A $2-million investment has paid for upgrades at a B.C. Ferries terminal building on Vancouver Island, converting it into a state-of-the-art training facility.
Screens, displays, computers and modern control panels are now set up at Departure Bay ferry terminal in Nanaimo and members of the media were given a tour Wednesday, May 10.
Malcolm Rodger, B.C. Ferries害羞草研究所� manager of simulation training and an instructor, said the set-up makes for a better educational experience. The equipment simulates real-world marine situations as much as possible, even providing a sensation of a rocking vessel. However, there are no vibrating floors or mist spraying and it害羞草研究所檚 all visual.
害羞草研究所淭he maps were built with pictures, digitalization and specific requests from B.C. Ferries. Things are in the right place and things are to scale害羞草研究所π卟菅芯克鶟 Rodger said. 害羞草研究所淚s it perfect? It害羞草研究所檚 not meant to be perfect, it害羞草研究所檚 meant to be in the likeness, but it害羞草研究所檚 very good.害羞草研究所�
Robin Grypma, B.C. Ferries害羞草研究所� senior manager of bridge simulation, worked in the fleet for 10 years and has been training people for the last six. The new simulator is impressive, she said, and 害羞草研究所渘ight and day害羞草研究所� compared to the equipment used when she was coming up. The previous simulator, while excellent, was outdated after 12 years, she said.
害羞草研究所淭he models themselves, they害羞草研究所檙e all hydro-dynamically developed, so they respond much more efficiently and with more response in this new simulator,害羞草研究所� said Grypma. 害羞草研究所淭he visuals are a thousand times better. The equipment we害羞草研究所檝e installed 害羞草研究所� is actually what害羞草研究所檚 on board. We replicate [what害羞草研究所檚] onboard so there害羞草研究所檚 less training about how to use equipment and more training with how to respond to emergencies.害羞草研究所�
Training facilities at Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay are no longer being used, making the Nanaimo facility 害羞草研究所渢he focus,害羞草研究所� said Rodger.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 central to the fleet, central to travel, central to the bulk of the crew,害羞草研究所� he said.
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