A $2-million investment has paid for upgrades at a B.C. Ferries terminal building on Vancouver Island, converting it into a state-of-the-art training facility.
Screens, displays, computers and modern control panels are now set up at Departure Bay ferry terminal in Nanaimo and members of the media were given a tour Wednesday, May 10.
Malcolm Rodger, B.C. FerriesB次元官网网址� manager of simulation training and an instructor, said the set-up makes for a better educational experience. The equipment simulates real-world marine situations as much as possible, even providing a sensation of a rocking vessel. However, there are no vibrating floors or mist spraying and itB次元官网网址檚 all visual.
B次元官网网址淭he maps were built with pictures, digitalization and specific requests from B.C. Ferries. Things are in the right place and things are to scaleB次元官网网址次元官网网址� Rodger said. B次元官网网址淚s it perfect? ItB次元官网网址檚 not meant to be perfect, itB次元官网网址檚 meant to be in the likeness, but itB次元官网网址檚 very good.B次元官网网址�
Robin Grypma, B.C. FerriesB次元官网网址� senior manager of bridge simulation, worked in the fleet for 10 years and has been training people for the last six. The new simulator is impressive, she said, and B次元官网网址渘ight and dayB次元官网网址� compared to the equipment used when she was coming up. The previous simulator, while excellent, was outdated after 12 years, she said.
B次元官网网址淭he models themselves, theyB次元官网网址檙e all hydro-dynamically developed, so they respond much more efficiently and with more response in this new simulator,B次元官网网址� said Grypma. B次元官网网址淭he visuals are a thousand times better. The equipment weB次元官网网址檝e installed B次元官网网址� is actually whatB次元官网网址檚 on board. We replicate [whatB次元官网网址檚] onboard so thereB次元官网网址檚 less training about how to use equipment and more training with how to respond to emergencies.B次元官网网址�
Training facilities at Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay are no longer being used, making the Nanaimo facility B次元官网网址渢he focus,B次元官网网址� said Rodger.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 central to the fleet, central to travel, central to the bulk of the crew,B次元官网网址� he said.
RELATED:
karl.yu@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow Karl on and
