Maritime University of Szczecin is planning to open the first in Poland Simulator-based Centre for Marine Pilots Training. The University has already signed a respective Letter of intent with the company Szczecin Pilot Sp. z o.o. The Centre will be a certified facility for training marine pilots and running courses in the area of port safety.
The Letter was signed on 15th April by the Rector of the Maritime University of Szczecin - Stanisław Gucma, Prof. DSc. PhD. Eng. Master Mariner and the Director of Szczecin Pilot Sp. z o.o – Janusz Majewski, Master Mariner.
“This is another step in our cooperation that has been lasting for nearly 30 years. In the past, we cooperated in terms of conducting research and courses, and our partner’s pilots were experts in our projects. Now we are commencing a new stage – we will provide specialist courses for pilots with simulated real-life situations including emergency ones,” said Prof. Gucma.
New Regulation of the Minister of Transport, Construction and Maritime Economy dated 16th December 2013 on professional eligibility of marine pilots defines their necessary qualifications and imposes strict requirements as to their skills and securing safety of vessels coming in and out of ports. Any pilot training centre has to be acknowledged by the Ministry – its training programme, educational infrastructure as well as qualifications of its teaching staff must all contribute to achieving the required quality of marine pilots education.
This is the main idea behind the plan of launching the Simulator-based Marine Pilots Training Centre which is to provide high quality training to new pilots as well as enable taking obligatory renewal courses. This will be achieved by means of experienced teaching staff and professional simulators of the Maritime University in Szczecin. The training will be conducted on a manoeuvring navigation bridge simulator at the Marine Traffic Engineering Centre, and possibly, according to the Rector, also on Double Positioning and inland simulators. Captain Majewski underlined the significance of safety provision on water route Szczecin-Swinoujscie that extends on as much as 68 km.
“Behaviour of a marine pilot and his cooperation with ship’s captain is of highest importance with regard to minimising the risk of collision.”
The courses and training offered by the Centre will be, among other issues, related to manoeuvring (also in emergency situations) with the use of manoeuvring navigation bridge simulator for new pilots as well as during renewal courses.
