Page 36: of Marine News Magazine (February 2024)

35 37

Feature

Marine Simulation

Pioneering regulatory change

Without simulation, opportunities to train on marine evacuation systems are few and far between, basically only Virtual Marine’s impact extends beyond technology de- coming along when the system becomes outdated and velopment. The company has played a pivotal role in driv- needs to be replaced. “With our simulator, you can train ing regulatory change, particularly in advocating for the for that every day. Even the manufacturers of those systems use of simulators in maritime training.

see the potential for this. So, I think that’s going to be an “As the pioneer and initial developer of the lifeboat simulator, important play for us,” Burry said, pointing to strong po- and currently the market leader in that area, we have effected a tential in the cruise and ferry industries. lot of regulatory change,” Burry said. “We were the ones who

The ? nal delivery for BC Ferries includes a dozen 22- started the process of getting simulation for lifeboat training at foot trailers full of simulators, which the ferry operator has the DNV level, and we were the ? rst ones there with a DNV been deploying to various sites where they can do mobile certi? cate at the International Maritime Organization (IMO).” training. “They’ll have a crew coming off a ferry at a cer- Burry emphasized the signi? cance of recent changes at tain terminal, for example, and before they go home or the IMO, which now allow for simulator-based training in maybe on their way to work, they go into the trailer and lieu of live lifeboat launches, offering more ? exibility and perform a series of training scenarios,” Burry said. enhancing safety.

All images courtesy Virtual Marine 36 | MN February 2024