ECDIS course to train the trainer

Offered in Norway and Singapore, the course is in accordance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). It is a unique approach to type-specific ECDIS training and has been developed as a response to new IMO regulations and demand for certification in the use of ECDIS, resulting in an increasing requirement for training, the Norwegian system provider said.
“We have developed a new training course that includes both technical ECDIS training on our systems as well as pedagogical components,” said Tommy Edvardsen Hvidsten, product manager training at Kongsberg Maritime. “The course enables Captains to train their own officers and crew, which significantly reduces training and travel costs compared with each crew member attending separate ECDIS training courses.”
In addition to certificated training, course participants receive a kit of exercises to use when training their own staff. Although those who take part in the instructor course are cleared to conduct Kongsberg Maritime familiarisation ECDIS training, Kongsberg Maritime said it was still responsible for testing the skills of officers and crew that have been trained by the course participant, and for issuing the ECDIS competence certificate.
“While the participants of the ECDIS Instructor Training course complete the test at our training centres, those who are trained by someone who has taken the course, must complete an online test. Based on the results of this test we will issue the necessary certificate. This gives us the possibility of controlling quality and ensuring course participants have in fact received the required training according to the standard,” continued Hvidsten.