Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Star Center News

31 May 2023

Career Moves: US Offshore Wind Powering Up

(Photo: STAR Center)

In addition to wind, offshore wind demands human energy, individuals with knowledge and skills first to build and then operate and maintain the dozens of projects required to meet President Biden’s 2030 goal of 30 GW of offshore generation. In an October 2022 National Renewable Energy Laboratory report – “U.S. Offshore Wind Workforce Assessment” – the authors estimate that it will require, on average, between 15,000 and 58,000 employees annually, depending on domestic content scenarios, to build out a huge new wind machine.Mariners and mariner training are integral to offshore wind.

06 Oct 2021

Maritime Trade Union Signs on Sea Machines' Autonomous Voyage Project

Deck officers Bridget Quinn and Adam Szloch remotely command the autonomous NELLIE BLY in Denmark from Sea Machines’ Boston control room. The SM300 provides the remote commanders with full shore-to-vessel connectivity and control and includes an active chart environment with live augmented data overlays, state of vessel, situational awareness and environmental data, as well as real-time, vessel-born audio and video from many streaming cameras. (Photo: Sea Machines)

U.S. Coast Guard licensed officers in Boston are commanding an autonomous workboat on a voyage around Denmark.The American Maritime Officers (AMO) trade union has entered into a labor agreement with autonomous command and control systems developer Sea Machines Robotics for the project, which will see AMO-represented merchant mariners support Sea Machines’ first-of-its-kind 1,000 NM autonomous journey.The voyage, which Sea Machines is calling "The Machine Odyssey", aims to prove the world’s waterways are primed and ready for long-range autonomous vessel operations…

30 Jul 2018

WISTA USA Supports Sea Turtle Conservation

Photo: WISTA USA

Women's International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) USA Florida Chapter participated in a sea turtle release with the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program (BCSTCP) and Nova Southeastern University (NSU) on July 26, 2018.Forty nine WISTA members and guests attended the sea turtle hatchling release, which raised $1000 for the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program.“As maritime professionals, WISTA members understand the significant role we can play to protect the habitats, nesting areas, and life cycle of sea creatures.

03 May 2016

TOTE LNG Bunker Barge : Crew Training Program

GTT subsidiaries, GTT North America, Inc. and GTT Training Ltd, announce the award of the first contract of its kind for the development and implementation of a comprehensive LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) training program for the 2,200 m3 LNG Bunker Barge currently under construction at Conrad Industries Shipyard in Orange, TX, following the order received by GTT North America from Conrad Industries in February 2015. The contract was executed with the barge's owner TOTE on April 6th, 2016, to initiate the program for training of the tug and LNG barge crew, which will ultimately be subject to U.S. Coast Guard approval. At present, there…

26 Mar 2014

The Crowley Way

“I think our industry has to take a more proactive role in cleaning ourselves up, instead of simply defending ourselves and trying to say it’s not that bad. It is going to be expensive and the cost of transportation is going to increase, but I think the world understands that.”  -Thomas B. Crowley, Jr., Chairman and CEO,  Crowley Maritime Corporation

Walk in the front door at Crowley Maritime Corporation HQ in Jacksonville, Fla., and you learn nearly everything you need to know about the company. With your visitor’s badge, you are handed a “Safety and Evacuation” brochure, and the person you are there to meet – in our case Tom Crowley, Jr. – walks down to greet you personally. Safety and People; The Crowley Way. The rest is just details. Crowley Maritime was founded in 1892 by Thomas Crowley in San Francisco. Its fleet:  A single Whitehall rowboat purchased for $80, used to ferry people and supplies from shore to ships anchored in the Bay.

20 Dec 2013

Resolve Maritime Academy Opens Engine Room Simulator

Left to right: Rosemary Mackay, Lead Engineering Instructor and Simulator Operator; Denise Johnston, Director, Resolve Maritime Academy; David Boldt, Simulation Training Group Manager

Resolve Maritime Academy recently completed its installation of Transas engine room simulator platform, the ERS 5000 TechSim. As part of the Academy’s Simulation Training Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the engine room has booked classes for January 2014. The ERS 5000 TechSim has allowed Resolve Maritime Academy to expand its course offerings to engineers from all sectors of the maritime industry including the offshore, tanker and cruise sectors. The engine room simulator is connected to Resolve Maritime Academy’s full mission bridge simulator…

10 Jun 2013

Getting Real: Star Center Upgrades Bridge Simulator

Maritime training specialists, STAR Center, upgrades its bridge simulator for an unparalleled 360 degree training experience. Digital Projection International (DPI), an Emmy® Award-winning manufacturer of high-performance projection systems, Scalable Display Technologies, a leading provider of software for automatic edge-blending, and Electric Picture, a leading systems integrator recently collaborated on a significant system upgrade to STAR Center’s maritime training simulator in Dania Beach, FL. This upgrade resulted in increased imagery resolution and vertical coverage, improved color management and made overall system maintenance more efficient.

24 Apr 2013

AMO Responds to Cruise Line Industry Criticisms

American Maritime Officers Association (AMO) president follows up on his recent appearance on FOX News Channel. The AMO president says his April 15 live appearance on FOX News Channel's segment, "Remembering Titanic 101 years Ago Today," which highlighted concerns about the rising tide of marine mishaps, has drawn undue criticism from the cruise ship industry's lobbying group, yet, has ignited overwhelming positive public and professional support of putting highly-trained AMO-member U.S. merchant mariners in command of more passenger vacation vessels. A few days after American Maritime Officers President Tom Bethel appeared on "FOX & Friends," the Cruise Lines International Association issued a news release in the form of an open letter from CEO Christine Duffy to Mr. Bethel.

10 Feb 2013

SOCP Spring Meeting: Participation Invited

Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) meeting invites maritime industry representatives. This meeting will focus on Recruiting the Next Generation of Mariners and how Regulatory Requirements and Critical Incidents impact the US Maritime Industry; also about lessons learned in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy. The Keynote Speaker and Moderator will be Rear Admiral Wendi B. Carpenter, President, State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College. Recruiting the Next Generation of Mariners - How Do We Best Work Together? Regulatory Impacts on Crew Recruitment and Retention - How Do We Reduce? Maritime Lessons Learned from Super Storm Sandy - Opportunities for Improvement in Vessel Capabilities for Disaster Response?

14 Jan 2012

MERPAC Working Group Meeting

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will conduct an intercessional meeting to facilitate working group discussion of Task Statement 76, titled “Review of Performance Measures (Assessment Criteria)”, and Task Statement 77, titled “Development of Performance Measures (Assessment Criteria).” This meeting will be open to the public. The MERPAC working group will meet on January 31, 2012, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and on February 1, 2012, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Please note that meetings may adjourn early if all business is finished.

11 Aug 2011

Kongsberg Supplies STAR Center with DP Technology

STAR Center, located in Dania Beach, FL, is launching into the Dynamic Positioning (DP) Training market, expanding its simulation training services to the offshore, cable laying and cruise ship markets in the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. In a contract signed with Kongsberg Maritime Simulation (Mystic, CT), STAR Center will acquire a dual-redundant Advanced K-Pos DP trainer capable of being integrated with its existing Polaris© Ship Bridge Simulator, in addition to six Basic K-Pos trainers, to be used in a classroom setting with a separate instructor station.

11 Mar 2011

SOCP 2011 April Meeting Registration

The theme for the Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) April meeting is “Supported Project Topics and Working Groups Issues. SOCP invites maritime industry representatives to attend and participate in our April 2011 meeting to be held at STAR Center, Dania Beach, Flla. The discussions in this meeting will focus on SOCP supported projects and products currently under development for the benefit of the entire industry. This will include SOCP multimedia training products (DVD/CBT) on Electrical Safety Training, Line Handling Safety, Safety Culture, CEM’s Ocean Training and recently completed Exhaust Gas Scrubber Study. Also included are presentations and panel discussions on a broad range of vexing issues faced by the industry in areas of regulatory changes…

06 Oct 2008

SOCP Meeting Slated for Florida

A SOCP Meeting will be held on Nov 5-6 in   It will be hosted jointly by and Faststream Recruitment Inc. Due to the effects of the recent hurricane in , the venue for this meeting has been moved from to STAR-Center in . If you had registered earlier for the meeting at , you do not have to register again, but if you would like to reconsider the meeting, please do let me know. The meeting will have discussion panels on Lube and Fuel Oil Analysis, LNG Energy Issues, Alternative Energy Sources for the Maritime Industry, Green Tugs, and Careers and Employment in the Oil Energy Production Industry. The agenda also provides for updates and discussions on projects such as the SOCP’s Mariner Education Coalition Activities…

08 Nov 2001

World's First Full Mission Diesel Electric Simulator Launched

RTM STAR Center® (Simulation, Training, Assessment and Research) has installed what it dubs the world's first Full Mission Diesel Electric Simulator. It is referred to as the DE III. The simulator is located at STAR Center's Dania Beach, Fla., facility and is based on a previous design by Kongsberg Maritime Ship Systems. This simulator however has enhanced mechanical and electrical systems enabling it to meet the demanding STCW '95 requirements for Class "A" full mission simulation. The simulator is based on a large cruise ship requiring 40 MW of power at 6,600 volts. There are four diesel generator sets each rated at 11 MW connected to two 14 MW synchronous propulsion motors. In addition there are four thrusters (two forward and two aft) and two 600 KW emergency generators.

07 Jul 2004

RTM STAR Center Upgrades Simulator

RTM STAR (Simulation, Training, Assessment & Research) Center announced that it has upgraded its 360º Bridge Simulator. The image generation system now features the Simfusion 4500Q with photo-textured graphics, and the projector system has been replaced by Christie 3-chip Digital Light Processing (DLP) with soft-edge blending provided by 3D Perception.

04 Jan 2002

RTM STAR Center Upgrades Full Mission Bridge Simulator

RTM STAR (Simulation, Training, Assessment and Research) Center has announced the upgrade and modernization of their 247 degree “field-of-view” Full Mission Bridge Simulator. The simulator is located at STAR Center’s Dania Beach, Fla., facility and is based on a design by Kongsberg Maritime Ship Systems Inc. (KMSS). Following the successful upgrade of STAR Center’s 360 bridge with the Litton Sperry 2100 Integrated Bridge System in 1999, STAR Center is proud to announce the upgrade of its other Full Mission Bridge Simulator. The 247° Full Mission Bridge Simulator has been upgraded with KMSS equipment and features the capability to simulate Azipod® equipped vessels in addition to other traditional propulsion systems.

20 Mar 2002

RTM STAR Center® Protects Copyrighted Training Manuals

RTM STAR Center® has resolved a dispute concerning a competitor’s unauthorized use of STAR Center copyrighted training manuals. The resolution of the dispute included payment of damages and termination of all use of the infringing training manuals. STAR Center is satisfied with the resolution of the dispute.

02 Apr 2002

RTM Star Center Obtains USCG Approval

RTM Star (Simulation Training, Assessment & Research Center) has received USCG approval for its 80-hour Advanced Shiphandling Course. The objective of this course is to provide students with theory and training in shiphandling and to satisfy company, national and international regulations for candidates for certification as master or chief mate as follows: STCW Code A-II/2 Maneuvering and Handle a Ship in all Conditions; and USCG 46 CFR 10.910 Table 10.910-2 Ship Maneuvering and Handlin

23 Apr 2002

RTM STAR Center Provides Carnival With Simulator Training

Carnival Cruise Lines has signed a contract with RTM STAR (Simulation, Training, Assessment & Research) Center, to provide five-day simulator based training programs in Bridge Resource Management (STCW '95 compliant, U.S. Coast Guard, Bahamas and Panama approved), AZIPOD training, Advanced Shiphandling, and Command Shiphandling to Carnival Officers. The courses have been developed, updated and customized to include the latest ship platforms and Carnival specific operating areas. The most up-to-date materials in the subject areas of team building, situational awareness, effective communications, stress management, fatigue, and cultural diversity will be included in the course text. Exercises using the full mission simulation create a "learning-by-doing" atmosphere.

01 May 2002

RTM STAR Center® to Evaluate Cozumel TMM Pier

RTM STAR Center® has been awarded a contract to perform a simulator-based study by TMM (Transportacion Maritima Mexicana), in cooperation with various cruise lines to investigate access by conventionally propelled vessels, as well as AZIPOD® propelled vessels at the inside berth (eastern side of the pier). These types of vessels were chosen because they are a good representation of the ships that may utilize the docking facilities now and in the future at Cozumel. STAR Center provided a geographical model of the port of Cozumel that accurately depicted the piers, shoreline, aids to navigation, and other distinctive features to ensure a high level of fidelity during the simulation exercises.

29 Jul 1999

Directory for Maritime Education and Training

Throggs Neck, N.Y. U.S. 300 Steamboat Rd. Kings Point, N.Y. RTM STAR Center-Ft. Dania Beach, Fla. New York, N.Y. New Orleans, La. P.O. Vallejo, Calif. Westland GeoProjects Ltd. EX23 8BR, U.K.

29 Jul 1999

Maritime Education On The Upswing

The pressures - political, financial and environmental -to ensure onboard personnel are skillfully trained at operating increasingly complex vessels is tremendous. Simply stated, vessel owners and operators must employ increasingly advanced training courses - both system- and vessel-specific - as well as general courses, in order to avoid costly accidents and litigation. In just the past few years, mariners have proven these courses work, as the amount of oil spilled into the sea has decreased dramatically. According to the USCG, in 1990, tankbarges moved 72 billion gallons of oil, spilling 992,000 gallons, or one-one millionth of a percent.

09 Jul 2002

STAR Center Provides 360-Degree Field of View

Imagine having your employer inform you that your only two-week vacation all year will be spent sitting in training courses to revamp or add to your skill base as an officer. Most would more than likely offer a collective groan of discontent by this suggestion since they often spend more than four months at sea in one given shot. Time spent away from relaxation with their families is precious to these individuals as it is hard to come by. Therefore RTM Star (Simulation, Training, Assessment & Research) Center, located in Dania Beach, Fla. And Toledo, Ohio, strives to give students who come to the training center an atmosphere that exudes a "home away from home" environment. Driving along the industrious thoroughfare of U.S.