Upgrading of the Integrated Simulation Centre
Participants from MPA Academy’s 3rd Port Management Programme were among the first few visitors to the newly-upgraded centre
The Integrated Simulation Centre (ISC) was set up by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to provide training and assessment of seafarers working on ships and port limit vessels. The simulation system comprises of two Full Mission Bridge Simulators (FMBS) – one 360° field-of-view Full Mission Ship Handling Simulator (FMSS) and one 240° field-of-view Tug/Small Vessel Simulator (TSVS).
The two FMBS were upgraded and installed with the latest model of Kongsberg Polaris 7.5 version in June 2016. The upgrading included changes to hardware and software such as the usage of laser projection systems to provide high-definition and crisp real life-like images of sea and shore. The simulators also allowed trainees to be trained in various types of ships, from small bunker tankers to 12,000 TEU container ships or passenger ships. The bridge equipment was also refreshed to provide the latest equipment found on board ships.
Capt Loo, Manager of the ISC, explaining how to use the lever control of the telegraph
The ISC will be used to train and assess deck officers and maritime pilots in watch-keeping, ship-handling, research and development activities. This reiterates MPA’s commitment to providing high value training to seafarers. This will help prepare them to work in ports in the future.
Reminder to Seafarers
There are still many seafarers serving on Singapore ships who have not revalidated their Certificates of Competency (COC), which is valid until 31 December 2016.
All COC holders are reminded to revalidate their COC to comply with the 2010 Manila amendments to The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) in order to continue to serve on ships after 1 January 2017. Holders of COCs issued under the STCW ’95 regime would need to attend additional courses to revalidate their COC. COC holders are reminded to book the relevant ancillary courses to avoid the last-minute rush. Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents who are required to attend course(s) to revalidate their COCs qualify for up to 90% of course fee subsidy from the Maritime Cluster Fund.
Requirements for revalidation of Singapore issued Deck Officer and Marine Engineer Officer COCs are given in MPA’s Shipping Circular No. 10 of 2014.
Requirements for obtaining Electro-technical Officer COC or Certificate of Proficiency (COP) as Electro-technical Rating (ETR) are given in Shipping Circular no. 15 of 2016.
Procedures to obtain Certificate of Endorsement to recognise (COE(R)) for ETO COCs issued by foreign maritime administration are given in Shipping Circular No. 16 of 2016.
Ratings serving as Able-seafarer Deck, Able seafarer Engine, or Electro-technical ratings are required to hold STCW compliant certificates of proficiency by 1 January 2017. Ratings who have served onboard in these ranks for at least 12 months and have completed relevant training would qualify for the 2010 STCW certificates with minimum additional training.