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COVER FEATURE
By Tsvetana Paraskova
Training that’s better than the real thing Imagine the scenario. It’s the dead of night. A perfect storm is raging. You need an emergency evacuation from your offshore platform via lifeboat. Scary stuff. You couldn’t possibly train for these conditions. Well actually - you can. Leading training provider, AIS Survivex has invested a six-figure-sum in the very latest lifeboat simulator technology to increase marine safety and boost competency so that lifeboat coxswains are fully prepared for any emergency, in any weather. The simulators perfectly complement AIS Survivex’s existing marine offering, which includes a dedicated training facility on the river Dee in Aberdeen accredited by OPITO, STCW and RYA. This facility delivers a range of training including daily courses in Basic Offshore Lifeboat Coxswain Initial Training using industry-recognised equipment such as lifeboats and fast rescue crafts for the offshore and maritime sector. AIS Survivex is the only UK training provider to offer practical OPITO-approved initial twin fall and free fall training in a ‘real life’ setting so adding the option for continual development through simulation-based assessment is another UK-first.
www.ogv.energy I July 2022
The simulators themselves are located in a dedicated simulator suite in pride of place behind the glass frontage of the AIS Survivex Dyce facility, where delegates can complete OPITOapproved Lifeboat Coxswain Further Training.
progress through the drills while staying in constant contact through embedded CCTV and radio functionality.
But one of the most significant benefits of lifeboat training and assessments using simulators is that delegates can experience and practice operations in all types of conditions. That’s because the simulators feature The cutting-edge a wide variety of exercises to kit is impressive. recreate every type of weather It includes three - from calm seas to the perfect of the very storm - and can also switch said delegate, latest, ultrabetween night time and daytime realistic lifeboat scenarios. This enables delegates Mark McKenzie. simulators. One free to practise emergency escape and fall, one twin fall and rescue scenarios in adverse weather an advanced coxswain and in the dark – situations which mobile training simulator. couldn’t be reasonably practised otherwise. It certainly wouldn’t be feasible to do this type of Feedback from the first training in a practical setting. However, training for delegates using the lifeboat all eventualities like this builds competency and simulators, confirms the quality improves safety standards. of the training experience and its closeness to reality. “This is more Marine Team Leader, George Masson, explains: realistic than the real thing”, said “In high-risk industries like oil and gas, training delegate, Mark McKenzie. for crisis situations is critical. Training people through engaging technology like simulation The comment comes as no helps to improve the response to an emergency surprise. These simulators are the and ensures people make the right decisions very latest versions from Canadian with a cool head. manufacturers, Virtual Marine Technology (VMT), and feature “The ability to use a simulator means more ultra-realistic graphics and motion time can be spent on training and assessment. technology to recreate the feeling Practicing high risk operational scenarios such of being on a real lifeboat. It’s as as emergency evacuation in the dark or rescues close to real life as it gets. in really bad sea conditions is one of the most valuable tools of simulation. These events simply The imposing free fall version sits can’t be replicated in any other way and yet it is on a motion bed towering 17 feet where competency can truly make a difference. above the ground and is able to move in multiple positions similar “In the safe environment of a simulator, you to a simulated real life sea state. can make as many mistakes as you like. All Wrap around 180-degree graphics the learning studies tell us that active learning add to the immersive experience and making mistakes helps memory retention. of free-falling in a lifeboat from You learn more from making mistakes and by an offshore platform. A separate seeing the consequences. You’ll remember the command centre mirrors the experience. As we all know - practice makes internal view and allows the perfect!” instructor to monitor the delegate’s
“This is more realistic than the real thing”,
