MITAGS/PMI

Excerpt from U.S. Coast Guard “Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council” magazine.

Full article by Mr. Glen M. Paine, Executive Director, Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies, is available at www.uscg.mil/proceedings/fall2008.


Collaborating with industry and labor to “prepare for the future” probably best describes the organizational philosophy of Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) and its West Coast counterpart, the Pacific Maritime Institute (PMI).

Both institutions are part of the non-profit trust, the Maritime Advancement, Training, Education, and Safety (MATES) program. Together, they provide more than 150 training courses. Major offerings include:

· STCW-953 AB to mate program (22 weeks, for third mate unlimited license);
· STCW-95 workboat mate program (two-year apprenticeship earns 500/1,600-ton near coastal/oceans with the mate of towing endorsement);
· STCW-95 chief mate/master program (12 weeks, for an unlimited tonnage chief mate/master license);
· marine safety (firefighting, medical, and endurance);
· port and vessel operational research using full mission ship simulation.

Re-establishing the Chief Mate/Master Pathway
A major impetus for this approach was the implementation of the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchstanding (STCW) code, since it dramatically affects the maritime licensing, recruitment, and retention processes. This calls for more training, and at a higher level, with more resources needed than any one school could provide.

AB to Mate Under STCW
The code also dramatically changed the training requirements for “hawsepipers” upgrading from able-bodied (AB) seafarer to third mate. PMI took on the challenge of developing and implementing the 22 weeks of training now required.

As with the chief mate/master upgrades, many “hawsepipe” sailors have been able to continue their career paths without interruption due to this commitment. In fact, the AB to mate program has been so successful at PMI on the West Coast that it is now being offered at MITAGS.

Opportunities for U.S. Mariners in the LNG Industry
Today, there are more than 40 liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facilities in the planning or construction stage throughout North America. The growth of this industry is bringing new opportunities to mariners ashore and at sea.

On the shore side, MITAGS has been actively involved with pilot organizations and terminal operators in the modeling of terminals, waterways, and the liquefied natural gas carriers that are expected to serve the terminals. The new advances in simulation technologies now allow for accurate simulation and the ability for bridge teams, pilots, and tug masters to train together using integrated exercises.

At sea, MITAGS and the other union training trusts have collaborated with the maritime academies (see below) and the Maritime Administration to establish U.S. training standards for Americans working on these carriers.

About the author:
During his tenure, Mr. Paine has been responsible for the implementation of more than 150 training courses at MITAGS. He possesses a master’s degree in general administration from the University of Maryland and a U.S. Coast Guard chief mate’s license. He is also a 1978 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

For more information:
Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies
692 Maritime Boulevard
Linthicum, MD 21090
(410) 859-5700
http://www.mitags.org/

Maritime Academies:

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y.
http://www.usmma.edu/

California Maritime Academy, Vallejo, Calif.
http://www.csum.edu/

Great Lakes Maritime Academy, Traverse City, Mich.
www.nmc.edu/maritime

Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, Maine
http://www.mainemaritime.edu/

Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay, Mass.
http://www.maritime.edu/

State University of New York Maritime College, Bronx, N.Y.
http://www.sunymaritime.edu/

Texas Maritime Academy, Galveston, Texas
http://www.tamug.edu/corps/


Full article and 124-page “Focus on the Mariner” edition of USCG Proceedings is available at www.uscg.mil/proceedings/fall2008. Subscribe online at www.uscg.mil/proceedings.

Direct requests for print copies of this edition to: HQS-DG-NMCProceedings@uscg.mil.