Streamline Training & Documentation: Training Lifeboat Crews

Friday, September 28, 2007

Training Lifeboat Crews

Lifeboat Launching Simulator
(Source: Virtual Marine Technology)
In May Virtual Marine Technology (VMT) was named a runner-up in the Safety at Sea category of the 2007 Seatrade Awards. Organized by the UK-based Seatrade Communications, Ltd., the Seatrade Awards are aimed at "helping to stimulate and encourage technical innovation in the shipping industry by giving recognition to those companies and individuals that make substantial contributions." The Safety at Sea category covers "significant technical or procedural improvements leading to reduction of risk to human life."

VMT, headquartered in St. John's, Newfoundland, was recognized for its Lifeboat Launching Simulator. The substantial value of the simulator lies in providing unlimited practice on operating a lifeboat in dangerous sea conditions without actually putting trainees at risk. Trainees learn about:

Vessel controls

Launching and sail away procedures, including pre-launch check of all equipment

Radio communications

Lowering and release of the lifeboat

Lifeboat performance in high seas

How to respond to faults and equipment failures

How to handle the lifeboat in high-sea states and reduced visibility

The simulator's instructor station enables:

Scenario creation

Logging and playback of trainee performance

Control of environmental conditions — sea state, time of day, and visibility

Equipment fault insertion

Radio communication with the trainee

3D fly-by view of the simulated environment

The trainee station provides:

A physical mockup with actual vessel equipment, including steering wheels, throttles, compass, break release, hook release, battery and ignition

Accurate mathematical modeling of vessel motion in 6 degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch and yaw)

A 270º visual system

Modeling of harsh environments, including high sea states (up to Beaufort 10-11) and reduced visibility

Detailed 3D models of vessels, landscapes, and launching platforms

A surround sound system that projects lifeboat sounds at realistic decibel levels

Key to the simulator's effectiveness is the level of realism it achieves through detailed modeling of vessel and wave motion. Trainees are immersed in an environment that they perceive very much as they would comparable real-world conditions.

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Labels: Simulation

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