Safebridge Hosts German Port State Control
Safebridge, a provider of web-based e-learning products for the maritime industry, providing online, onboard and classroom training for nautical officers and captains, hosted the Port State Control of Germany in January 2016 offering a customized Basic ECDIS Training for the inspection officers of the BG Verkehr, the Authority responsible for conducting Port State inspections on vessels hailing German ports.
The training covered the legal, technical and operational requirements for the carriage of ECDIS as primary means of navigation. In addition a practical insight to ECDIS solutions from different manufacturers was provided. The Port State Control officers were given the opportunity to simulate an inspection based on an audit check-list provided by Safebridge while our trainer demonstrated how the nautical officers on board would be expected to perform.
Port State Control officers have to assess whether the legal requirements on ECDIS are met on board. This includes not only the presence of the necessary certificates and technical set up of the ECDIS on board but especially checking the individual competences of all officers on the operation of ECDIS. It is therefore imperative that the Port State Control officer himself needs a sound training on ECDIS. Building up on that demand, Safebridge was pleased to welcome the Inspectors to provide the required familiarisation and training and to share the know-how and experiences between trainers and control officers.
Safebridge is known for its excellence in guiding its customers to achieve the necessary competences for the operation and maintenance of ECDIS and having a sound understanding of setting up their specific ECDIS on board to ensure safe navigation.
Since this expertise is required from mariners in the first place, also shipping companies and Port State Control officers are facing challenges in respect of ECDIS. Shipping companies namely their superintendents and quality managers are obliged to establish the necessary procedures and checklists in their safety management manual. This forms a clear framework on the use of ECDIS to their fleet, which also includes to train their internal auditors for proper assessments.
