On Ice Navigation Training Courses
In 2005 and in the beginning of 2006 shipowners planning to export Russian oil from the port of Primorsk (the Gulf of Finland) are becoming more and more interested in ice navigation training courses for deck officers.
Recently more than 120 deck officers and pilots were trained on the ice condition navigation up-grading courses. Groups of Masters and Chief Officers from Greece, Romania, Bulgaria keep training according to this program.The Makarov Training Centre plans to train more than 60 crewmembers of the largest tanker fleet operators in the Baltic area.
The training program includes theoretical part that is conducted by lectures from the Arctic Faculty and practical training on the simulator using the ice conditions mathematical model. The training is conducted in English or in Russian. The purpose of practical training on the ice simulator is tanker handling and manuevring in different ice conditions. After completion of this course students note high level of professional training and the necessity of such simulator training to prevent accidents possible when sailing in winter conditions in the Arctic as well as in the Baltic.
