Not bad ah! They have simulators for ships like flight
simulators also! Anyone wants to join? It's at NTUC e2i.
[URL="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/s-4m-maritime-simulation/1100636.html"]http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/s-4m-maritime-simulation/1100636.html[/URL]
[B][U]S$4m maritime simulation centre launched[/U][/B]
A new maritime simulation centre was launched on Friday, as part
of a plan to attract more Singaporeans to join the industry.
SINGAPORE: A new maritime simulation centre was launched on
Friday, as part of a plan to attract more Singaporeans to join the
industry.
The centre, which costs some S$4 million, boasts
state-of-the-art facilities -- including engine room and liquid
cargo handling simulators, the latest 240-degree full mission
bridge simulator, as well as an electronic chart display and
information system.
Called the Wavelink Maritime Simulation Centre, it is one of the
first few maritime institutes in Singapore to house four simulation
systems in one location.
It will allow maritime officers to get more effective hands-on
training in various aspects such as ship manoeuvring and resource
management, and prepare themselves for extreme conditions and
emergencies without being put through real risks and danger.
They can also learn to use shipboard equipment such as
electronic charts, automatic identification systems and radar
plotting aids.
The centre, which is housed at the Devan Nair Institute for
Employment and Employability Institute in Jurong, is owned by the
Singapore Maritime Officers' Union (SMOU).
By enhancing the training of maritime cadets and officers, the
union hopes more Singaporeans will consider seafaring as a
career.
SMOU General Secretary Mary Liew said: "Traditionally, seafaring
skills are very much time-based learning, that is the longer you
work onboard a ship, the better skills you have.
"But now with simulation training, the cadets and officers'
skills are accelerated with real-time feedback in a risk-free
environment.
"Thus, they become better officers, have better jobs and better
lives. It is a win-win situation for them as well as the shipping
companies."
For a small country that is highly dependent on international
trade, the maritime industry is a core pillar of Singapore's
economic development.
It contributes seven per cent of Singapore's GDP and provides
170,000 jobs.
But out of some 20,000 officers in more than 4,200
Singapore-flagged ships, only 1,605 are Singaporeans.
Ms Liew added: "With this new set-up, the Wavelink Maritime
Simulation Centre, we can actually train a thousand (officers) per
year, and we look forward to training more of our seafarers, and to
give them a hands-on experience.
"Hopefully, we attract more Singaporeans, for them to be more
aware of such a career."
Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress, Mr Lim
Swee Say, was also at the launch.
He assured the audience that the government and unions will help
as many Singaporeans as possible to move into the sector, which
offers good career prospects and good salaries.
- CNA/ac