MITAGS To Host Conference

MITAGS will host the national conference, “Maritime Careers: Implementing the Action Plans for Recruiting and Retaining Mariners” at Linthicum Heights Campus on May 1-2, 2002. Glen Paine, executive director, Maritime Institute of Technology & Graduate Studies (MITAGS) and Pacific Maritime Institute (PMI), Seattle, Wash., announced that MITAGS would host a national conference for national consensus on mariner recruitment and retention at its Linthicum Heights campus on May 1 and May 2, 2002. The American Merchant Marine has been impacted by a critical loss of professional mariners in recent years. The aim of this conference is to build a national consensus and plan that will project a positive image of mariners and create an appreciative awareness of the maritime industry. The conference will bring together representatives from the blue water, brown water, and inland markets that will assist in developing a national strategy for the recruitment and retention of potential candidates and operating professional mariners. Since last year’s Maritime Careers conference, held at USMMA, Kings Point, six working groups were formed to review the areas of Public Education and Awareness, Regulatory Burden/STCW-95 Training, Criminal Liability, Maritime Policy, Lifestyle/Quality of Life, and, Recruitment and Career Path. These working groups will review these issues at the MITAGS conference. Additionally, Secretary Norman Mineta, Department of Transportation, has agreed to be the National Advisor to the White House. MITAGS will host the national conference that will address the findings of the national workgroups. The conference will be co-chaired by RADM Paul J. Pluta, USCG, and Mr. Richard du Moulin, President and CEO of Marine Transport Corporation. Mr. Charles Kurz, Keystone Shipping, and Capt William Gibbs, Osprey Ship Management, will chair the Public Education and Awareness section; Mr. Joe Cox, Chamber of Shipping of America, and Glen Paine, MITAGS, will chair Regulatory Burden/STCW-95 Code and Training; Mr. Steven A. Candito, NRC, and Mr. Ted Tregurtha, Moran Tug Corporation, will chair Criminal Liability; John Gaughan, FABC, and Taylor E. Jones, MARAD, will chair Maritime Policy; Steve Brundrett, Canal Barge, and Kenneth Parris, Offshore Marine Services, will chair Lifestyles/ Quality of Life; and Anthony Naccarato, Marine Transport Corporation, and Ed Kelly, AMO, will chair Recruitment and Career Path.