ICS Launches eLearning Academy
The world of maritime education and training continues to evolove, with the announcement last month that Lloyd's Register had acquired Ocean Technologies Group, and the announcement today that the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) launches its ICS Academy to provide on-the-go access to practical e-learning to help shipping companies ensure best practices and regulatory compliance on board. The courses that will feature on the ICS Academy have been specifically designed to complement ICS Publications, giving crew access to on board procedures and training that work together seamlessl
Meet the CTO: Dr. Gunnar Stiesch, MAN Energy Solutions
on ‘what’s next’ in ship propulsion.Dr. Stiesch, to begin, can you give a brief career biography with insights on how you came to your position as CTO of MAN ES, as well as your current responsibilities?I am what you could call an “engine guy”, having worked with the technology in various functions for close to 30 years.I was appointed to the executive board of MAN Energy Solutions as a CTO at the beginning of 2023, and my current function involves all responsibility for all our technology and product development activities, including both our two- and four-stroke engines
Akselos Appoints Chief Product & Technology Officer
Akselos, a pioneer in Structural Performance Management (SPM) software, has appointed Dr. Claus Reimers as Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO).Drawing on his vast technical background, leadership skills and energy industry expertise, Reimers will drive Akselos’ innovation and product strategy as the company begins its next phase of growth.Reimers, who joins Akselos from his role as Deputy Chief Technology & Innovation Officer at Lloyd's Register, brings over 16 years’ experience in asset performance management and engineering simulation. He is an experienced entrepreneur
Tip #60 - AI & Maritime Trainers ... "Watch Your Back ... " [Part II]
Training Tips for Ships [#60]Last month’s Training Tips for Ships discussed the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the future of maritime training. My thoughts on this were triggered by the recent headline in the Financial Times: “Andreessen Horowitz raises $7.2bn and sets sights on AI start-ups“. Andreessen Horowitz is one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent venture capital firms and they are seeing fit to deeply invest in the burgeoning AI revolution. Typically, this means change is upon us on a timescale that is now very meaningful to us. As I said in last
Simulators Track our Changing Relationship with Technology
Simulation-based training has its whole-of-ship/whole-of-team scenarios, but zooming in, the industry is now working on more specific targets.We have a close relationship with technology, evidenced by, for example, the phones we are estimated to unlock around 50-80 times a day. It has changed us. Half the people surveyed in a 2022 King’s College London study said that they feel like their attention span is shorter than it used to be. They are wrong, though, if they think that the average attention span of adults today is just eight seconds, one second less than goldfish. The science behind these
Danish Pilot Makes a LEGO Model of His DanPilot Boat
Espen Andersen, a pilot boat driver for DanPilot, the independent public enterprise owned by the Danish state, takes his love of maritime and LEGOs to new heights, creating a LEGO model of the pilot boat he sails for Svendborg, Denmark-based company. Andersen has registered the pilot boat for LEGO Ideas, a forum where fans can submit suggestions for upcoming LEGO sets. If the idea is to become a reality and be considered for a new production at LEGO, the pilot boat needs to receive 10,000 votes.“At DanPilot, many passionate seafarers work on dedicated hobby projects. We want to support
Cellula Robotics Names Neil Manning CEO
. Eric Jackson our founder and now president has put his trust in me to uphold our core values which I take is a great privilege" Manning said. "Since joining the company, I have been continually impressed by the innovation and talent of our team, as well as the tremendous potential of our technology. Cellula is truly onto something special with its approach to long duration subsea autonomous vehicles, leveraging the benefits of utilizing hydrogen fuel cells. This method of generating power offers a higher density approach to energy storage over battery-only systems. This innovation will change
Jozwiak Joins GLO Marine as Green Transition Lead
Maciej Jozwiak joined the GLO Marine team, with his experience expected to enhance the company's technical capacity to deliver high-end services to the retrofit and vessel upgrade market, with a focus on green technologies and decarbonization measures.Jozwiak brings more than six years of engineering project management at DAMEN and more than nine years as senior approval engineer at DNV’s Oslo Headquarters. His knowledge in structural engineering, adept project management, and comprehensive regulatory understanding promise to deliver a type of expertise that is hard to come by in
Balmoral Comtec Names Lowdon Nonexecutive Director
Balmoral Comtec, a division of Balmoral Group and a key player in the offshore energy supply chain, announced it has appointed Dr. Alan Lowdon OBE as nonexecutive director, in move aiming to strategic Balmoral's offshore wind ambition.Lowdon brings over 35 years of experience from various directorial roles in the renewable energy sector, where he has been responsible for strategic, service and product development. Notably, Lowdon was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for 'Services to UK-US Offshore Wind Collaboration' in January 2022's Queen's New Year's Honor List.
Manta Marine Technologies Announces New Leadership
Manta Marine Technologies, formerly known as Yara Marine Technologies (YMT), unveiled its new brand and leadership team, following its recent acquisition by Geneva-based Okapi Supply Trading Advisory SA.The Manta Marine Technologies team will now be led by CEO Ina Reksten, who previously served as Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer. Outgoing CEO Dr Thomas Koniordos has been appointed as Chair of the Board, while former Chief Sales Officer, Aleksander Askeland will be the new CFO and Richard Engelhart Bjercke will be the new CCO.“I am confident that Manta Marine Technologies, with Ina at the
Gladys Goh takes the Helm at Nippon Paint Marine
serves as Senior Vice-President, Strategic Innovation & Marketing at NIPSEA Group.Over the course of 2024, Nippon Paint Marine plans to launch several new products to market, including expanding its leading antifouling solution, FASTAR, to incorporate Hydrogel ‘water-trapping’ technology for both ocean-going and coastal-range vessels. It is also focusing on developing low VOC in both antifouling and anticorrosion coatings to meet regulatory compliances and regional VOC requirements, especially in key markets such as China and South Korea. Lowering VOC emissions helps protect the
Xeneta Appoints Luykx as Chief Revenue Officer
, “Disruption and innovation is my passion. Back when I joined Google, Microsoft was the status quo on office productivity and when you mentioned ‘the cloud’, people looked up into the sky and wondered what you were talking about.“I have always been attracted to best-in-class technology and that is true of Xeneta. There isn’t one other organization that has the global data network of benchmarks and market insights anywhere else in the world, so it is market-leading with huge potential to grow.“We have not even started to quantify the level of automation and operational
Shoreline Wind Appoints Pearson as CEO
Shoreline Wind, developer of intelligent SaaS solutions for powering wind energy, announced the appointment of Andrew Pearson as its new chief executive officer.Prior to joining Shoreline Wind, Pearson held CEO roles at range of growth SaaS companies, including global payroll and payments vendor CloudPay, where he remains a Board director, and AI for infrastructure analytics company Cordel.ai.“As we enter a new growth stage in Shoreline I’m excited to have Andrew join us with his extensive growth experience and take over the CEO role from me, as I transition into managing our product
Interview: Juha Kytölä, Director of R&D and Engineering, Wärtsilä
As maritime faces transcendent changes in terms of decarbonization and automation, Juha Kytölä, Director of R&D and Engineering, Wärtsilä, discusses how this Finnish maritime technology powerhouse is investing in the technologies and facilities that will drive the maritime industry for the coming generation, including insights on its unique arrangement for a future fuel engine testbed onboard Wasaline’s MS Aurora Botnia.To start off, can you give a scope of the Wärtsilä R&D investment?We invest heavily in research and development, about 4.1% of our annual
Back to School: Virtual Field Trip for 27,000 Students onboard Saipem 7000
As the maritime and offshore industries cumulatively search for ways to attract the 'next generation,' Saipem has come up with an innovative approach that gives thousands of students the ability to virtually visit work in the offshore environment: two days on board a naval vessel engaged in the construction of a large wind farm in the North Sea. This is the experience that almost 27,000 elementary and middle school students from over 850 cities were able to live thanks to an exclusive virtual and interactive school trip organized by Saipem, the Italian engineering services company for the
ACE Winches Urges Industry to Invest in Young Talent
company's founder and CEO, Alfie Cheyne, a marine engineering apprentice himself when he left school at 16, has called on all industry bosses to recognize the potential and invest in the next generation.“It’s a changing world and our youth are better equipped than ever to embrace modern technology and apply it to industry,” he said.“For over 30 years, ACE Winches has been recruiting school leavers and training them through our own award-winning apprenticeship scheme. As the energy industry evolves, new opportunities are emerging for both businesses and individuals&rsquo
Orlowski Named VP Engineering at Austal USA
focused on designing, developing, and deploying engineering and manufacturing solutions to support and advance product development. Orlowski was a member of the Northrup Grumman team for over 20 years holding various leadership positions in the company’s electronic systems, shipbuilding, technology services, enterprise services, and mission systems divisions. His engineering and program leadership experience has been in support of international and U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs to include aircraft carriers, submarines, destroyers, and littoral combat ships. Orlowski holds a PhD in
Jennifer Stewart Joins NOAA TPO as Technology Transfer Specialist
Jennifer Stewart has joined the NOAA Technology Partnerships Office as the new Technology Transfer Specialist, and is stationed at the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, Calif.Stewart has spent the last 12 years as a civil servant within the field of technology transfer, brokering connections between technologies, inventors, academic and industry partners, and state, local, and federal government partners.In her role at TPO, Stewart will work to maximize the impact of taxpayer investments in NOAA’s R&D, drawing from expertise in areas including innovation discovery, technolog
ChatGPT & Maritime Training: Steps to Harness the Power
By now we have all heard about ChatGPT, an example of a “Large Language Model” technology which is remarkable in its ability to generate human-like responses to questions we ask of it. But is ChatGPT primarily a novelty, or can it provide real value in terms of its ability to create content? In my personal experience with ChatGPT, the answer is far closer to the latter than the former - but with some caveats. In this edition of Training Tips for Ships, we'll explore the steps required to harness the power of ChatGPT to generate engaging and effective maritime training materials. It is
Savage Takes the CTO Seat at Silverstream
Silverstream Technologies appointed Catriona Savage into the newly created position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Savage will lead the continued development of the innovative Silverstream System and will further develop the technical centre-of-excellence built by Silverstream Technologies. The new role will lead on Product Development and Application Engineering and all aspects of product quality, safety and performance.Savage joins Silverstream following a career at BMT as Technical Assurance and Capability Director, where she oversaw the business’s global Maritime, Environment
NSB Invests in New Simulator
include the new version of Navi‐Trainer professional simulation software, the latest NACOS PLATINUM Bridge systems (including multi‐pilot workstation for ECDIS, radar and conning applications) combined with high‐performance visualization system and modern IBID (Interactive Bridge Information Display) technology, a 55‐inch voyage planning table connected to the main bridge, video and audio recording and playback system and a new sound system.The new simulator has a DNV Standard 0029 for Maritime Training Centers. It can be connected online for training with other training facilities around the world, for
Jobs at Stake as California Port Terminal Upgrades to Green Technology
sector is the nation's largest contributor of climate changing greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As seaports race to swap out diesel equipment like tractors, trucks and cranes for cleaner electric models, they're also eyeing new automation technology to help process more cargo. More automation means fewer jobs, in the minds of union leaders, and they have found an ally in the White House.While the $30 million grant is a fraction of the total cost of the terminal's $2.5 billion modernization program, unions and their allies hope that
MarTID: 2023 Survey of Maritime Training Practices is Open
, measured and funded globally.Click Here to read the 2021 MarTID ReportThe Maritime Training Insights Database (MarTID) is a non-commercial endeavor to deliver objective and comprehensive data on how maritime manages and conducts training for shipboard competencies and the effects of drivers, such as technology, on this training.This data, updated annually by means of a global survey, will provide insights that can lead to enhanced policy-setting, decision-making, benchmarking and operational optimization by industry and regulatory authorities at all levels.Each year the survey offers a special focus
Bearing Names Daly Chief Operating Officer
the maritime shipping industry toward more sustainable operations with our AI-driven solutions,” said Dylan Keil, CEO and co-founder of Bearing. “He understands the importance of our mission and he’ll be an integral part of our leadership team, helping us scale and create impactful technology to make maritime shipping a greener industry.”Daly was previously chief operating officer of startups Sea Machines Robotics and logistics robot company Rethink Robotics. Daly helped scale Sea Machines through two venture funding rounds and the launch of several innovative autonomous and situationa
Rovco Appoints Moonie COO
Fraser Moonie was appointed as Chief Operating Officer of Rovco.Based in Aberdeen, Scotland, he will use his 25 years plus industry experience in subsea sector service companies to implement the company’s growth strategy. A former chief executive of Decom North Sea, much of Moonie’s relevant experience came from his time with Bibby Offshore Limited - part of the Bibby group of companies. He was one of a small leadership team who helped grow the business from start-up to a major international player in the subsea energy market over 15 years.Over the past 18 months, as Regional Director for
The Nautical Institute Launches New Requirements for DP Certifications
From the beginning of 2024, The Nautical Institute will require that all Dynamic Positioning Operators (DPO) and Dynamic Positioning Vessel Maintainers (DPVM) show evidence of Continuing Professional Development as well as experience in order to renew their certificate.This means that all DPOs and DPVMs will be required to demonstrate a yearly undertaking of an NI-approved CPD program and pass the NI revalidation online exam or take the NI DP Refresher and Competency Assessment Course.Captain John Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer of The Nautical Institute, said, “This requirement is a very positive
Migeon Named CEO, Chairman of Bio-UV Group
French water treatment specialist Bio-UV Group appointed Laurent-Emmanuel Migeon as its new Chairman and CEO, succeeding company founder Benoît Gillmann.Migeon, who has co-managed BIO-UV Group with Gillmann for the past five years, has a track record in the life sciences, environmental and agrifood sectors, preceded by ten-years in finance with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Arthur Andersen.An agricultural engineer with a master’s degree from Mr Migeon joined BIO-UV Group in early 2018 as COO and Deputy General Manager.BIO-UV Group designs, manufactures and markets ultraviolet, ozone, salt
VIDEO: Patrick Ryan Named CTO at ABS
As Patrick Ryan assumes the top tech exec spot at ABS, Maritime Reporter TV interviewed him on the eve of the announcement. While shipowners face multiple technology challenges ahead, Ryan said a top priority is the bridging of technology from the fundamental phase into operational solutions. ABS appointed Patrick Ryan as Chief Technology Officer to support continued development of ABS as a maritime technology leader.Having served as Senior Vice President, Global Engineering and Technology since 2019, Ryan’s appointment to CTO reflects the increasingly pivotal role of technology in the
Cargotec Appoints Lindholm as President and CEO
Finnish cargo handling machinery manufacturer Cargotec on Monday announced its board of directors has appointed Casimir Lindholm to succeed Mika Vehviläinen as the company's president and CEO, effective April 1, 2023.A member of Cargotec's board since 2021, Lindholm has held CEO positions both in Eltel and Lemminkäinen and many board memberships.“I’m honored and excited to be leading Cargotec at such a pivotal moment in the company’s history, with a strong foundation and a clear vision into its next development phase of growth as we have communicated before. With a
Swift Anchors Looking to Expand Engineering Team
Swift Anchors, a UK-based company that develops anchoring solutions for the global offshore energy (floating wind, floating solar, tidal and wave) and aquaculture industries, is looking for new engineers to join its team. The company said that the need to has been spurred by its current work program and a growing commercial interest in its technologies. The company plans to more than double its workforce during 2023.Swift Anchors, acquired by Schottel last year, is currently working on marine energy projects on both sides of the Atlantic, and is pursuing a number of other project opportunities
Cargotec CEO Vehviläinen to Retire in 2023
Cargotec announced on Tuesday that its board of directors received notification from CEO Mika Vehviläinen that he will retire in 2023, in accordance with the terms of his contract.The board has started its a search for a successor, the Finnish cargo-handling machinery manufacturer said.“It has been both a privilege and a pleasure to lead the transformation of Cargotec together with so many committed and talented colleagues. After 10 years as CEO of the company, I believe this is the right time for a new CEO to lead the financially and operationally strong Cargotec into its next phase of
METIS Names Polychronopoulou CEO
Athens-based maritime artificial intelligence (AI) company METIS announced Eleni Polychronopoulou has been appointed as the firm’s new CEO.Polychronopoulou has been METIS president during the company’s development phase over the past three years. METIS is majority-owned by maritime-focused environmental engineering group ERMA FIRST.Polychronopoulou is currently president of HEMEXPO, vice chair at Sea Europe, and a senior executive at EPE and ERMA FIRST.METIS aims to be a player in the maritime industry’s ongoing digital transformation, specializing in data acquisition, real-time
CEO in Focus: Allard Castelein, Port of Rotterdam
The Port of Rotterdam has blazed a path for ports globally in terms of automation, digitalization and decarbonization. As he enters the final year of his tenure, Allard Castelein, CEO, Port of Rotterdam, says there is still much work to do.While many global organizations are adept at ‘talking the talk’, the Port of Rotterdam stands out as ‘walking the walk’ in regards to real investment and innovation in robotics, digitalization and infrastructure improvements to facilitate the efficient, effective transfer of ship’s cargo for distribution globally. Sitting at the helm to
VideoRay Promotes Goldstein to COO
Underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technology company VideoRay announced it has promoted Andy Goldstein to chief operating officer. He joined VideoRay in 2009 and most recently served as vice president, engineering and operations.Goldstein began at VideoRay as a software engineer working on critical projects including the cockpit software and firmware for the Pro 4. In 2015, Goldstein began managing VideoRay’s growing Engineering department. Four years later his role expanded to include running production, supply chain and quality control functions to guide the company’s transition
Bruun Takes the Helm at KVH Industries
KVH Industries, Inc., announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Brent C. Bruun as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board. The Board also appointed two seasoned industry executives, David Kagan and David Tolley, as directors of KVH.Bruun first joined KVH in 2008 and has served as KVH’s Interim President and Chief Executive Officer since March 2022. He also served as Chief Operating Officer of KVH beginning in 2016, as well as Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Prior to that, he was executive vice president of mobile broadband, senior vice president
Corvus Energy to open new Battery Factory in the U.S.
As the maritime industry increasingly moves towards propulsion solutions that help cut emissions, battery technology is increasingly taking center stage on a number of ship, boat and offshore energy installations. Leading the charge are a number of battery manufacturers globally, including Norway’s Corvus Energy, which announced that the company is expanding its US operations by opening a new factory in the Port of Bellingham, Washington.The U.S.-based manufacturing facility, starting with Corvus’ Orca battery, will have an annual capacity of 200 MWh of stored energy capacity, with the
Training Tips for Ships: Choosing e-Learning Media ... It’s All About Outcomes!
In the previous edition of Training Tips for Ships we discussed the choice of media for learning materials and which media would lead to the best results. Is it text? Images? Videos? Interactive exercises and simulations? All too commonly it is claimed that interactive media with fancy (and expensive) graphics will produce better learning outcomes. The reality is not nearly so simple. So, how do we choose? It’s not hard.The first question we should be asking is not one of media choice, but instead is one of learning outcomes. Do we want the trainee to internalize some knowledge or a concept? Or
NFPA Certificated Marine Chemists – A Century of Fire Protection and Life Safety
As the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Technical Committee on Gas Hazards votes on the First Draft of the next edition of NFPA 306, Standard for the Control of Gas Hazards on Vessels, the NFPA Certificated Marine Chemist Program will mark 100 years of fire protection and life safety on marine vessels, in shipyards, marine terminals and waterfront facilities.What started a century ago as an industry effort to prevent fires on vessels under repair has never been more important. According to a 2007 report of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 25 percent of fatalities in
To Achieve Greener Shipping, "There's an App for That"
As part of a R&D project, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) has investigated the influence of the behavioral change of individual seafarers on carbon emissions on selected ships managed by BSM Deutschland (BSMD). Using clean-tech start-up Signol’s app, BSM reports that "remarkable reductions in bunker fuel consumption" were detected on single ships.During the research project, which ran in the second half of 2021, 60 Masters and Chief Engineers on 28 vessels under full management of BSMD were invited to take part in the trial on a voluntary basis. During this time, each
Training Tips for Ships: Are Mariners Knowledge Workers?
What is the difference between knowledge and skills? Which should we focus more on in our training, and how does one influence the other?When we think about the most important mariner quality, often the first thing that comes to mind is skill. Can the officer or crewmember safely perform the skills required of him or her? After all, if everyone performs their necessary skills correctly, what more is there?There is, in fact, much more. Let’s see what the experts have to say:“A study by the U.S. Coast Guard found many areas where the industry can improve safety and performance … the
AST Appoints Peters as Group Managing Director
Applied Satellite Technology Ltd. (AST) appointed Andrew Peters as Group Managing Director.“Andrew’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for AST, his experience in the technology sector and knowledge of our industry and markets will spearhead our Group in the next stage of our growth," said Gregory Darling, Founder and Chairman.Andrew has held leadership roles in several telecoms and technology organizations, including CEO of Deutsche Telekom UK and Telefonica UK, with significant experience in M&A and business integration.In 2013, Andrew joined Pole Star Space Applications as CEO
Kongsberg Digital to Supply Simulators to UAE's AASTS
Kongsberg Digital (KDI) said it has signed a contract to deliver a suite of multipurpose simulation solutions to the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport Branch in Sharjah (AASTS), United Arab Emirates. The state-of-the-art simulators enable realistic training scenarios for different vessel types in various operations and weather conditions, and will be used in training and assessment of the academy’s students as well as crew from government and private organizations.“When we signed the agreement to establish the Sharjah branch of the AASTS, which is a prominent
Ocean Power Technologies Announces Leadership Changes
Ocean energy technology developer Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (OPT) announced on Monday that Philipp Stratmann has been appointed as its new president and chief executive officer, and a director, while Matthew T. Shafer has been promoted to senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer.Stratmann, who previously served as OPT’s vice president of global business development since 2019, takes over from George H. Kirby, OPT president and CEO since 2015, who is leaving the company to pursue other endeavors.Stratmann received an engineering doctorate in engineering management as well
New Banking Payment Platform for Seafarers Launched
A new touch-free payment platform for the maritime industry has been launched by Secure Seas.Secure Seas says its electronic payment platform is designed to provide financial security to seafarers by transferring their pay electronically, removing the antiquated and problematic system of cash distribution in U.S. dollars. This provides seafarers with basic facilities the rest of us take for granted: full access to their funds in their preferred currency, use of an International, non-jurisdictional bank account and debit card to withdraw cash or transfer funds home, and the ability to transfer payments
Kevin Short Named CEO of Mintra
Norwegian maritime and offshore training software firm Mintra said it has appointed Kevin Short as CEO. Short, who has been chief commercial officer since 2018, takes over the leadership role from Scott Kerr following his decision to join the firm’s board of directors.“In these post-Covid times and as we slowly return to a world that can be considered more normal, there are tremendous prospects for both digital learning and human capital management software. We know that how things worked before – people constantly travelling to training facilities – will not be the same going
FutureOn Appoints CFO, Head of People
FutureOn, a software company specializing in the provision of digital oilfield solutions, has made two key senior appointments as part of the company’s strategic growth plans.Katherine Taylor-Jones brings significant experience and knowledge in strategic financial management and leadership to the newly created position of Chief Financial Officer. Having worked predominantly for fast growth global SaaS businesses in recent years, she joins FutureOn after successfully scaling several tech businesses, FutureOn said. Taylor-Jones said: “FutureOn has delivered impressive growth since it
Liberian Registry Introduces Online Services for Seafarers
, working through approved Training Centers, to be able to take these examinations globally 24/7.Chief Operating Officer of the Liberian Ship and International Corporate Registry (LISCR), Alfonso Castillero, said, “These new platforms are a key part of Liberia’s continued implementation of technology. This time of COVID-19 and the continued restriction of travel has continued to necessitate the industry to continue to think outside the box and adapt to allow for technology to be used whenever possible. These platforms now mean that seafarers that may not have been able to travel to take exams
TECH FILE: Software Helps Merchant Mariners with USCG Credentials
MM-SEAS is the reportedly the first software that automates the manual task of obtaining, tracking and renewing U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) credentials, helping to eliminate paperwork processing errors while delivering merchant mariner career guidance.Civilian mariners are required to have valid USCG Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC) to be onboard any commercial or federal ship in the United States. Credentialing is a complex and vague process. From 2012 to 2018, 44.9 percent of approximately 500,000 applications submitted to the USCG National Maritime Center were incomplete or missing key documents.
VIDEO: MarTID 2021 ... A Call to Action for Global Survey of Maritime Training Practices
The 2021 Maritime Training Insights Database (MarTID) survey is about to be launched. This is a unique and pivotal time in maritime training. The pandemic has forced us to adapt our training and has accelerated training innovations. This year’s survey is uniquely important for its ability to help us learn from these unprecedented changes to training practices. If we do not survey and document the changes resulting from the pandemic, we lose a unique opportunity to learn. Therefore, the industry needs you to take 20 minutes to complete the survey at www.MarTID.org. Your contribution will enable
Navico Hires Norton as Chief Sustainability Officer
Navico, parent company to the Lowrance, Simrad Yachting, B&G and C-MAP brands, said it has hired Tara Norton as its first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer, as the company has made sustainability one of its core strategic pillars globally across its brands, products, operations and production. Norton joins the marine electronics company from French multinational Engie Impact, where she worked with its corporate and government clients to accelerate their energy transition to cleaner energies.“We are dedicated to being an environmentally-responsible company,” said Knut Frostad
VIDEO: Profiles in Training - Mike Corrigan, CEO, INTERFERRY
Mike Corrigan, the ubiquitous leader of Interferry, has a broad base of energy and maritime industry experience, including his stint as CEO of BC Ferries. Corrigan shares with Maritime Reporter & Engineering News his thoughts on a broad range of issues facing the ferry industry: COVID-19, emerging international regulations, and yes, maritime training and education initiatives throughout the world ferry industry.Looking back to your tenure atop BC Ferries, can you discuss this through a training and education lens?At BC Ferries, safety and training was an integral part of my role and passion.
Sea Machines Promotes Bourque
closed an additional $20 million in financing with significant participation by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), America’s largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services. The investment in Sea Machines marked one of the largest venture rounds for an advanced technology company serving the marine and maritime industries
Maine Maritime Academy Partners with SailPlan
Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) announced Tuesday it is partnering with maritime technology company SailPlan to accelerate the development of an intelligent vessel’s navigation platform and shoreside vessel control.The academy said it equip its fleet, including the autonomous 41-foot workboat R/V Quickwater, with the Reston, Va. based startup’s intelligent navigation platform. SailPlan will provide real-time fleet location and health monitoring to MMA’s Shore Control Center resulting in unparalleled vessel telemetry being made available shoreside. SailPlan’s cloud-based route
Kongsberg Sim-based eLearning Solutions for MAAP
; has for decades been a pioneer in the use of new simulation-based training tools. Now, the Academy has started using Kongsberg Digital’s K-Sim Engine eLearning solutions to deliver cloud-based tuition to its student engineers, consolidating its position as a leading adopter of the new digital technology.Designed to provide highly realistic representations of real engine models, this cutting-edge eLearning tool allows students to practice and prepare for their exams anytime, anywhere and at their own pace, whilst providing a comprehensive simulation resource.“The K-Sim Connect platform with
Wärtsilä Delivers LNG Training Solutions for Anglo-Eastern
Anglo-Eastern has partnered with technology group Wärtsilä to further enhance its simulator training for crew, with the delivery and installation of state-of-the-art, customized LNGPac bunkering and liquid cargo handling simulators at the ship management group’s largest maritime training center in Mumbai this October.Developed by Wärtsilä Voyage, this is a new product for the marine market, reflecting the increasing adoption by fleet owners of LNG fuel and the consequential need to ensure that crews are sufficiently trained in operating LNG-fueled vessels.The simulator
SUT Appoints Cheryl Burgess as Chief Executive
The Society for Underwater Technology announced it has appointed Dr. Cheryl Burgess as Chief Executive, effective January 2021.Burgess brings to the role over three decades’ experience in the energy industry, including oil and gas (both offshore and onshore), renewables and utilities. She takes over from Steve Hall who has held the post for the past four years.The former Director General of the Pipeline Industries Guild, Burgess’ extensive international expertise from her years with UK Trade & Investment and the Society of British Gas Industries will bring benefit to the SUT’s
BSM Gains DNV GL Approval for Remote Training Course
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) said Wednesday it has received DNV GL class approval to offer the Liquified Cargo Operations (LICOS) training course remotely via its Maritime Training Centre (MTC) in Cyprus. The maritime solutions provider is now one of the few organizations within the industry with this capability that meet the standards of the Society of International Gas Tanker & Terminal Operators (SIGTTO).With current restrictions on travel, BSM guarantees steady training delivery to its internal gas fleet as well as to external customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This ensures that
VIDEO: SkillGrader Takes Officer, Crew Skills Assessment to the Next Level
the learning technologies picture," said Murray Goldberg, founder and CEO of Marine Learning Systems. "For some time now, we have had tools to help teach and assess knowledge – the Learning Management System, and tools to help teach skills – simulation, AR and VR. Now we have technology that allows us to capture reliable, objective and actionable data on crew skills. Operators will gain visibility into workforce trends and risks, allowing them to target training and address issues to improve safety and operational performance.”SkillGrader is a mobile application that is
Marine Learning Systems Launches SkillGrader
duties according to company best-practice.“SkillGrader completes the learning technologies picture. For some time now, we have had tools to help teach and assess knowledge – the Learning Management System, and tools to help teach skills – simulation, AR and VR. Now, finally, we have technology that allows us to capture reliable, objective and actionable data on crew skills,” said Murray Goldberg, founder and CEO of Marine Learning Systems. “Operators will gain visibility into workforce trends and risks, allowing them to target training and address issues to improve safety
USMMA: Teaching with Simulation in the Maritime Field
related to student learning styles has emerged in recent years. Through that research strong arguments have been made that more kinesthetic learning methods, such as hands-on or experiential learning, are more effective than more traditional methods like the lecture. In the maritime field, technology such as simulation, has provided us with tools to harness the power of experiential learning; however, those tools alone cannot ensure students are learning effectively.Studies by the National Training Laboratory have found methods such as lecturing and reading result in only 5%-10% of knowledge
Wärtsilä Names Håkan Agnevall as President and CEO
Finland-based marine engine and technology provider Wärtsilä has appointed Håkan Agnevall as its next president and CEO.Agnevall, who is currently president of Volvo's bus division, will start in his role no later than in April 2021, succeeding Jaakko Eskola, who will continue with the company as a senior advisor and executive until he retires on June 30, 2021, after 22 years with the group.Agnevall has been with the Volvo Group since 2013. In the decade prior to that he held various leadership positions in Bombardier and in ABB, gaining experience in sales, production
Eight Propane Forklift Safety Considerations Crews Need to Know
conducted a study analyzing forklift-related accidents, injuries, and fatalities and discovered the top six causes to be operator inattention, lack of training, unstable loads, forklift overturns, operators struck-by load, and elevated employees.Fortunately for forklift operators, modern forklift technology is safer than ever — but only when operators follow proper safety procedures. To combat common hazards and keep employees safe, OSHA has several safety guidelines in place with regard to forklift operation, maintenance, and required training.The Propane Education & Research Council &mdash
Silva Tapped to Lead Corpower Ocean Portuguese Ops
.“Our mission is to build a world-class knowledge center in Viana for the development and mass fabrication of WECs,” said Silva. “We are currently laying the foundations for future high-volume operations. This involves collecting substantial amounts of data to 'prove' our technology, with an overall aim of successfully completing the demonstration phase with HiWave-5 with a competitive and certified product. Following this, we plan to expand our fabrication and service capacity to be prepared for widescale supply of our new generation WECs.”Corpower Portugal plans to
Crew Welfare Innovation Challenge Launched
crew welfare.Mobile satellite communications provider Inmarsat has joined forces with Shell Shipping and Maritime and maritime digital consultancy Thetius to launch a new ‘Open Innovation Challenge’ for start-ups and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The challenge aims to identify technology that can benefit crew safety, health and wellbeing at sea at a moment when COVID-19 has exposed the welfare of seafarers to global scrutiny.The six-week Open Innovation Challenge is looking for novel solutions that have the potential to improve crew safety and welfare across four innovation challenge
Ecochlor Hires Scheid as Europe Business Development Manager
U.S.-based ballast water treatment systems manufacturer Ecochlor announced Sören Scheid will be managing the company's new office in Germany as the Regional Business Development Manager for Europe, Scandinavia and the U.K.Scheid brings to the role more than 10 years of work experience in the maritime industry, including roles in sales, process engineering and operational environmental protection.The Ecochlor ballast water management system (BWMS) uses a two-step process to treat ballast water; filtration followed by an injection of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) into the ballast lines. The system
Kongsberg Maritime Launches Remote DPO Training
As the maritime world continues to turn to digital technologies to help maintain business operations amid the coronavirus pandemic, Kongsberg Maritime is planning to digital platforms to ramp up remote delivery of targeted training.The Norwegian tech company says it is now offering basic Dynamic Positioning Operator (DPO) courses fully remotely from start to finish, including the practical part of the training.Using virtual machines, students can engage in practical exercises with a remote K-Pos trainer, in addition to completing theory and assessment modules online. Kongsberg says the hands-on
OGTC Names New Chair
Aberdeen-based research and technology organization the Oil & Gas Technology Centre has appointed Martin Gilbert as its new Chair.Gilbert succeeds Archie Kennedy who has been Vice-Chair and Chair of the OGTC since it was established in February 2017.Gilbert was a founding director of Aberdeen Asset Management in 1983 and was instrumental in its £11bn merger with Standard Life in 2017, when he became co-chief executive of Standard Life Aberdeen.Welcoming Gilbert's appointment, Colette Cohen, CEO of OGTC said:"We’re excited to welcome Martin to the Oil & Gas Technology