Integration Of Real-Time, Real-Life Data Is The Future Of Maritime Simulation

Bridge training has long been a reliable and productive training method. Allowing students to learn from “real life” scenarios in a safe environment. However, the real challenge has come for the trainers themselves; creating scenarios which are both challenging but still realistic. This is near impossible unless the trainer has a photographic memory of a previous experience!

The next generation of simulators will overcome this problem by integrating real-life data from Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). This will mean training is genuinely realistic and will remove the need to attempt to create a scenario.

The added benefit of this is that the information can either be imported live, as it happens from any port in the world, or if a particularly interesting event occurs, the information can be saved and used in future training.

People may question the legality of this new technology regarding privacy, however the aim will be to simply use the location, navigation and speed information from the shipping vessels, whilst omitting the ship or company names.

This new technology may seem way off, but a company in Hampshire, England is already developing the software required to allow this new way of teaching to become a reality.  For more info, visit www.nauticalsimulation.com