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KIVALLIQ - A total of 16 students from Nunavut and the western Arctic are training for a career on the water in Hay River, N.W.T., this month.

The group is enrolled in a bridge watchman program sponsored by the Northern Transportation Company Ltd. (NTCL).

Among the group are Kivalliq students Daniel Taylor of Rankin Inlet, Jimmy Pingushut, Dustin Illnik and Trevor Etuangat of Arviat and Christopher Nakoolak of Coral Harbour.

The nine-week program is a Transport Canada-certified deckhand course which allows a graduate to work on any vessel in Canada.

NTCL's regional manger of community support and human resources, Annie Steen, said she's been trying to bring the course to the North for about five years.

She said NTCL projects a marine shortage in the near future due to the growth of the company and personnel retirements.

"In addition to their certified deckhand, course graduates will also have their marine firefighting, basic first aid and basic safety certificates," said Steen.

"NTCL fully intends to place the graduates on its vessels, whether that's in the western Arctic or the Kivalliq.

"Two of the top students will get to serve with the Canadian Coast Guard.

"Based on his performance to date, one of the Kivalliq students stands a good chance of being one of the two selected for that chance of a lifetime."

In order to serve with the Coast Guard, in addition to the bridge watchman program, a candidate must have their enhanced security clearance and Grade 12 diploma, as well as pass a marine medical in Edmonton.

Steen said one of NTCL's goals is to bring more training to the North, as opposed to sending Inuit and Inuvialuit to Vancouver or Nova Scotia for training.

She said students have a greater chance to succeed if they take a program close to home with their peers, rather than being on their own in a strange city.

"This is our inaugural program and its future success is based on these guys, so they have a lot of weight on their shoulders.

"How they perform in Hay River will determine whether NTCL will run future courses, because this is quite an expensive program and we're putting the money out up front.

"I've been able to form a number of partnerships to help with the program, including the Government of Nunavut, Kivalliq Partners in Development, the Kitikmeot Economic Development Commission and the Kakivak Association.

"So every region in Nunavut is participating in this program, which is truly a homegrown operation."