances for offering maritime career opportunities to local residents in the CNMI and Guam and will devote the time and energy to working closely with schools and colleges. MTI also works closely with government agencies like the NMC SBDC, CNMI Workforce Investment Agency and the CNMI Office of Vocational Rehabilitation to best suit and promote training for local citizens to improve their lives.

Eric Plinske, director of the NMC SBDC, noted that the formation of Marine Tech International and the overall course objectives blend in with the SBDC’s mission of assisting local entrepreneurs to grow their skill sets.

“When you think about it, enhancing your professional growth during a recession makes sense because the graduating students will be well positioned to immediately increase their salaries and take advantage of new job opportunities,” Plinske said.

Several of the boat captain students had similar thoughts.

“We enjoy being on the water and interacting with the tourists. We’ll have a greater opportunity to achieve that goal by getting our captain’s license. And the pay is much better!,” the added, laughing.

MTI has a strict school code policy. Prior to enrolling the student will need to acknowledge and abide by the codes that cover enrollment requirements, attendance policies, and student conduct policy.

Prospective enrollees are encouraged to visit or contact the NMC Small Business Development Center at 235-1551 to view and collect materials relative to Marine Tech classes. (PR)