MARIN already commis- sioned its first in-house Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) simulator back in 1986. By 1998, this was replaced by a modern, state-of-the-art facility and recently, new features have been added such as Automatic Identification System (AIS) and course-speed control (remote pilotage). This fall, Port of Amsterdam has also installed a MARIN VTS simulator. Report provides an update.
Built as a generic facility, the simulator was developed to teach all the skills required to become a VTS operator in accordance with IALA V103. The facility consists of six trainee positions, coupled to an instructor position. Each position consists of four screens dis- playing raw and synthetic radar and traffic information, as well as a communication set with four VHF channels and a telephone unit. In the development of the simulator MARIN works closely with the Dutch VTS Training Foundation (NNVO).
All VTS courses are provided by NNVO qualified, VTS instructors and experienced teachers. Basic, regional and refreshment courses are offered. The Basic course is eight weeks and is in accordance with IALA V103. Courses include nautical knowledge, legal and regulatory training, sea speak in three languages and intensive simulator training. This training is executed on a so-called fictive playing area - an area that contains all types of fairways and traffic encountered in the Netherlands.
Regional training is a one-week continua- tion of basic training, focusing on a specific VTS area. The purpose of this training is to familiarise the VTS operator with local conditions, rules and regulations. The re- freshment course runs for three days and consists of theoretical work and simulator exercises.
The VTS simulator can also be used for communication training for crew on board of patrol vessels, lock personnel and for emergency training for traffic managers and lock masters. Other applications are work- load measurements, procedure development, remote pilotage and traffic planning studies.
Recently MARIN provided a VTS simulator to the Port of Amsterdam that is an exact copy of the facility in Wageningen. This has the advantage that simulator exercises and assessment tests developed for or with the NNVO, can be run on both facilities. In this way it is easier to maintain one quality standard at the two training locations.
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