Abstract:

Sustainable, safe, timely, and reliable transportation of goods is an ever-growing challenge in the maritime sector, particularly due to the rapidly increasing numbers of ships and growing ship sizes, as well as a constantly evolving maritime industry. Although statistics indicate improved levels of safety in the industry, which carries 90% of the global trade, the risk of navigational accidents remains a prime concern and priority. Besides, energy-efficient and emission-minimized maritime operation applying concepts of alternative fuels in maritime transportation requires further development of existing maritime education programs and amendments of training courses.

Moreover, Maritime Autonomous Ships (MASS) are about to be introduced into shipping and will increase the complexity of traffic situations to be handled on board a ships navigational bridge and from shore-based monitoring station as well. On the other hand, there are similar developments in ports and terminals. New enhanced and disruptive technologies are already or about to be implemented focusing and automation and autonomous operation of terminals and constantly changing job profiles and consequently require adaption of skills and knowledge of harbor personnel.

Maritime Education and Training (MET) has to address and to integrate new technologies, amended and modified legal frameworks, changing processes and procedures into syllabuses and course works accordingly. This requires, among other, continuous adaptations and further developments of simulation-based training. Aim of the studies carried out is to provide methods and ways to develop simulation exercises for MET and research including full-mission ship-handling and full mission VTS-simulation and also research requirements for shore-based personnel.

In this paper we present investigations and results of simulation experiments focusing on the design, implementation and conduction of complex combined simulation exercises involving full-mission ship-handling simulation and full mission VTS-simulation. Complex simulation scenarios extend the experience of trainees to advanced and realistic interaction between actors of different institutions in the maritime domain. The realized exercises involved ship-handling of a container vessel while entering a harbour terminal with pilot onboard the vessel and additional navigational assistance provided from shore-based VTS station. The outcome of the experiment will be discussed in the light of the extended capabilities and advanced opportunities of maritime simulation for MET and research purposes of complex maritime scenarios involving different actors of the maritime domain.

Main outcome and conclusion from the studies are, that the growing complexity of maritime traffic rises the need for realistic simulation scenarios. Technical developments and improvements require adequate operational procedures for smooth interaction of the different actors ensuring safe and efficient traffic flow.

Keywords:

Maritime Education and Training, Human Factor, Simulation technology.