Saipan firm Pacific Subsea has new submarine captain
Pacific Subsea Saipan Inc., Saipan’s largest marine tour operator, introduces the company’s newest submarine pilot/captain, Alfred Matsunaga.
Matsunaga had just completed training, testing and licensing for his specially endorsed U.S. Coast Guard Masters License for submarine pilot.
According to Jack McClure, Pacific Subsea vice president, Matsunaga will join other licensed captains who serve aboard the Pacific Subsea fleet of passenger vessels.
The well-known Saipan submarine tour company has been in operation 20 years, accommodating over one million tourist guests on their various vessels.
Recently, in response to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s call to train and employ from the labor pool on Saipan, Subsea embarked on an in-house training program in conjunction with USCG toward that goal.
Individual training is accomplished “on the job” while serving as unlicensed crew working upwards aboard the sub and other vessels.
Requirements for licensing are set by USCG and the operator. Each pilot candidate must meet the standards of vessel master/captain and pass a special testing especially for this class of submersible.
“It generally takes one year to accumulate the required experience, sea time and pass the tests,” said McClure. “We are pleased to add Alfred to our list of certified sub pilots.” [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]
