Following an interesting conversation during a virtual panel session I took part in last week, I wanted to touch on the importance of training within the shipping and marine industry, the evolution of it, and the importance of blending traditional guidance methods with as intuitive technology for optimal results when training new mariners.

At SEALL, we use our expertise in software development to turn complex issues within the marine and shipping industry into simple solutions, and we believe this is also important when it comes to training new mariners. We aim to streamline the knowledge base into easy-to-digest segments and provide a valuable deep dive into the training requirement needed to operate our systems in the field to ensure operators feel supported and confident enough to operate individually.

With that being said, it’s clear the key to our success has been turning complex navigation into a suite of simple solutions that are simple to install, commission, learn and train on, whilst being transparent, sharing our knowledge, and providing training and support to our partners when it is required. We believe in working together, sharing our expertise, and using technology, but without becoming over-reliant on it.  Perhaps a strange thing for a tech company to say but something we inherently believe it from our mariner career background.

ECDIS was a game-changer, it was the leading transition tool from traditional paper navigation toe-navigation, by using sophisticated systems including electronic chart displays. This new modern technology was quickly incorporated into the industry, however, some mariners, especially those with watch-keeping duties, had to strive to keep up with modern technology and changing ship safety management.

The ECDIS training expectation has changed significantly over the years, it used to be a substantial investment for mariners and the industry as a whole. Since then, the ECDIStraining requirements have changed to a ‘Familiarization’ model which is now the process required for young or inexperienced mariners to become accustomed to any onboard ECDIS. It helps reassure and display competency onboard with any specific ship’s ECDIS installation, before taking charge of navigation.

I believe in the best of both worlds, our systems are always designed with the end-user in mind, so we trust our technology to deliver a simple solution when used properly, but we have confidence that the mariners we train do not become over-reliant and put justas much faith in their good judgment and traditional training. At Seall, we think it’s important to put our technical staff through a skipper day course, so they can gain a basic understanding of the practical elements of being a mariner, making them an invaluable resource to support our customers. They learn weather forecasting, passage planning, and navigation so they discover themselves how their smart technology provides mariners with confidence by being a supportive aid.

Our mission at Seall is to enhance safety and efficiency with intuitive maritime technology, enhance being the key word as we aim to add value to the marine industry, respecting traditional practice.