Have your say on a proposed Bridge Watch Rating and Marine Emergency Duties training program

Public Service Announcement

Give feedback on the proposal from Arctic Maritime Training Ltd. to offer a new Bridge Watch Rating and Marine Emergency Duties training program in the Northwest Territories.

If approved, the proposed program would prepare students for entry-level employment in Canada's marine industry through a coordinated 12-week training pathway.

The proposed program includes four courses:

  • A 300-hour Bridge Watch Rating training course focused on navigation support, lookout duties, steering, seamanship, bridge-watch support, pollution prevention, and safe work practices.
  • Basic Safety Training covering personal survival, firefighting, emergency procedures, and shipboard safety.
  • Survival Craft and Rescue Boats training that prepares students to launch, operate, and manage survival craft and rescue boats.
  • Marine Basic First Aid and CPR training to help participants respond to injuries and medical emergencies aboard vessels.

Participants who successfully complete a course will receive a certificate for that course. Completion of the program does not automatically result in a Transport Canada Bridge Watch Rating Certificate, as additional sea service, examinations, and certification requirements must also be met.

The program is intended to help address labour shortages in Canada's marine sector and increase opportunities for northerners to pursue careers in marine transportation and related industries.

Since December 2022, the Post-Secondary Education Act and Regulations have guided the Government of the Northwest Territories' work to build a comprehensive post-secondary education system. Under these requirements, when a post-secondary institution applies to offer a new program, the application is posted publicly for 15 business days to allow the public and other NWT post-secondary institutions to review and provide feedback.

Residents can email their feedback to advancededucation@gov.nt.ca, until November 11, 2026. Comments received will be considered as part of the GNWT's review process.

For media requests, please contact:

Agata Gutkowska
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Education, Culture and Employment
Government of the Northwest Territories
ecepublicaffairs@gov.nt.ca