MITAGS & PMI Celebrate Latest Workboat Mate Program (500/1600 GRT) Graduation Ceremony

MITAGS and PMI have now graduated highly trained and motivated mate candidates from both campuses. Industry sponsored, and MITAGS/PMI built, the Coast Guard “approved” Workboat Mate Program has provided many new mates to the tug and barge companies of the West coast, and now the East and Gulf coasts.

Last week’s graduation ceremony at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) might be viewed by some as just another day in the life of a few U.S. mariners. On the other hand, this proven 500/1600 GRT training program continues to offer domestic U.S. Tug and OSV companies the best source of talent for new mates. And, as six new graduates headed off to assignments with two sponsor companies, the concept of how America will prepare its future maritime officers took another step forward.

“It is our contention that the graduates of this program who are entering our fleet may be the most well-rounded and thoroughly prepared mates available in the industry today.” Dale Sause of Sause Brothers towing is not alone in his praise of the innovative program, which was conceived by Gregg Trunnell of PMI and Glen Paine of MITAGS. But, only through the foresight of the many participating companies; such as U.S. United Ocean Services, Moran Towing, Vane Brothers, Dan Marine Towing, K-SEA Transportation and Penn Maritime, have domestic operators in the brown water trades positioned themselves to continue building their fleet training programs, even in this tight economic time.

The May 15th workboat mate program graduation featured students, families, staff, company representatives and federal officials in attendance. Acting Deputy Administrator, James E. Caponiti, gave the keynote speech, which provided an excellent overview of the maritime industry and stressed the importance of this type of program. Ian Palmer, Manager of Marine Personnel for U.S. United Ocean Services, provided glowing remarks attesting to the quality of the students he had observed working as apprentices in his company over the last 2 years and MITAGS’ own Walt Megonigal gave a stirring speech on the importance of leadership and the role it will play in the student’s future careers.

Megonigal told the gathered throng that the maritime inland and near coastal industry is changing. His understated remarks touched upon changes that included the industry’s business model; vessel and barge technology and ultimately, the professional culture of those who go to sea in this environment.

The serious nature of his talk also provided the new officers with inspiration and encouragement. “With those changes will come ever expanding personal opportunities for you. The cultural change that will become most important and apparent to you is the fact that to be successful in this profession you will have to commit to a practice of lifelong (or career long) education and training. Education to stay abreast of an ever increasing base of knowledge and training to advance and increase the proficiency level of your professional skills.” Megonigal added, “By the way, today, that is the case with every profession worth considering.”

MITAGS’ May 2009 graduates included Erik Boothe (U.S. United Ocean Services), Preston Bordok (Moran Towing Corporation), Joseph Cop (U.S. United Ocean Services), Jason Eamich (U.S. United Ocean Services), Hamilton Mussenden (U.S. United Ocean Services) and Danny Tylman (U.S. United Ocean Services). As many as 13 additional candidates stand poised to follow them in the coming 18 months.

On the Web: http://www.mitags.org/
Pacific Maritime Institute’s First Graduation Class on the Web: http://www.mates.org/pdfs/Press_releases/Workboat_Academy_Grad_Release.pdf
PMI’s Mate’s Program on the Web: http://www.mates.org/mate500-1600.html
PMI' Mate's Program Description: www.workboatacademy.com