Maritime Training News

MMA's RADM McDonald joyfully announces that the long-awaited National Security Multi-mission Vessel (NSMV) Program now has legs. On Friday 23 March 2018, President Donald Trump signed the FY18 Omnibus spending bill into law. I am very pleased to report that contained in this budget is $300M to begin the long-sought State Maritime Academy Training Ship Replacement Program. Known as the National Security Multi-mission Vessel (NSMV), this new-build replacement training ship program…

When talk turns to ‘Maritime Simulation’ visions of high-tech bridge simulators with seamless graphics and interwoven component simulators – engine room, DP systems, cargo loading – come to mind. But modern simulation is so much more, a wholistic visual, audio, tactile and cereberal experience that prepares mariners to deal with a bevy of real-world situations. Modern maritime simulation has evolved rapidly, driven by exponential leaps in computer and graphic display power, a…

You know if Elon Musk was to attend a plenary session of the IMO, he could be forgiven if he thought he was watching a reenactment of the Charles Dickens book Hard Times, with Mr. Gradgrind the Headmaster. What a sad reflection of our industry. Imagine instead! Imagine a world where logistics companies and cargo owners drive ship design, innovation and demand the level of quality in ship management. Where maritime assets are operated in a global ecosystem of tracking, monitoring and safety. Imagine a world where ships are operated in a “ship as a service” or “system of systems” infrastructure.

Kongsberg Digital has signed the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) as a pilot-customer for the cloud-based application of the sophisticated K-Sim simulation technology. BCIT will be among the first to offer simulation as a service by integrating K-Sim with the new Kognifai digital platform, to enable its students to train anytime and anywhere. Initially, Kongsberg Digital will focus on enabling students at BCIT’s School of Energy to use the K-Sim Engine Thermal Power Plant (TPP) simulator for industrial/utilities engineers, by giving them access to the simulator on their own devices. However, the train anytime and anywhere strategy is already set to improve and extend the use of simulation in power engineering training.

A four-day workshop on how to best design and conduct drills and maritime security exercises, has been held in Kingston, Jamaica (13-16 March), said a press release from International Maritime Organization (IMO). The aim of the event was to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to plan, conduct and assess security drills and exercises in their port facilities. The workshop also included live role-playing sessions with various communication equipment. This helps port facility security officers…

The Latin America Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre, part of a global network established under an ambitious International Maritime Organization (IMO)-European Union (EU)  project to further efforts to combat climate change, has been launched in Panama (13 March). The centre, hosted by the Universidad Marítima Internacional de Panamá (UMIP), is one of five such centres established under the GMN project, which is funded by the EU and run by IMO. The centres, in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific regions, act as regional focal points for a wide range of activities.

A pair of U.S. Navy submarines recently surfaced in the Arctic Circle as part of multinational maritime exercise north of Alaska. Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Hartford (SSN 768) and Seawolf-class fast attack submarine, USS Connecticut (SSN 22) surfaced in the Arctic Circle March 10 during the multinational maritime Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2018. Both submarines, as well the UK Royal Navy submarine HMS Trenchant (S91), are participating in the biennial exercise in the Arctic to train and validate the warfighting capabilities of submarines in extreme cold-water conditions.

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced that Australia’s Department of Defence has awarded a contract to Naval Shipbuilding Institute (NSI), a joint venture between HII’s Technical Solutions division and Kellogg Brown and Root’s (KBR) Government Services division, to establish and manage Australia’s new Naval Shipbuilding College. This effort is in support of Australia’s mission to recapitalize its shipbuilding and maritime sustainment industry over the next several decades. In announcing the request for proposals in 2017…

India's INSV Tarini entered Cape Town (South Africa) today during it’s maiden voyage to circumnavigate the globe. This is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew. The vessel is skippered by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, and the crew comprises Lieutenant Commanders Pratibha Jamwal, P Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal Gupta. Mrs Nirmala Sitharaman, defence minister had flagged-off INSV Tarini from Goa on 10 September 17.

The first Wärtsilä SparkUp Challenge, an initiative to find innovative start-ups to develop ideas for the smart shipping value chain, has been won by KNL Networks and Portcall.com. The prize for the winners is a four-month collaboration and co-creation in the Wärtsilä Digital Acceleration Centre (DAC) beginning in March. In addition, they will receive a capital grant of 50,000 euros. “We are extremely delighted and proud to announce these winners. This is an amazing opportunity for both us and the winners.

Ports provide the critical interface between the ship and the shore. For maritime trade to flow effectively, this vital infrastructure needs to be secure – and this involves people at all levels. A national maritime security training workshop in Djibouti (19-23 March) included practical exercises and a site visit to a nearby port facility as well as class-based training in how to implement the relevant provisions of International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s code on International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS Code) and SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and related guidance.

Mexico has hosted a five-day workshop on International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code), which sets out preventive security measures in case of threats to ships and port facilities. Designated authority and port facility security officers had the chance to improve their knowledge and understanding through practical exercises as well as class-based training in how to implement the relevant provisions of the ISPS Code, SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and related guidance.

Iranian officials responsible for implementing IMO standards on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from shipping are undergoing IMO training at a national workshop in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran (18 April). Around 30 participants from the country’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO), Department of Environment and numerous ports are taking part. They are being trained on the IMO treaty restricting air pollution from ships as well as ship energy-efficiency measures – MARPOL Annex VI.

From April 16-19, 2018, Naval Group will participate to the sixteenth edition of DSA, the Defence Service Asia exhibition. On this occasion, Naval Group will sign a contract with DCI to assist the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) to implement a comprehensive E-learning system in order to train its naval forces all over the country.Naval Group and DCI put together their complementary expertise to provide e-learning solutions to the Royal Malaysian Navy. During a three-year program DCI will transfer the French Navy know-how to the RMN.

A team of Italian specialist Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) divers carried out mine-countermeasures training on Friday, April 13, to prepare for potential threats that may affect international shipping and delay essential sea cargoes.As part of the training, the EOD divers from Italian Navy Frigate ITS Margottini put a floating ‘dummy’ mine into the sea and then carried out a controlled explosion.ITS Margottini is currently deployed on counter-piracy operations as part of EU NAVFOR’s Op Atalanta.

With a range of dignitaries in attendance, Simwave will officially open its 5,000-square-meter maritime training center in Barendrecht on April 19. The three hundred guests will take a look behind the scenes at the new location, which houses more than 50 simulators. The center has already been in use for some time now. The 'site acceptance test' was successfully completed on January 29th, in collaboration with the supplier of the simulators, the Norwegian company Kongsberg Digital.

The UK P&I Club has made a significant donation to the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) to support its work developing resources, training and building preparedness for maritime mass rescue operations. The IMRF is the international non-governmental organization which works to develop and improve maritime search and rescue (SAR) capability around the world, preventing loss of life in the world's waters. Mass rescue operations, are defined by the International Maritime Organization…

Even before the implementation of Subchapter M requirements, Vancouver, Washington-based Tidewater Transportation & Terminals had developed a strong culture of workplace safety. Within its overall plan is using and regularly testing Emerald Marine Products' ALERT Man-Overboard System. The ALERT system consists of a water-activated transmitter worn on a lifejacket and a receiver installed in a wheelhouse. If the wearer falls into the water, it instantly activates a piercing alarm and flashing light, alerting the boat captain to the man overboard (MOB).

China's navy will carry out combat drills in the South China Sea, the military's official newspaper said on Friday, describing the move as part of regular annual exercises. Taiwan's defence ministry said this week it had shadowed a Chinese aircraft carrier group traversing the Taiwan Strait in a southwesterly direction - meaning into the disputed South China Sea - in what Taiwan judged to be a drill. In a brief report on its WeChat account, the People's Liberation Army Daily said the combat exercises would take place shortly…

The heads of the U.S. and Indian navies met at the Pentagon this week to discuss ways to ways to integrate and improve interoperability. On March 21, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson hosted Indian Navy chief Adm. Sunil Lanba at the Pentagon, where the two met with Secretary of Navy Richard V. Spencer to discuss ways to improve interoperability to include additional naval exercises and staff talks. “The relationship between the U.S. Navy and the Indian Navy has never been stronger,” said Richardson.

MV WERFTEN, the shipyard group is constructing a special accommodation center for subcontractors and guests at the Alter Holzhafen in Wismar; visitors will be able to spend the night in cruise ship cabins. The new building, which comprises 104 rooms, is scheduled to open by winter 2018-2019. Wismar, March 6, 2018 | Today, MV WERFTEN celebrated the official start of construction on its very own accommodation facility – the MVW Alter Holzhafen Beherbergungsstätte – with a groundbreaking ceremony.

SevenCs has just released a brand new software tool called TMS ChartServer which is running on a high performance “Tile Map Service” technology. It allows users of maritime web and mobile applications – e.g. Fleet Monitoring, Vessel Tracking, and Surveying – to display maritime charts at top speed: no matter if full global chart coverage is needed or just a smaller area of interest. SevenCs GmbH is located in Hamburg, and for decades has been “the Expert” in developing maritime software applications.

OSM Maritime Group says it is aiming to make the shipping industry accessible to all as part of its involvement in the UN Global Compact (UNGC) initiative. The ship management company,has signed a MOU to re-launch the Mozambican Higher School of Nautical Sciences. It is also actively working to increase the number of females in its global pool of 11,000 qualified seafarers. OSM is one of the first companies in the ship management segment to join the UNGC. The Norwegian-headquartered business has now submitted an initial report detailing its desire to set new industry standards…

Scott Thayer has joined BUG-O Products as Director of Sales and Marketing on February 26, 2018.   Scott brings with him nearly 30 years of experience in the welding industry and has a strong knowledge of BUG-O products. In addition to his sales experience, he is a Certified Welding Inspector as well as a Certified Welding Educator.  

U.S. Navy’s Sealift Body Accepting OSVDPA DPO Certificates. The Offshore Service Vessel Dynamic Positioning Authority, Inc. (OSVDPA) announced the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) is accepting OSVDPA DPO Certificates for mariners seeking employment by MSC. Dynamically positioned vessels are a growing part of MSC’s fleet and operations and are being utilized at a higher rate in recent years in an effort to conduct operations, often times dive and salvage operations, in a safer and more efficient manner.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, and an international maritime business platform, SeaFocus, have announced a collaboration agreement that will support the companies in creating new cooperation models to benefit maritime trade and drive industry innovation. "We are known for our innovative products and services," says Henri Paukku, Director, Cooperation and Funding, MacGregor. "We can see here the potential in the industry and an important partner for creating new ways of thinking and sharing best practises and to collaborate with universities and their students.

MMA Launches Third Graduate Degree, M.S. Maritime Business Management. The Massachusetts Maritime Academy has announced the launch of their third Graduate Degree, the Master of Science in Maritime Business Management. MMA developed the MSMB over a four-year period as a campus-wide collaborative effort with the Academic Dean, the Dean of Graduate & Continuing Education, the undergraduate International Maritime Business Department faculty and input gathered from employers, prospective students, the Graduate Education Council, and MMA graduate and undergraduate alumni.

The 1914-built three-masted steel bark Statsraad Lehmkuhl is the oldest of the large square riggers still in operation today. The century-old tall ship, which is currently in use as a Norwegian sail-training ship, will be able to cruise out of Bergen harbor next year without any greenhouse gas emissions, thanks to a hybrid power system from Rolls-Royce. Norway’s state-owned company Enova, which works to facilitate the country’s transition to a low-emissions society, is providing just over NOK 4.2 million for an innovative project to equip the historic tall ship with shipboard battery power.

Students from the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) in Malta are being introduced to key policy planning issues as part of International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s on-going work to support the future leaders of the maritime world (15-16 February). The event focused on the National Maritime Transport Policy (NMTP) formulation, which is being promoted by IMO as a good governance practice to guide planning, decision making and legislation in the maritime sector, and a key driver for a country's sustainable development.

For nearly 20 years, leaders of the tug and barge industry in the region have converged on SUNY Maritime College in the spring to discuss current issues and initiatives facing the industry. This year will be no different; the 18th annual Towing Industry Forum will include presentations about safety management systems, wind farms and their impact on marine traffic, and a federal study regarding route planning and access to East Coast ports, among other topics. The forum, organized by the college’s Department of Professional Education and Training, will be from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and the National Institute of Technology (KOSEN) agreed to collaborate in the fields of education and public relations for the purpose of human resources development in the maritime industry and the promotion of maritime affairs awareness. NYK has a number of programs to educate the next generation of seafarers, and one of those programs facilitates international student-exchanges between students at KOSEN maritime schools and the NYK-TDG Maritime Academy, which NYK operates in the Philippines.

The SENER engineering and technology group organized two technical seminars on the FORAN System between January 29 and February 1 at the Croatian universities of Split and Rijeka. The objective of these technical sessions, which are part of the agreement signed by SENER with both universities to extend the use of its FORAN marine design and production system, is to exchange knowledge between different industry agents as well as providing students with training. The four sessions…

Kongsberg Digital has launched a new 3D virtual application for its state-of-the-art K-Sim Cargo simulator. The system generates high-fidelity visualization for operational training on important areas of the cargo deck, enabling training centers equipped with K-Sim Cargo to deliver even more value to their customers while meeting the industry need to secure the safety and efficiency of cargo transfer operations. The new 3D virtual solution is a direct response to customer requests…

January 31, 2018 is the deadline for the first global survey for the Maritime Training Insights Database (MarTID), giving the industry one last chance to take 20 minutes and become a part of this historic initiative. The partnership was started more than a year ago, a partnership solidified in the summer of 2017 in the office of Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President, World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden, with the signing of an MoU with the World Maritime University, Marine Learning Systems and New Wave Media, publishers of Maritime Reporter & E‪ngineering News and MarineLink.com.

Simwave B.V. and Kongsberg Digital have completed the Site Acceptance Test (SAT) of one of the largest, most advanced maritime simulation suites ever delivered. The SAT, which took place January 19, means that the new Simwave Maritime Center of Excellence in Barendrecht, Rotterdam is now fully operational. As the sole simulation technology partner in the development of the unique Simwave facility, Kongsberg Digital delivered the full scope of work in accordance with the contract awarded in April 2017, which represented one of its most extensive deliveries to date.

With their main role of conducting amphibious operations, San Antonio-class ships have unique capabilities that make them an ideal partner to support NASA's mission. One of the more important capabilities is the ship's ability to recover the test capsule using the ship's well deck, which was designed to launch and recover amphibious craft. Anchorage also has the ability to carry and deploy multiple small boats to aid in the recovery process of the capsule and contains an advanced medical facility ideal for treating the returning astronauts.

The built-for-purpose National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) training ship comes to life. Anybody who has spent four years at a State Maritime Academy (SMA) has also spent time at sea on a Marad-owned training vessel. Today, these platforms are long in the tooth, equipped with outdated equipment and not necessarily conducive to the task of training cadets for a future career at sea. For a long time, though, they’ve gotten the job done. It is also true that some of these hulls are one equipment casualty away from the bone yard…

Ecoslops announces that it has made further progress in its project to expand in Egypt by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Suez Canal Economic Zone for the development of a detailed feasibility study. The potential for recovering oil residues transiting the Suez Canal is estimated at more than 40,000 tonnes per year, based on 18,000 passages and 7,000 ports of call. Egypt also has important world-class ports like Alexandria, generating more than 5,000 calls a year, which also have significant potential for waste generation.

January 31, 2018, the deadline for the first global survey for the Maritime Training Insights Database (MarTID), is quickly approaching. The mission of MarTID is to help ensure safe, efficient and sustainable maritime operations on clean oceans. It will do so by providing the maritime industry with objective and comprehensive data on how it manages and conducts training for shipboard competencies and the effects of drivers, such as technology, on this training. So far, the MarTID team has received good input and we thank those of you in the maritime community who have already taken the survey.

Never easy, but always a critically important task. It is critically important that we assess the ability of our mariners to perform the skills required to safely and efficiently do their jobs. It happens to also be very difficult to do so objectively and at the level of detail necessary to ensure safe operations and continuous improvement. This is especially true in dynamic, team-based scenarios such as drills and complicated safety-critical activities. This article covers a novel initiative by one of the world’s largest cruise lines and its partners to provide a solution to this problem.

The Liberia Maritime Training Institute (LMTI) was officially opened by Liberia President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf during an inauguration ceremony in Marshall City, Liberia, on January 5. The facility is named after John G Bestman, former Liberian finance minister and a member of the board of governors of the Central Bank of Liberia. Under the management of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), LMTI has undergone a massive renovation and facility modernization program over the past two years, resulting in the creation of a new campus and state-of-the-art facilities.

In a coming edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News, we explore modern training and “blended learning” techniques with Murray Goldberg, CEO of Marine Learning Systems, maker of MarineLMS. A researcher and developer of learning management systems, Goldberg’s software has been used by millions of people and companies worldwide. Here Goldberg explains the scope and important of a historic new annual survey, The Maritime Training and Insights Database (MarTID) (www.martid.org/survey).

Setting out to increase fairness, equality and inclusion within the maritime sector, Maritime UK has established a Women in Maritime Taskforce, a move welcomed by the U.K.’s new Maritime Minister, Nusrat Ghani MP. “I am delighted to see Maritime UK taking action to attract more women into our maritime industries, and I welcome this taskforce as an important first step,” said Ghani, who is only the second woman to hold the Department for Transport portfolio for the U.K.’s £40 billion maritime sector.

Kongsberg Digital has received DNV-GL statements of compliance for two of its newest Engine Room Simulator models designed to provide in-depth training on the K-Sim Engine simulator platform. The DNV GL-ST-033 March 2017 Maritime Simulator Systems certification, which is based on the requirements of STCW Convention, Regulation I/12, was awarded to the DEDF Cruise Ferry and L11 MAN 6S70 ME SCC K-Sim Engine models in December 2017. Now commercially available to all K-Sim Engine users…

A powerful virtual-reality ship simulation system, operated by the Port of Milford Haven is running courses to train tug boat operators from across Britain. The Navigation Suite, based at Milford Waterfront, creates highly realistic computer-generated versions of any port in the world, giving trainees the opportunity to take the controls of any vessel, including tugboats, to practice scenarios. Tug skippers from Williams Marine Services and Teignmouth Harbor Commission spent two days undertaking theory based safety training and working on simulated ‘as real’ scenarios within the port.

Hong Kong is chosen to host the Global Maritime Forum’s inaugural Annual Summit on 3-4 October 2018. The high-level meeting will convene key industry leaders with policymakers, experts, NGOs and other influential decision-makers and opinion shapers. Their task will be to share their ideas on the challenges facing the maritime industry and to develop practical proposals to optimise global seaborne trade, thereby increasing sustainable long term economic development and human wellbeing. “We look forward to welcoming the world’s maritime decision-makers to Hong Kong.

It is not business as usual in the world where we do business. Things are changing. Even regulations themselves are changing from less prescriptive in nature to more performance-based. As Chairman, President and CEO of a global classification and technology-centric company that operates in 70 countries with 5,000 employees, I am continually assessing the impact of these changes on the capabilities ABS needs to fulfill its mission and maintain its leadership position in the maritime, offshore and government industries it serves. To know where we are heading, we have to know where we began.

NYK and NYK Group companies MTI Co. and Japan Marine Science released partial findings of a study on collision risk judgement and the autonomous operation of vessels. Representatives from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), and three partner manufacturers (Tokyo Keiki, Japan Radio, and Furuno Electric) were in attendance when the findings were released. This entire study includes development of (a) functions to facilitate judgement related to avoiding risk of collision with other vessels…

Nearly 200 delegates from across the world gathered in Den Haag, The Netherlands in September 2017 to hear about the latest developments in maritime training based on state-of-the-art simulation technology. The three-day Kongsberg UC2017 International Maritime Simulation User Conference brought attendees up to date on developments in digitalization, maritime training, navigation technology, maritime operations simulation and the use of virtual reality in training. Tom Mulligan reports.

Most of Earth’s volcanoes are in the oceans, yet scientists know very little about them compared to volcanoes on land. Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor recently completed a 41-day expedition near Tonga, using cutting-edge technology to map, view, and sample underwater volcanoes while sharing observations with the public using real-time video streaming and chat programs. Findings include detecting widespread evidence of deep sea explosive volcanism, observing one of the rarest volcanic rock types on Earth…

Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside announced the decision of the Executive Management of the Agency to offer automatic employment to twenty (20) beneficiaries of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) Cadets that passed out with distinctions in their various fields of study. The Director General who made this known during the flag-off ceremony of the first phase of the NIMASA fully sponsored sea time training for cadets expressed delight that hope beckons for the Nigeria maritime sector through this feat.

Cinthya Lopes has joined Simwave, the maritime simulation center in Rotterdam, as simulator operator. Prior to joining Simwave she worked in a variety of roles in the field of maritime training at the Brazilian Navy and Kongsberg. After finishing her studies in her home country of Brazil at the Merchant Marine Academy, Lopes completed her Post Graduate Program in Conference Interpretation at PUC Rio. Lopes started her career as a Navigation Officer at Norsul Shipping Company.

The Pacific region has celebrated the launch of a centre of excellence for low-carbon shipping technology, which joins centres in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America as part of a global network run by International Maritime Organization (IMO) and funded by the European Union. Through this network – the Global Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre Network (GMN) – these centres will develop and promote low-carbon maritime transport systems, supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The sinking of the U.S. freighter El Faro in 2015 with the loss of 33 lives came after an overconfident captain set the ship and its poorly trained crew on a collision course with a hurricane, the National Transportation Safety Board said in its final report on Tuesday. It was the worst U.S. maritime disaster in 30 years. National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt said at the end of a day-long hearing that tracking the loss of the ill-fated ship on Oct. 1, 2015, was like watching a brewing storm.

Four U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) cadets were awarded with 2017 Thomas B. Crowley Memorial Scholarships during yesterday’s Containerization and Intermodal Institute’s Connie Awards luncheon in Newark, N.J. Jenny Terpenning, supervisor, marine recruiting at Crowley Maritime Corporation, presented the scholarships to Midshipmen (MIDN) Joshua Cann, Vincent Policastro, Rebecca Snyder and Benjamin Starr while also formally recognizing 2016 recipient Chandler Chiappe, all of whom were chosen based on their academic performance…

The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre and the Indian Coast Guard have commenced the 2017 Capacity Building Workshop in New Delhi, India. Themed “Striding Over Domestic Challenges,” this year’s workshop draws ReCAAP Focal Points from maritime enforcement and government agencies across Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the United States.

The IMO Assembly met for its 30th session at  International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters in London, United Kingdom (27 November to 6 December). The Assembly was the largest-ever gathering at IMO Headquarters in London, attended by some 1,400 participants, including 56 at the ministerial level, from 165 Member States, as well as observers from inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations. The Assembly adopted its strategic plan for 2018-2023, including a revised mission statement…

Eco-Business, Asia Pacific’s leading media organisation dedicated to reporting on sustainable development, has unveiled a new membership programme for its growing community. The EB Circle is a new dedicated network in which readers who sign up for just S$60 a year will gain priority invites to its events, access to an inner circle of professionals committed to sustainability on the Slack platform, media training opportunities and more. Since Eco-Business was founded in 2009, it has been committed to providing a platform for the region to discuss sustainability issues…

Insights: Rear Admiral Mark H. Buzby, USN (Ret), Maritime Administrator, U.S. Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby was appointed by President Donald Trump and sworn in as Maritime Administrator on August 8, 2017. Prior to his appointment, Buzby served as president of the National Defense Transportation Association, a position he has held since retiring from the U.S. Navy in 2013 with over 34 years of service. A 1979 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Buzby earned his Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science and U.S. Coast Guard Third Mate License. He was commissioned in the U.S.

Training and attention to detail saves lives. Kevin Suarez at Statue Cruises is the living embodiment of that maritime metric. For any first time visitor to the Big Apple, the trip probably wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. To that end, Statue Cruises’ main focus is to create a smooth passenger experience and serve as the gateway to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island for the over 4.4 million tourists who visit both islands annually.

Earlier this year I was part of a safety meeting with several marine towing companies and the topic turned to leadership on our towing vessels. Companies are coming to the realization that many of their captains are not masters of the vessels. For years, the industry has taken control of the vessels from the captains and kept it in the office. I used to hear this lament from captains that I worked with in the nineties, “They don’t pay us to think.” And although the words have changed, the same old lament is there.

U.S. Maritime Adminstrator Mark Buzby issues statement on ‘full accreditation’ from third party auditors. The U.S. Maritime Administrator last week issued a statement announcing full accreditation of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The news brings (at least part of) the drama being experienced by the nation’s only federal maritime academy to an end. The school had been found to be delinquent in at least 5 of 14 necessary benchmarks last year.

ShipConstructor Software Inc. (SSI) says it is excited to see that the Brazilian Government has funded training on SSI’s ShipConstructor software. Below is background to that decision. Brazilian shipyard Estaleiro Atlântico Sul (EAS) is one of a select group of bright lights in the Brazilian shipbuilding industry. With the downturn in oil prices and the impact of “Operation Car Wash” causing the cancellation of Petrobras projects, several Brazilian shipbuilding and offshore shipyards have shut down.

A world class Center of Excellence in Maritime and Ship Building (CEMS) is being set up by Ministry of Shipping in collaboration with  Siemens and Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) under the Ministry’s flagship Sagarmala Program. CEMS will have  campuses at Vishakhapatnam and Mumbai, and will provide industry-relevant skill development, equip students with employable engineering and technical skills in the port and maritime sector and contribute to the Government of India’s ambitious Sagarmala programme.

The newly formed Maritime Global Technologies Innovation Center (MGTIC) is a collaborative incubator hosted at SUNY Maritime College that sets out to foster technology developments in the maritime space through entrepreneurial innovations. “Shipping interests exist in an increasingly complex environment and are impacted by new problems every day. At the same time, entrepreneurs and researchers seek to remedy these problems,” said MGTIC co-founder Dr. Christopher Clott, ABS Chair of Marine Transportation and Logistics at SUNY Maritime College.

As I write this article I am flying back to my home base in Canada from the 42nd annual Interferry conference in Split, Croatia. Interferry is an outstanding conference full of dedicated and passionate ferry operators and those who serve the industry. One presentation was delivered by Captain John Wright, a Master Mariner who has spent his career in the maritime industry in a variety of roles including vessel master, marine superintendent, chief executive and general manager. All of his roles have had a focus on safety and cultural change.

Cooperation between academic institutions is key in ensuring the next generation of maritime professionals is well prepared. In this spirit, International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Juvenal Shiundu delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the International seminar on mutual cooperation between IMO, World Maritime University (WMU) and Korea Maritime and Ocean University (KMOU) in Busan, Republic of Korea (11 November). In front of a full audience, Shiundu reiterated…

The UK Chamber of Shipping, with backing from 40 shipping companies, has this week written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, asking the Government to double the amount of funding available for seafarer training as soon as possible. The letter was also sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond and the Minister of State, Department for Transport, John Hayes. The UK Chamber, in conjunction with Nautilus International, has submitted a proposal for the Government's existing Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) scheme to be extended.

More than 4,600 ships flying the Singapore flag will benefit from service enhancements to be introduced from November 2017 by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). Singapore-incorporated maritime companies will also receive assistance in the form of training on sustainability reporting. These initiatives were announced by Chief Executive of MPA, Mr Andrew Tan, at the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) Forum. Themed "Innovation in Challenging Times", this year's SRS…

A regional conference of countries in west, central and southern Africa has committed to continue to work at both national and regional levels to boost preparedness to deal with oil spill incidents which could be devastating both for the marine environment and financially. The conference (6-9 November) in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, was hosted by CIAPOL, the Ivoirian pollution control centre. It brought together industry and government focal points from 20 out of 22 west, central and southern African countries covered by the Global Initiative for West, Central and Southern Africa (GI-WACAF).

YANMAR America has announced the launch of the YANMAR//ACADEMY and POWER//TRAIN following the recent opening of the EVO//CENTER, YANMAR America’s training and customer experience center headquartered in Acworth, Ga. Both initiatives provide an enhanced training experience focused on YANMAR’s dealerships, employees and customers. The YANMAR//ACADEMY consists of eight schools; six focused on dealer training, one on employee training and one dedicated to customer training. POWER//TRAIN is the registration…

Ensuring the future today . . . by supporting the U.S. Ensuring the future is an essential part of what a testing laboratory is all about. In fact, that concept underlies every EMC test and all the torturous Environmental Simulation testing that products undergo en route to compliance. Retlif Testing Laboratories, a leading independent EMC and Environmental Simulation testing organization founded in 1978, ensures the future beyond products…with people…from the ground up…with their firm commitment to sponsorship of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets. The U.S. Naval Sea Cadets program is a vital one.

The key IMO treaty supporting the free flow of international maritime traffic – the Facilitation Convention – provides a set of consistent, uniform regulations that cover the wide range of administrative tasks required of ships coming into and leaving port. To support this process in Montenegro, IMO is holding a seminar with the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs in Bar, Montenegro (14-16 November). Thirty-five participants from various agencies with responsibilities for clearing ships, cargo, crew and passengers in the country’s ports, and private stakeholders are taking part.

The U.S. Navy has a well-deserved reputation for seamanship in trying conditions. Recently though, the Navy has suffered a series of marine casualties, including the fatal collisions involving two destroyers of the Pacific Fleet. On June 17, USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, was involved in a collision with the container ship ACX Crystal off Japan, resulting in the deaths of seven Navy crewmembers. The destroyer was severely damaged and is being returned to the United States via heavy-lift vessel for extensive repairs. On August 21, USS John S.

For many industries, cyber security is about target hardening and perimeter defense. This makes sense, as cyber security is implemented in much the same way that physical security is implemented. We often think of it in terms of the medieval castle design, which translates to defense in depth in modern vernacular. This formula makes sense, as we can see and touch perimeter defense in physical security. We have seen and are comfortable with things such as fencing, ingress and egress areas (think doors, drives, sidewalks), guard stations and cameras. We like things we can see and touch.

Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) for the development of maritime and logistics studies by providing training to UMT students. PTP chief executive officer Marco Neelsen said the agreement was also a platform for sharing and, Research development in maritime technology and port management sectors. “As one of the world’s top container ports, PTP is looking forward to working closely with UMT in developing industry-ready graduates through various programmes,” he said.

The auditing of International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member States to assess how effectively they administer key IMO instruments is an important part of the Organization’s work to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is universally adopted and implemented. To support this process, new audit team leaders are being trained under IMO’s Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) at a course being held at IMO Headquarters, London (6-10 November). The course involves…

A Center of Excellence designation would allow San Jacinto College to expand maritime training. San Jacinto College is one step closer to having a Maritime Center of Excellence. The U.S. Senate recently voted to approve maritime workforce centers of excellence legislation as part of the FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This follows a vote made by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year to approve the legislation. While there are slight differences between the House-passed maritime workforce centers of excellence provision and the Senate-passed provision…

European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) call for easing the administrative burden shipping crew and companies are facing today. The Reporting Formalities Directive, that aimed to simplify and rationalise reporting formalities for ships in European ports as of June 2016, has unfortunately not helped in easing the situation. Crews and companies face a worse situation today than before. Rather than having a single European window…

A 20-foot shipping container on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, helps the Australian Navy run one of the world’s few remaining shore-to-sea live firing training sites. Since 1959, West Head Gunnery Range which occupies an area of 16 hectares has provided the Royal Australian Navy with live gunnery training for close range and medium calibre shipborne weapon systems, navigation radar and miscellaneous communications and support equipment. One of the many systems used for safety during live firings and also training is the Electro-Optical Tracking System.

Inspection training for Port State Control Officers in South and Central America is underway at an International Maritime Organization (IMO) workshop in Buenos Aires, Argentina (6-8 November). There are participants from: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and Uruguay. Port State Control is the process, supported by IMO, by which officials in ports can board visiting foreign-flagged vessels to verify compliance with international safety and pollution standards.

The port State control regimes which carry out inspections on ships to monitor and enforce compliance with international regulations have pledged to strengthen their collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and amongst themselves. A recent workshop (24-26 October) for port State control (PSC) MoU/Agreement Secretaries and Database Managers and Member States, the seventh of its kind, was held at IMO headquarters in London, United Kingdom. Participants shared experiences…

National, state and local officials joined together with YANMAR America and its honored guests to officially open the YANMAR EVO//CENTER located at the corner of Highway 92 and Old Alabama Road in Acworth, Georgia. Situated on 50-plus acres of land in Cherokee County, the new 50,000 square foot facility opened on November 3, 2017 features six state-of-the-art product training labs with classroom and hands-on space, three classrooms, multiple meeting rooms, office space, a 250-seat auditorium, the EVO Commons dining area, concept lab, museum and outdoor product demonstration areas.

MarTID – the Maritime Training Insights Database -- a historic initiative to study global maritime training practices -- launches today. There is broad agreement that as much as 80% of maritime accidents involve human factors causes. As such, top vessel operators and maritime training centers are pouring significant resources into creating best practice and innovative training programs. This is good. To a large degree, however, the industry as a whole, knows little about the training approaches and successes of vessel operators and training centers outside personal circles.

Two U.S. Coast Guard marine inspectors were welcomed on board the Wallem-managed vessel MT Tofteviken as part of the U.S. Coast Guard Ship Rider Program aimed at ensuring and enhancing safety and security at sea by enabling USCG marine inspectors to experience operations on tanker work firsthand. Wallem said it is one of the few ship management companies to have offered this learning experience for the USCG marine inspectors. During their three-day voyage, the marine inspectors learned about various operations on board, including discharging, loading and STS/lightering operations.

Two crashes in the Asia Pacific region involving U.S. Navy warships and commercial vessels this year were caused by preventable errors by the sailors on board the ships, according to the results of Navy investigations released on Wednesday. The accidents, in which 17 sailors were killed, raised questions about Navy training and the pace of operations, prompted a Congressional hearing and the removal of a number of officers. “Both of these accidents were preventable and the respective investigations found multiple failures by watch standers that contributed to the incidents…

A new agreement sets forth terms for maritime industry rescue training between U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, Mich., U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit and Lake Carriers' Association (LCA) enrolled vessels. The memorandum of agreement was signed Tuesday at the 9th Coast Guard District headquarters in Cleveland by Rear Adm. Joanna M. Nunan, commander, 9th Coast Guard District, and James H.I. Weakley, president of the LCA. "The experience gained by both Coast Guard and Lake Carriers' crews will greatly enhance both organizations capabilities," Nunan said.

A high-level workshop in Djibouti has seen an exchange of ideas on preventing a resurgence of piracy in the West Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, as well as addressing other transnational organized crimes at sea that threaten the security of navigation. The event (29 October) was hosted at the Djibouti Regional Training Centre, which is part-funded by International Maritime Organization (IMO) and supports implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct – the international treaty that has been instrumental in repressing piracy and armed robbery against ships in the region.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines announced that it has developed a mariner safety education tool goggle, which uses virtual reality (VR) technology created by Tsumiki Seisaku. The tool relies on VR technology to replicate various training scenarios and work operations, until now a difficult task, offering a new level of realism and immersion. It works on easily portable VR goggles, which make it possible for seafarers to train safely regardless of location, onboard or in an office or training center.

The UK Chamber of Shipping and its partners Addleshaw Goddard and the Law Society of  Scotland have launched a free online introductory course in maritime law. The course, titled ‘Maritime Law: an Introduction to Shipping Transactions’, launches on Monday 30th October and will outline the unseen legal and transactional structures behind the shipping industry. The course is open to anyone looking to develop their understanding of maritime law or who has an interest in shipping and maritime trade.

The question of how to manage emergency preparedness and response in the oil and gas sector was on the agenda at a workshop in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania (17-20 October). Participants from countries across the East Africa region gathered to highlight good practices in developing national preparedness and response systems, as well as how to improve understanding of risk assessments related to oil and gas development and potential impacts on environment. The group also worked to identify areas for strengthening emergency preparedness and response at national and regional levels.

As of September 2017 Aat Hoorn has joined Simwave as manager engine room and high voltage simulators. These state of the art simulators comprise various engine room models presented on workstations, big views as well as a full mission engine room environment. Besides a Certificate of Competence Chief Engineer All Ships, Hoorn carries a professional Master’s degree in Education. Prior to joining Simwave Hoorn worked at various (managing) positions at a.o. Nedlloyd and AVR waste management center.

SUNY Maritime College’s training ship has returned to campus Tuesday after nearly two months aiding hurricane relief workers in Florida and Puerto Rico. The ship Empire State VI was used to provide power, housing, food and water to emergency relief workers, first in Florida following Hurricane Irma, then in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Empire State VI is owned by the Maritime Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and used by Maritime College throughout the year to educate and train future maritime industry professionals.

More than three years after completing the first outline sketches, Spanish naval design and architecture firm Oliver Design has completed outfitting the interiors for the Bima Suci, the Indonesian navy’s new sail training ship. This spectacular vessels is one of the largest tall ships in the world and measures 364 x 44 ft. with a 14.8 ft. draft. Built at Freire Shipyards in Vigo, Spain, the new training ship sports 36,200 sq. ft. Oliver Design also carried out turnkey architectural design for Bima Suci…

Mexican port security officials have undergone training on complying with International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS Code). Forty participants took part in the workshop in Manzanillo, Mexico (16-20 October), focusing on the practise of self-assessing compliance with regulations under the Code that apply to port facilities. The workshop included theoretical lessons, presentations on self-assessment processes and techniques, practical exercises, role playing and a visit to a port facility in Manzanillo.

Any maritime business relies on its workforce to innovate and adapt, often in tough and changing market conditions. In fact, people are the most important assets in the maritime sector and organizations must invest in bridging the talent gap or risk losing out to competitors, especially as there is a shortage of suitably qualified and experienced seafarers, onshore staff and shipyard workers worldwide. The pressure is on for organizations to find new ways to recruit their workforces and retain their valuable human capital assets…

Crowley Maritime Corp. has awarded a Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarship to Tyler Gray-Hoehn, class of 2018 at the Webb Institute, a highly-selective undergraduate institution in Glen Cove, N.Y., specializing in naval architecture and marine engineering. Gray-Hoehn, who hails from Brookfield, Wisc., was recognized for his dedication, academic excellence and leadership as a student Webb. He is senior class president and vice president of the Webb Institute’s Student Organization (SO), and has also been Webb’s Motor Boat Chair, Van Chair and a member of the Honor Council.

Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) has announced that it conducted a tabletop drill based on an incident involving a car carrier managed by an MOL Group ship management company. MOL holds these drills periodically to confirm its emergency response system in preparation for serious marine incidents. The drill was held on Tuesday, October 17, 2017, with the goal of raising company-wide safety awareness through the simulated experience of a serious marine incident. It was designed to ensure that the company can respond swiftly and appropriately in case of a serious marine incident…

The Liberian Registry has launched a Cyber and Ship Security Computer-Based Training (CBT) program that provides an overview of cyber-security issues, including concepts such as malware, network security, identity theft, risk management and other common threats to maritime security. Jorgen Palmbak, Director of Maritime Security for the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the U.S.-based manager of the Liberian Registry, said, “Cyber-attacks have been identified as among the most serious emerging threats to the security of today’s shipping industry. Over 40 percent of crew members have reportedly sailed on a vessel that has become infected with a virus or malware - and only 1 in 8 crew members have received cyber-security training.

Maritime professionals from all sectors operating sub IMO / sub 80 feet vessels are invited to participate in three one-day NEXT GENERATION Workshops. The dynamic program is being held at the Grand Harbour conference venue, overlooking the port of Southampton U.K., on October 24, 25 and 26, 2017. The NEXT GEN Workshops each address aspects of operational safety for vessels, along with the safety and welfare of their crew and passengers. The high level group of presenters brings a wide range of experience and expertise from sectors including workboats…

As demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) grows, so does the need for LNG carriers. Many shipping companies in recent years have placed orders for LNG ships, and shipyards are busy building them. The maritime industry is also exploring ships powered by natural gas, rather than more traditional sources. To address this topic, SUNY Maritime College will host a conference, LNG: Not just a cargo, on Thursday, November 2. The conference will include presentations and panel discussions from a wide variety of maritime companies…

On its first ocean voyage to Europe, the training ship ‘Unión’ – a large sailed vessel belonging to the Peruvian Navy – called on the port of Cádiz, as part of its second training mission and its first mission with a stop in Europe. On the request of the shipbuilder SIMA and the Peruvian Navy, the engineering and technology group SENER has developed the ship’s complete stability booklet, which required conducting advanced studies of its weights and ballast under various loads.

The Maritime History Society (MHS) under the aegis of the Western Naval Command, is being organised an intellectually stimulating two day seminar on the theme, “Indian Maritime Wisdom” on 05 & 06 October 2017. This seminar is the Thirty- Eighth edition of a long running series that began in 1980 and the inaugural session was held at the INHS Asvini Auditorium, Near RC Church, Colaba in South Mumbai on 05 October 2017. The Chairman of MHS, Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief…

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) and its working groups are scheduled to meet October 26-27, 2017, at United States Coast Guard National Maritime Center in Martinsburg, WV.   Although the meetings are open to the public, attendees must pre-register to be admitted. Additional details about the location, point of contact, how to submit comments, and the agenda can be found in the Federal Register in notice document 82 FR 44433, published on September 22, 2017

GlobalSim has installed a Virtual Reality Crane Simulator Training System at Newport News Shipbuilding. The system provides a high-tech solution for training crane operators without risking personnel or equipment run by novice operators. The VR solution includes laptop computers, a headset and controls – all packaged in travel cases. This order is expected to be one of many simulators as Newport News Shipbuilding works to improve the effectiveness and safety of their crane operations.

The UK Chamber of Shipping has launched ‘Understanding UK Shipping’, a new book that gives a comprehensive overview of the nation’s maritime industry to newcomers and anyone looking to increase their understanding of the sector. The book covers a range of topics from national and international legislation; crew employment rights, safety standards, and the carriage of goods and passengers by sea. The publication was written by the UK Chamber’s policy team, who between them have…

A new dissertation has been made at the University of Vaasa, Finland that shows how sustainable development can efficiently be combined into company businesses. The dissertation gives company leaders practical tools for guiding and managing the processes. Combining sustainability into business is often felt as a challenge, if not even impossible. Environmental aspects and social responsibility are seen as opposite requirements compared to financial targets of a company. The ever…

Promoting women's access to quality employment and senior management level within the maritime sector is a key priority for International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s gender and capacity-building program and was at the core of the 8th regional conference to support the Association of Women Managers in the Maritime Sector in East and Southern Africa (WOMESA), held in Mahé, Seychelles (September 26 to 29). Under the theme "A Decade of empowering Maritime Women - What does the future hold for Africa's Blue Economy?"…

For more than 100 years the U.S. has depended on State Maritime Academies (SMA) to produce USCG licensed merchant officers. The SMA’s have also been an important source of U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard officers, as well as trained personnel for the maritime industry and electric power industries ashore. Key to training these future deck officers and engineers has been the annual sea cruise on dedicated training vessels. The current SMA training ships, all of which were built for other purposes and later converted to be training ships, are getting old.

SUNY Maritime College’s Training Ship Empire State VI will soon sail to Puerto Rico to aid in the recovery efforts and to deliver basic necessities to the island’s residents. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) activated the vessel for a pre-scripted Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mission to support relief efforts. Once moored on site, the self-contained vessel will support recovery efforts by providing housing, power, food and water to first responders.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) said its Technical Solutions division was awarded a $25 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, multiple-award contract from the U.S. Navy to provide training services for tactical afloat shipboard, ashore and submarine command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems. The three-year contract includes two one-year option periods, which, if exercised, could bring the value of the contract to $43 million. Work will be performed on ships and land sites worldwide and, if all options are exercised, work will continue through September 2022. This is one of four multiple-award contracts.

Throughout the maritime world, the technical regulations developed and adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are well known. Shipmasters and officers, as well as expert trainers and educators, spend many hours getting to grips with the knowledge needed to implement and impart the detailed regulations governing ship safety and security and the prevention of pollution from ships. But there is an important first step which needs to happen between adopting a new regulation or amendment and its entry into force and application on board ships.

Ivy Marine, LLC, a two-towboat company out of Mobile, AL has become one of the first companies in the United States to obtain their TSMS Certificate. They are also the smallest company in the country to have obtained this certification. “Ivy Marine partnered with Tug & Barge Solutions to develop a Towing Safety Management System (TSMS) that meets Subchapter M and the AWO RCP standard,” said Steve Wilson, Ivy Marine’s President. Ivy Marine, LLC also installed HelmCONNECT on its vessels which has helped them obtain their TSMS Certificate.

Falck Safety Services and Simwave are joining forces to serve the maritime and oil and gas industries with combined simulation and practical training. For more than 30 years, Falck Safety Services has offered safety training for the offshore, maritime and wind industries. On November 8th, Simwave will open its doors to the most advanced maritime simulator center in the world. This co-operation means that customers will be able to undertake simulation training at Simwave to complement the training at one of the training centers of Falck Safety Services.

Almost 200 delegates from across the world are gathered at the Grand Hotel Amrâth Kurhaus in Den Haag, The Netherlands this week to hear about the latest developments in maritime training based on state-of-the-art simulation technology. Kongsberg Group, the Norway-headquartered international knowledge-based  company serving businesses in the maritime, defense, remote weapons and digitalization sectors, is hosting the three-day Kongsberg UC2017 International Maritime Simulation User Conference designed to bring attendees up to date on recent and planned developments in digitalization…