When a novice student successfully steered a huge ship into a busy port teaming with other vessels, she was not the only one who celebrated afterwards.

Her lecturer, Captain Phillip Taylor, who is a simulator manager at City of Glasgow College said: “I went home with a big smile on my face as I couldn’t have done the job better myself and I was a pilot for 20 years.”

While the ship was not real, the experience on the 360 degree simulator – the only one in Scotland – is so similar to reality that students and lecturers alike can feel their pulses race in tricky situations.

The difference is that the problems seafarers might encounter on board an actual vessel can be dealt with by using the simulator. If students make mistakes they learn from them without the worry of potentially damaging the ship or causing injury in more serious scenarios.

The Herald:

Alister Quinney is one of the students who has benefited from the technology.

The 26-year-old is in the final phase of his professional diploma in marine operations, having already completed an HNC, HND and 12 months at sea.

“With the simulators you can put the theory you have learned into practice,” said Alister. “They are phenomenal and it means that when you do go to sea you know what is expected, as opposed to being like a rabbit in the headlights for your first time on the bridge.

“You do feel like you are on a ship and you may even find yourself feeling a bit seasick because when you look out the window you can see the heavy seas and the ship rolling. Fortunately, it’s not four dimensional so you don’t get wet but you do feel you are rocking so it is a very realistic
experience.

“Last week we had a full simulator course to combine the last three years
of learning. “It was really interesting and gave me the confidence to feel I could stand on a bridge and manage it. If you are just in the classroom you don’t know if you can put what you have learned into practice, whereas with the simulator you do get the sense that you can do it and you know what you are doing. It gives you confidence.”

Alister said that as a result of thesimulator training every cadet, no matter their level, would have a more realistic idea of what to expect at sea.

However he said the simulators were so successful because of the technical and professional expertise at the College and the industry experience lecturers brought into the class. “They have been in that industry – which is completely different to a nine to five job – and the fact that they have been to sea makes all the difference,” said Alister.

“Their hands-on experience is invaluable, and you can trust their knowledge in dealing with real situations on board.

“Plus they often go the extra mile to give you additional support. It really is great having the technology and the expertise together.


“It’s real life at sea brought into a very exciting classroom.”