The Fremont Rotary Club has given its annual Vocational Award to Kvichak Marine Industries, a 25-year-old leader in design and construction of aluminum boats with more than 125 employees.

The company is known for developing its own training program for welders. "In the last year, it has become acutely problematic to find skilled workers," said Kvichak Principal Brian Thomas.

Kvichak trainers teach steel welders more specialized tasks required for aluminum boat building with classrooms and practice on the floor at the company's factory at 459 N.W. Bowdoin Place.

"We're very pleased with the results we're seeing from the graduates of our class. And the second class is already underway," said Thomas.

"Those of us in Rotary International see vocational service as one of the four crucial avenues in which people serve their community and the world," said Fremont Rotary President John Booker.

Kvichak is now working with Nichols Brothers Boats to built two 140-passenger ferries for the San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority that will be 85 percent cleaner than the 2007 Environmental Protection Agency regulations require.