Page 74: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2017)

PROFILE: TRAINING & EDUCATION

Class is ‘In’Class is ‘In’

Clockwise, starting top right:

Jean Wahl, President, Sea

School; Ken Wahl, Vice

President, Sea School;

Invesing in cutting edge @ SeaSchool@ SeaSchool

Simulation Technology

Images courtesy Sea School

SeaSchool lays claim to being the system SeaSchool offers maritime simu- mission virtual bridge and engine rooms ronment. Equipment can even be cus- largest private sector maritime training lation systems manufactured by Kongs- that demand considerable multi-tasking. tomized to train crews for a particular center in the U.S., operating nearly 100 berg, NAUTIS V-Step, SIS- Sea Infor- The desktop simulator courses, typi- cruise ship or line as well as operators schools/courses dedicated to training and mation Systems, and BCG cally held monthly, cover: of the new generation of Panamax cargo certifying a wide range of professional SeaSchool’s centers in Mobile, Jack- • Navigation: Voyage planning; ships. It will be key to cultivating the mariners from “six-pack” charter ? shing sonville, Charleston and Toledo school bridge resource management; next generation of mariners.

boat captains up to and including crew- plan to conduct full simulator training, • Watchkeeping: Ratings forming Despite a slump in some sectors of the members of unlimited sized tankers. a training scenario which allows instruc- part of the navigation watch; maritime industry, SeaSchool has expe-

Headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL, tors to throw virtually any sea situa- • Radar: Original; 5-day/3-day re- rienced very little slowdown. In fact, it

SeaSchool also has Florida of? ces in tion at the students, from vessel traf? c; fresher; river, inland, & 1-day re-certi? - anticipates opportunities for growth--

Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville and Pan- weather; port obstructions; distress calls; cations; particularly in the towing industry. It ama City as well as Charleston, SC; engine room ? res, a useful tool to assess • ECDIS: A live, computerized chart expects to continue to provide cutting-

Freeport, NY; Mobile, AL and a recently the student’s ability to deal with situa- that displays virtual vessel traf? c; edge training for better, safer and more- opened 75,000 sq. ft. facility opening tions safely and effectively, navigating • ARPA: A computer that shows the quali? ed crews.

soon in Toledo, OH to serve the Great safely on a virtual voyage. student the results of changing course, “Learning on the bridge has huge risks

Lakes market. SeaSchool has a new generation of speed and other variables when ap- to property, environment, safety of per-

Founded by Captain Ron Wahl in 1977, maritime simulators for the civilian and proaching another vessel; sonnel,” said Ken Wahl, Vice President,

SeaSchool has trained about 10,000 stu- military marine industry. These simu- • GMDSS: A vast radio communica- Sea School. “We cannot continue this dents annually to work in all levels of lators ful? ll training requirements in tions suite carried aboard with a virtual ritual, because the cost is far too great. the maritime industry – including off- compliance with the latest international ‘panic button’ that broadcasts maritime We will always follow our motto: ‘We shore oil and gas, international shipping, maritime standards and regulations and emergencies worldwide; hold your hand till it holds a license.’ domestic maritime, military, govern- include a complete range of simulators • SAR: setting up a full-grid search That simply means we provide customer ment and pleasure boating. According – from desktop trainer to full mission pattern for man-overboard emergencies service second to none. These business to Sea School, it accounts for 47% of all bridges. amid variables such as traf? c, visibility, principles have stood the test of time. In- certi? cates awarded by the U.S. Coast The newest members of SeaSchool’s current and wind. tegrity means everything to us and our

Guard. collection of marine simulation tools are customers know it.” two complete Kongsberg simulators de- Simulation training has evolved rapid- In step with the school’s global expan-

Simulation Technology livered in late April 2017. ly, in step with computing and visualiza- sion aspirations, Sea School recently

One of SeaSchool’s most useful train- Most of their facilities have simula- tion technologies, and it helps to prepare became the East Gulf of Mexico branch ing tools is its array of maritime simu- tors which may include desktop units mariners for hazardous activities with no of The Nautical Institute (NI) based in lation equipment, and throughout its aimed at speci? c tasks. Others have full- risk to personnel, property or the envi- London, England.

74 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • AUGUST 2017

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