SIMULATORS FOR MARINER TRAINING AND LICENSING. PHASE 2: INVESTIGATION OF SIMULATOR-BASED TRAINING FOR MARITIME CADETS

Merchant vessel bridge/shiphandling simulators have been used for the training of deck officers during the past decade. This training has generarlly addressed the shiphandling skills of the advanced level deck officer and pilot. Those positions have the greatest need for such skill. Due primarily to the recent IMCO Standards of Training and Watchkeeping Convention, July 1978, which established the basis for 3rd mate training standards, simulator-based shiphandling training has been increasingly viewed as supplement to existing training programs at the cadet/midshipment level. This document describes the approach taken in the development and conduct of the prototype cadet-simulator based training program in the United States. The issues investigated during this prototype training program were: input characteristics of cadets, the effectiveness of simulator-based training, day/night simulation, and distributed/concentrated training. (Author)