Seagull ECDIS Training Package

In 2003 Seagull developed an onboard ECDIS training concept. This concept provides the required theoretical and practical knowledge in the use of Electronic Chart Display

and Information Systems (ECDIS) and consists of the CBT modules: #26 Voyage planning, #59 Satellite Navigation System GPS and #64 Electronic Chart Display and Information System. It also contains practical exercises using the ECDIS equipment. The course is in full compliance with the IMO model course 1.27, in compliance with the DNV SeaSkill Standard, recognized by the flag state of Isle of Man, accepted by the flag states of Cyprus and Marshall Island, and approved by the flag states of Norway, Panama, Liberia and Faroe Islands. Since the launch of the concept in 2003 till today Seagull has issued 5.546 ECDIS operator certificates to deck officers worldwide.
When bridge officers have undergone the Seagull ECDIS training concept by using the actual ECDIS equipment onboard they have complied with the ISM requirement related to (equipment specific) familiarization training of critical nautical equipment. Seagull makes sure this is documented by posting the brand name of the ECDIS equipment on the course certificate issued to the bridge officer in question.
The educational philosophy of the on board training concept is to combine CBT (theory) and practical exercises - and to give the seafarer the freedom to choose when he wants to do his training onboard. Since the initial onboard course was launched till today Seagull has developed 18 on board course titles and issued more than 30.000 certificates. When training is done onboard the seafarer has access to superiors/mentors that will be able to give him personal training/coaching and he will have access to ship's equipment, in this case the ECDIS installation, and related procedures for the learning process. ECDIS equipment on board has usually been installed as part of an integrated bridge system with interface to AIS, GPS, autopilot, log, gyro, ARPA, etc. and thus serve as a perfect technical learning environment which is very difficult for a shore based training institution to match in a simulator.
ECDIS equipment will be required starting in July 2012 for all new passenger ships and tankers. By mid-2018, every merchant vessel and passenger ship over 10,000 tons will need to meet IMO's mandatory carriage requirement for ECDIS. Bridge officers are required to undertake ECDIS training in order to satisfy requirements of the IMO's STCW convention and the ISM Code. In the summer of 2010, the IMO passed amendments to STCW that introduce a number of requirements to ECDIS training not previously made mandatory. Starting January 2012 these new mandatory competency requirements for training will come into force. In addition to this OCIMF has made it a mandatory requirement for their members (VIQ/tanker ships) that bridge officers should undergo equipment specific ECDIS familiarization training.
In order to satisfy the above mentioned new mandatory IMO/STCW requirements to ECDIS training Seagull is presently upgrading their present ECDIS training concept. To boost the quality of the type specific training Seagull has signed agreements with; Maris, Consilium, Kelvin Hughes and Transas to develop makers specific CBT modules covering all functions that an ECDIS operator must be able to demonstrate on the relevant ECDIS equipment in question (this will mainly be based on screen/video recording of the actual operation of the software). In order to include additional ECDIS types in the training concept Seagull is presently in dialogue with several other ECDIS manufactures than the ones mentioned above.
Most shipping companies have several types of ECDIS equipment installed on their fleet so it will be practical impossible for companies to send seafarers to shore based courses every time they are scheduled to be signed onto a new vessel with a different maker. Shore based training institutions will also face difficulties in offering training on several different types of ECDIS equipment as they usually only have simulators of one particular brand. The Seagull onboard training concept will ensure that when ECDIS training is arranged onboard it will always result in an equipment specific course certificate that will match the exact training needs of the bridge officer.
Source: Seagull