Getting students ready for sea
Hi-tech simulator helps future marinersA state-of-the-art marine bridge simulator is the latest training tool to be launched by TAFE NSW -- Sydney Institute to prepare students for the world of work.
It simulates a real-life ship and therefore even has the potential to make you feel seasick, but that didn’t put off special guests at the launch at TAFE NSW -- Sydney Institute. The NSW Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli MP couldn’t wait to get aboard as he officially opened the facility, which is the only one of its kind in Sydney and just one of two simulators in NSW approved by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the accreditation body for maritime training courses.
With the growth in offshore oil and gas projects and current worldwide shortage of ships’ officers, mariners are currently in high demand and the courses at TAFE NSW -- Sydney Institute, some of which start in July, are designed in line with the industry to help fill the gap and produce a high standard of new recruits who are genuinely work ready.
The sophisticated technology can simulate the wind, waves, tides, time of day, current, visibility and vessel traffic in a computer-generated area, creating a huge variety of scenarios. Students therefore gain the practical skills and experience to prepare them for what can happen on board a real-life working ship by navigating their way around virtual docks such as Sydney Harbour and the ports of Brisbane, Botany and Newcastle as well as Suva in Fiji.
Matthew Bolton, Head Teacher of Maritime and Aviation Studies at Sydney Institute’s Ultimo College, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to send competent and confident people out into the workforce and the marine bridge simulator will assist us in producing graduates who are genuinely work ready. We currently have around 350 students working towards various qualifications, from Certificate II to Diploma, and it’s great to see the confidence grow in students as they have started to tackle the different scenarios the simulator is able to create.”
The simulator cost $1.2 million and was funded by TAFE NSW as well as a state treasury grant. The simulator is a joint venture between TAFE NSW Sydney and Western Sydney Institutes.
To find out more visit www.sit.nsw.edu.au
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