MITAGS has launched a program to supply Maryland mariners with free navigation tools and study materials.
The MITAGS Deck Study & Plotting Pack – Maryland No-Cost Gear Upgrade Initiative is a workforce development program designed to help Maryland mariners advance their U.S. Coast Guard deck credentials by removing financial barriers to essential navigation tools and study materials.
Each pack has an estimated retail value of up to $400 dollars and will be provided to eligible Maryland residents at no charge. The professional-grade navigation and study kit is intended to support mariners from able seaman (AB) to master.
The kits include navigation plotting tools commonly used for Coast Guard exam preparation and license advancement, including a Weems & Plath Basic Navigation Set, additional divider, two navigational triangles, three NOAA nautical training charts, “The American Practical Navigator” (Bowditch), and the Coast Guard “Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook.” Also included are study supplies such as soft drafting pencils and plotting sheets.
“By reducing the financial burden associated with navigation gear and study materials, we hope to create more opportunities for mariners to pursue credential upgrades and strengthen the maritime workforce,” said Catherine Gianelloni, director of MITAGS East.
Maryland residents must complete a survey to receive the grant. MITAGS will schedule a time for recipients to pick up kits in person.
Funding is through a joint effort between Maryland Department of Labor, Maryland Works for Wind, Baltimore County Department of Economic & Workforce Development, and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Good Jobs Challenge grant program, administered by the Economic Development Administration.