Training Principles in Ship Handling

The bridge team of today's modern ships is exposed to a growing workload as a result of increased
traffic and smaller time margins. This development is further emphasized through the introduction
of larger ships to meet the demand for transport of larger cargo volumes. In cooperation with
Norwegian shipping companies MARINTEK is preparing an improved training scheme for ship
handling.
In many cases the transfer of knowledge and skill from the experienced masters to junior officers through
on-the-job training is lacking. Thus, there is a need for a training system that allows junior officers to
improve their proficiency in ship handling in confined waters and in rough weather in open seas.
Also the "old masters" need training
The development of new, specialized ship types operating at high speed and/or having unconventional
steering systems, emphasizes the need for training for experienced masters. A number of cases have
shown that experienced ship officers make mistakes when they are handling ships with unconventional
steering systems. Familiarization training before taking the command on such vessels will therefore be very
cost efficient.
The first step to improve the officer's quality in ship handling is to assess his knowledge, understanding and
skills in how to cope with the different functions of ship handling. This should be compared with defined
standards of competence derived from task analysis. International competence standards are presently
being defined as part of the STCW revision work to introduce a functional approach to education and
training.
Standards of competence
Examples of items found under the function "Navigation" are shown in the figure, in which standards of
competence, related methods for demonstrating competence and actual evaluation criteria are listed.

Example of competence for the sub-functions of "Navigation at the Management level". Depending on
company policy, a ship owner could define additional company standards to be met to comply with existing
or future charterer requirements.

Computer-based training modules from MARINTEK

MARINTEK is presently co-operating with three Norwegian shipping companies to improve their training
system. To enhance the knowledge and understanding of the navigation function, computer-based training
modules are regarded to be a future solution. Such modules will incorporate MARINTEK's experience from
manoeuvring tests with free-running models in the Ocean Basin. ""MARINTEK is presently co-operating
with three Norwegian shipping companies to improve their training system. To enhance the knowledge and
understanding of the navigation function, computer-based training modules are regarded to be a future
solution. Such modules will incorporate MARINTEK's experience from manoeuvring tests with free-running
models in the Ocean Basin.
Skill can also be trained in the Ocean Basin where senior deck officers operate radio controlled freerunning models in heavy weather situations or approaches to harbours.
MARINTEK's simulation models used in ship handling simulators
MARINTEK co-operates with among others the Ship Manoeuvring Simulator Centre (SMS) in Trondheim to
develop simulator models and training schemes for senior officers on drilling rigs, offshore loading tankers
and ferries. As a subcontractor to SMS, MARINTEK developed Statoil's training system for navigating
officers on offshore loading tankers. This system has now been used for five years and has been a great
success.
In cooperation with Norwegian shipping companies MARINTEK is preparing a project on an improved
training scheme for ship handling. The work will be part of the project "Training, Recruiting and Selection"
within the "Information in Ship Operation Programme". By combining computer-based training on board,
on-the-job training and land-based simulator training, ship officers will be given the opportunity to enhance
their proficiency of ship handling. As part of the development of the training scheme, evaluation criteria will
be defined to measure the long term impact of the training scheme.

Training in a Full Mission Bridge Simulator.