PORTLAND, Ore. -- A local program is training a new generation of welders for Portland's shipyards.

As part of the program, students first learn their skills at Portland Community College and the Swan Island Training Center. Vigor Marine, a ship-building company, hires the best and gives them on-the-job training and experience.

"You're going to be trained to do everything: rigging, fitting, grinding," said Mike Rasmussen, a welding instructor. "This program offers students to come in with no experience, knowing nothing about this trade."

Erin Martin is a new recruit, but before she got her welding certificate, she had to graduate from a drug rehabilitation program.

"I've totally done a 360 on my life," Martin said.

Even though Martin works on big ships, she often works in tight quarters.

"You have, like, three or four feet to stand up in and you've got to lay on your back and do overhead grinding for three or four hours in those awkward positions," Martin said.

When construction jobs weren't coming, Josh Mortensen decided to try welding. He said it's harder than it looks.

"You might have to weld overhead where you can't see what you're welding on and just kind of do it by feel," Mortensen said.

Rasmussen has been a welder for 40 years and has worked on vessels that have sailed the Columbia River into the Pacific.

"You don't see it again and some day, later on in your life, you see it come up the river and it's like, 'Wow, I built part of that,'" Rasmussen said.

Welding is a good way to make a living, Rasmussen said.

A beginning welder makes $25,000 to $30,000 a year. An experienced welder can make up to $50,000 a year.

Program Trains Welders For Shipyards