Nordic Tug Owners Support Marine Trade Training at Skagit Valley College
Published November 4, 2019
Capping off our annual rendezvous in May, PaNNTOA members held a charitable auction to benefit students in the Marine Maintenance Technology program at Skagit Valley College (SVC) Generous participants raised nearly $5000 to help fund scholarship and tuition assistance for students preparing for careers in marine trades.
A natural choice for PaNNTOA members
Choosing the SVC program was a natural choice for our auction proceeds. What better way to support the Nordic Tug community than help train the next generation of experts to help us maintain our beloved boats? The Northwest’s strong marine maintenance, repair, and manufacturing industries fuel a high demand for skilled marine technicians. The SVC Marine Maintenance Technology program prepares students for employment in marine propulsion, vessel systems, and marine composites.
The Skagit Valley program has close partnerships with marine manufacturers and service companies. Students train with a faculty of experienced industry experts, led by Department Chair Mike Beemer, pictured here accepting PaNNTOA’s gift check from Commodore Gary White. Students work and learn in the well-equipped lab of the Marine Technology Center – a modern, purpose-built facility near Fidalgo Bay in Anacortes. They can work toward a one-year certificate, a two-year AAS degree, and credentials from American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC), National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA), and American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA).
At this summer’s rendezvous, 85 members enjoyed not only the charity auction and lots of fun and camaraderie, but also exceptional boating-related information and training presentations, first mate training, excellent meals (provided by Gere-a-Deli in Anacortes), and onboard consultations with Nordic Tug factory representatives and LaConner Maritime technicians.
The broader maritime community joined in the giving. In addition to the Nordic Tug owners, many generous maritime businesses contributed to the success of the PaNNTOA auction and rendezvous: Nordic Tugs, which builds their vessels in Burlington; Cap Sante Marina (host of PaNNTOA’s rendezvous); Gateway Yachts; LaConner Maritime; Alt Insurance Group; Garmin; Rainman Watermaker; SeaKeeper; Yacht Controller; Marine Detail Specialists; Fisheries Supply; and over a dozen Salish Sea marinas stretching from Arabella’s in Gig Harbor and Dock Street in Tacoma all the way north to Heriot Bay, Blind Channel, and Dent Island.
To learn more about SVC’s Marine Maintenance Technology program, go to https://www.skagit.edu/academics/areas-of-study/industrial-technology-transportation/#marine-maintenance-technology-degrees-and-courses
To learn more about Nordic Tugs, go to https://www.nordictugs.com/
To learn more about PaNNTOA, go to https://panntoa.com/