Maritime training begins next week for local residents who own and operate alias, so they may be able to obtain the Uninspected Passenger Vehicle (UPV) license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, which will certify them to transport passengers or fisherman.

The USCG certified maritime training, which runs for two and half weeks, is being coordinated by locally based Pacific Marine Services & Maritime Training, whose general manager is Rep. Su’a Alexander Eli Jennings.

“The Coast Guard is very concerned with people not having proper licensing to operate vessels and this is one of the main reasons that we have put together this Coast Guard certified training program, as well as a locally based training program,” Jennings said, adding that the first training course starts next week Tuesday, following orientation on Monday.

“For this training, we are targeting those who already have a vessel to get their UPV license, which allows the licensed operator to carry up to six paying passengers,” he said. “This would be in line with operators of alias to Aunu’u, those between the Manu’a islands and even sports fishermen and charter operators.”

To be UPV licensed, the person must meet certain requirements, as well as log in sea time — operating the vessel at sea — he said and noted that the local company is partnering with Honolulu-based Maritime License Center for this training program.

(Maritime License Center is Hawai’i’s only full-time State approved Maritime Licensing School, offering a full range of Coast Guard approved maritime study programs, according to the company’s website)

Jennings said the Honolulu company is helping the local firm set up a fully certified maritime training school in American Samoa to make it easy for local residents who want to get into the maritime industry to obtain training, schooling and certification.

“The idea of a training school is to help develop our local industry and have our own people be employed with in the maritime industry,” he said. “We are also hoping that when Tri Marine International goes into full swing locally with its operation, they will be able to employ our locally trained and certified residents to work on their vessels.”

Monday’s orientation begins at 10a.m. at suite 108 at the Pago Plaza, which is where the Pacific Marine Services (see advertisement in today’s edition for phone contact) is located. Jennings invites anyone interested to attend the orientation and get more information.