January 6, 2005: California Department of Boating and Waterways awards Rags the Director's Award for Outstanding Contributions to Recreational Boating Safety.
July 1, 2004: Maritime Institute and Southern California Merchant Marine Training Services merge.
| MARITIME INSTITUTE EARNS NATIONAL ACCREDITATION, SEAL OF EXCELLENCE |
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| “We are proud to have achieved accreditation with the Commission of the Council of Occupational Education,” said Mr. H. G. “Rags” Laragione, president of Maritime Institute. Accreditation is a status granted to an educational institution that has been found to meet or exceed certain criteria of educational quality. “To my knowledge, Maritime Institute is the nation’s only accredited private post-secondary school of its type,” Laragione said.
The Maritime Institute opened in 1976 on Rosecrans Street as a License Examination Preparation School, across the street from it’s present location: 1310 Rosecrans St., Suite G, San Diego, CA 92106. The Maritime Institute soon became a national leader in providing the most complete, comprehensive and up-to-date USCG-approved courses for professional working mariners with an emphasis on safety and environmental awareness. Maritime Institute is different from traditional maritime colleges and universities, because it trains experienced professional mariners, those who are already working in the industry and wish to become US Coast Guard documented or licensed for the first time. It also trains working mariners who need to renew or upgrade a current licenses. US Navy personal have been able combine their experience with our training to obtain US Coast Guard Licenses and “retire” into a second job within the maritime industry. Another important aspect of this new accreditation is that US Navy personnel will be able to use the Navy’s Tuition Assistance Program to help pay for their courses. Maritime Institute Inc. provides courses to assist mariners in obtaining Able Seaman, Master 100 GT (Small Boat Captain License), Master 200-1600 GT, Officer in Charge of a Navigation Watch (Operational Level), and in meeting the Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW-95) requirements. These courses could also be used to assist a Regular Army, Army National Guard and Army reservist working toward an MOS 880, Master of Army vessels and MOS 88K Mate of Army Vessels. For more information, contact Maritime Institute at 619-225-1783.Download Word document copy of this press release. |
SAN DIEGO BOAT SHOW -
On Thursday January 5th 2005. H.G. Rags Laragione President of Maritime Institute received a special award from the Director of California Boating and Waterways in recognition of his outstanding Contributions to Recreational Boating Safety"
The award was presented by Director Raynor Tsuneyoshi.
at the San Diego Boat Show 1-6-05"
Commissioner Tsuneyoshi presentation:
I’m sure that many of you know Rags Laragione, owner and president of Maritime Institute. After retiring from a career in the Navy, followed by a five year sailing adventure, Rags took over the Maritime Institute in 1996. He trains mariners throughout California from Captain 6-pack, 100 ton masters to unlimited class vessels.
In addition to his business role of developing well trained captains, Rags shares his knowledge and experience with the greater recreational boating community through regular speaking engagements and participation in maritime events.
Rags has also contributed many hours of pro bono work for associations giving lessons on safe navigation, rules of the road, use of GPS and EPIRB systems.
It is my pleasure to recognize Rags’ contributions as a valued advocate of the Department of Boating and Waterways. Rags has supported our efforts in many ways.
As we work on behalf of boaters in California to promote safety, increase access
To waterways, and develop facilities, we depend on your partnership the boating community. We rely on people like Rags Laragione, who embodies a commitment to maritime achievement and dedication to superior seamanship.
Rags, please accept this recognition of your contributions to recreational boating safety from the Department of Boating and Waterways."
MERCHANT MARINE TRAINING SERVICES MERGE!
SAN DIEGO, CA (July 1, 2004) — After many years of friendly and professional competition, two renowned merchant marine training schools have announced a merger. Rags Laragione, owner of the Maritime Institute, and Alex Hickethier, owner of the Southern California Merchant Marine Training Services (SCMMTS), announce the merger of their respective schools which are located in San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area. The merged business will operate as Maritime Institute, Inc.
The schools have trained thousands of students over the past twenty plus years, and by merging the extensive talents of both, expect to carry their excellent tradition well into the 21st cen-tury. Already boasting an impressive pass rate for students taking their license exams, the com-bination of both school’s instructors and cur-riculum will be a tremendous benefit to the students.
Students range from San Diego commercial fishermen, harbor tour Captains, Law Enforcement, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, yacht Captains, and of course the largest sport fishing fleet in the U.S. Many students have continued to the license level of a Master Unlimited issued by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Courses now offered range from Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) commonly referred to as six-pack; Master Licenses from 100 tons to 1600 tons; Third Mate Unlimited; Radar; Basic Safety Training; and FCC radio Operators Permit. Their federally approved courses meet or exceed the Title 46 requirements of the United States Code of Federal Regulations and are approved by the Department of Homeland Security, U. S. Coast Guard and the National Maritime Center. These federal agencies strictly regulate the schools. The school is also approved by the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) for California Law Enforcement. In addition, Maritime Institute is certified to teach the International Yachtmaster® Training course which is valid in 26 countries. New programs beginning this year are "hands on" GPS, Radar, Boat handling, and Coastal Navigation training on Maritime Institute’s 37’ sportfisher "Rhumb Punch."
The schools will continue offering free services to students, such as helping with the numerous forms required to apply for or to renew a Merchant Marine License. The school provides considerable help with these applications as well as making most forms available for download on their informative website (http://www.maritimeinstitute.com).
Maritime Institute was founded by Chief Frank Gaines in 1978; and. H.G. "Rags" Laragione has been the President and CEO since 1996. Rags, who is retired from the U.S. Navy, currently holds a U. S. Coast Guard 100 Tons Masters License; a 500 Tons Mates License; towing and sailing endorsements, and an International Yacht-master’s Offshore Instructor’s Certificate for both Power and Sail.
Students can attend classes in San Diego, Dana Point, Newport Beach, Long Beach, San Pedro, Marina Del Rey, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Avila Beach, Monterey, Alameda, San Rafael, Catalina Island, Lake Tahoe, and Page, Arizona. The Mobile Training Team is available to travel anywhere upon request.
For more information contact the Maritime Institute at (619) 225-1783
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