Simulator training for Scandlines’ officers

 The preparations for the forthcoming introduction of the two new Scandlines ferries for Gedser-Rostock are in full swing. All the Danish and German officers are currently completing their training in the company owned simulator in Puttgarden, Germany.

 Since 2011 all Scandlines’ nautical and dual officers have been able to train their skills internally in Puttgarden. Scandlines is therefore the only shipping company in Denmark with a company owned simulator. The simulator is a 1:1 copy of the bridge, where it is possible to simulate realistic situations by using a three-dimensional presentation of the sea.

All officers from Denmark and Germany are currently completing a 10-days simulation-based maneuver training for the best possible preparation of their new tasks on the new ferries Berlin and Copenhagen. The aim is to reach a complete standardization of the procedures onboard the Danish and German vessels. The training in the simulator intends to ensure that the available resources are used optimally at any time in order to make sure that the ferry operation is secure and effective – as well under normal and non-standard circumstances. The system Scandlines uses is called Pilot-Copilot system, where decisions are made on the best possible level of foundation within. For monitoring the situation and because it has been proven that feedback from colleagues leads to the greatest learning success, a third person, who holds the role of an observer, will always be present in the simulator. The task of the instructor is not to grade the participants but rather to give them the opportunity to evaluate the situations through active dialogue in order to learn from their mistakes by self-reflection.

In Denmark the education as a dual officer includes an engineer officer education and as an nautical officer. Scandlines employs several dual officers who right from the beginning of their career are entrusted with a high degree of responsibility with the opportunity for professional development.

Scandlines successfully tested the security system MES (Marine Evacuation System) back in September on board the new ferry Berlin together with the Danish shipyard FAYARD and the Danish Maritime Authority.