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22 Maritime Professional 3Q 2011STCW and BRMGMATS has not only emerged as an industry leader in delivering high-quality reg- ulatory training but also in its ability to deliver tightly focused, customized pro-grams. That?s hardly surpris- ing, but it is, at the same time, also hard to beat anywhere else.The most visible name inmaritime education in NorthAmerica is as agile as it isbig. At the heart of the GMATS mission is its ability to quickly and efficiently develop training programs designed to meet the specific needs of any organization. Expanding from its formal roots in 1994, the school, co-locat-ed with the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on 82 acres on Long Island Sound, delivers more than 140 professional edu- cation and specialized training programs spanning 4 divisions of learning which include Nautical Science and MilitaryTraining, Marine Engineering, Transportation Logistics and Management and Research and Special Projects. Last yearalone, 4,000 students and their sponsoring organizations took advantage of the GMATS menu of course offerings, reflect- ing a growing client list that includes numerous government, military, and commercial entities. CUSTOMIZING THE REINAUER EXPERIENCE In May, and as a perfect example of its nimble learning plat- form, two customized STCW-compliant Bridge Resource Management (BRM) courses were put together by GMATS for Reinauer Transportation Company. Using intensive case study material, award-winning professor (Captain) George Sandberg led students through a myriad of lessons involving situational awareness, decision making, leadership, crisis management, communication, master/pilot relationships, andvoyage planning. Incorporating much more than the required U.S. Coast Guard and STCW mandated content, the course(s)also included extensive use of the latest version of Transas NaviTrainer 5000 simulators, as well as Transas ECDIS units and the lively interaction of as many as four different student- piloted vessels in the same exercise. Significantly, exercise(s) were customized for the type of equipment typicallyemployed by Reinauer?s Mates and Captains, adding to the realism and utility of the learning experience. I attended the first of those customized courses and, during the simulator training, was paired with a young Reinauer Mate (who clearly drew the short straw when it came time to select a partner). As we worked through the exercises which sometimes included interac-tion with as many as three other tow units (operated by others in the same exercise) and ships inserted into themix by the instructors, heshowed remarkable patience with his ?dinosaur? partner. For my part, navigating New York and Baltimore harbors, docking and undocking andpracticing other skills with therealistic controls and the latestin ECDIS equipment in one ofthe newest simulation arrangements available any- where was a terrific learning experience. For their part, Reinauer Mates told me that one of the most valuable parts of the GMATS BRM experience included the primers on bridge-to-bridge communicationsand the importance of those skills in their daily work. In addition to the BRM curriculum, participants also werepresented with the GMATS 8-Hour Advanced Simulation Training certificate. The simulation, led by GMATS ECDIS subject matter expert Christian Hempstead, included integrat- ed training involving safe navigation and maneuvering of multiple towing vessels and barges in various conditions of visibility, wind, current, challenging traffic and emergency situations. Hempstead, widely regarded as North America?s foremost authority on ECDIS training for professionalmariners, tailored the simulation directly to the needs of theReinauer?s professional mariners. Classroom chalk talks included required topics such as voyage planning, effective communications, error trapping, the value of a ?shared men- tal model,? and effective teamwork in action. The full course, BRM plus simulator training, was a powerful learning expe- rience.Although Reinauer?s bridge personnel were already com- pliant with all aspects of their licensing requirements, theNew York-based marine transportation group regularly elects to provide continuing education for their marine personnel. As is usually the case, they chose GMATS in this instance, rotating two groups of 19 mates each through the customized program. Frank Kuziemski, Fleet Manager for Reinauer, also over- sees training requirements for the 75-vessel operation from his Staten Island offices. He told MarPro, ?GMATS? ability to bring together large groups is important to us. Not everyone can do that.? As a regular client of GMATS, Kuziemski added that the newly upgraded, state-of-the-art simulator equipment was also a key factor in their decision to use GMATS. Author?s BRM STCW Certificate, issued by GMATS. MP #3 (18-33):MP Layouts 8/17/2011 4:07 PM Page 22