Short Biography of Captain Degner
I began my sailing career as a teenager working on my father's commercial
fishing vessels. After I graduated from Marshfield High School in 1972 my
father and I purchased a 60-foot steel shrimp boat in Texas and sailed it
through the Panama Canal to Coos Bay, Oregon. This was the first of three
vessels that I owned and operated fishing for crab, shrimp, tuna, bottom fish
and pacific whiting off the Pacific northwest coast. In 1992 I sold my
commercial fishing business, took a marine safety instructor training course
and applied to the Coast Guard for my Merchant Mariner Credentials.
The next fourteen years of my life were spent sailing, learning and teaching.
By the summer of 2006 I was ready to start my own professional maritime
school. My wife and I purchased a house in northeast Portland, Oregon for
this purpose and I opened the doors to Columbia Pacific Maritime in
November with approved courses for Operator of Uninspected Passenger
Vessel and Celestial Navigation. Over the next several years I continued to
write and submit courses to the National Maritime Center for approval. Today
the school is a full service facility for Merchant Mariner Credential deck
endorsements for the operation of uninspected vessels and inspected
vessels of less than 200 gross registered tons.
I began my sailing career as a teenager working on my father's commercial
fishing vessels. After I graduated from Marshfield High School in 1972 my
father and I purchased a 60-foot steel shrimp boat in Texas and sailed it
through the Panama Canal to Coos Bay, Oregon. This was the first of three
vessels that I owned and operated fishing for crab, shrimp, tuna, bottom fish
and pacific whiting off the Pacific northwest coast. In 1992 I sold my
commercial fishing business, took a marine safety instructor training course
and applied to the Coast Guard for my Merchant Mariner Credentials.
The next fourteen years of my life were spent sailing, learning and teaching.
- I sailed as master, mate and able seaman on-board research and oil
spill recovery vessels. The sea service gained from this experience was
used to upgrade my Merchant Mariner Credentials to Able Seaman
Unlimited, Master 500 tons Oceans and Mate 1600 tons Inland. - Learning about education is my passion in life. During these years I
attended college courses and professional development seminars with a
focus on learning curriculum design and delivery methods. From these
college credits I earned Associate Degrees in General Studies and
Liberal Arts, both with highest honors. - For me the application of learning is teaching. I taught USCG approved
courses in navigation, seamanship and safety at two of Oregon's
community colleges. In 1995 I was presented with the Faculty
Excellence Award from Clatsop Community College and the NISOD
Excellence Award from University of Texas at Auston, but my most
treasured award is a "Master Teacher" evaluation from the VP of
Instructional Services at Clatsop Community College in 2003.
By the summer of 2006 I was ready to start my own professional maritime
school. My wife and I purchased a house in northeast Portland, Oregon for
this purpose and I opened the doors to Columbia Pacific Maritime in
November with approved courses for Operator of Uninspected Passenger
Vessel and Celestial Navigation. Over the next several years I continued to
write and submit courses to the National Maritime Center for approval. Today
the school is a full service facility for Merchant Mariner Credential deck
endorsements for the operation of uninspected vessels and inspected
vessels of less than 200 gross registered tons.
| Columbia Pacific Maritime LLC is a US Coast Guard approved school operated by my wife, Pat, and myself out of the basement of our NE Portland, Oregon home.
training courses for Merchant Mariner Credential deck endorsements in a small classroom environment with accessible scheduling options.
just a job to me, it is what do and it defines who I am and it is something I have been preparing for my entire life.
Instructor & Director Columbia Pacific Maritime LLC |
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