Realism is the key

Warsash Maritime Centre believes that it is the application of knowledge and the transfer of skills that count in crew training.

The UK`s Warsash Maritime Centre, which has carved a leading role for itself in the development and utilisation of simulation training facilities, believes that quality of training and a realistic training environment are keys to successful simulation-based learning. Under the correct supervision, the simulator can provide an effective training, testing and evaluation tool. To be effective it must be able to reproduce the failures and limitations of shipboard equipment so that the participant learns the limitations of the technology to be used, says the Centre`s senior lecturer in simulation, Capt Peter Starkey . The system must also be capable of producing realistic and detailed levels of modelling.

The Centre has simulators for machinery spaces, liquid cargo handling, radar, bridge, and VTS. Its shiphandling facility located close-by, which is one of three manned model shiphandling centres in existence, allows the Centre to combine the use of both simulators and manned models in its training programmes. Standard courses include those for bridge and engine room teamwork, bridge watch keeping, emergency procedures, and pilot training. The bridge team management courses try to teach a `no-blame` culture, study the human element, with objectives concentrating on passage planning skills and bridge management techniques, the Centre says. In all courses emphasis is placed on identifying and breaking developing error chains.