Operational Use of Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS): A USCG approved five-day training course in Operational Use of ECDIS is available at Sperry Marine. The course syllabus has been developed using IMO model course 1.27 in order to comply with STCW 95 standards. In addition to covering all IMO required subject areas for the VMS-ECDIS, the course also provides detailed instruction in the Automatic Navigation and Track-keeping System (ANTS) and optimizing the interface between the ARPA radar and VMS-ECDIS. This makes it an ideal course for any crewmember who will be operating bridge equipment on a Sperry equipped vessel. This training provides measurable results in improving safety of navigation, increasing bridge efficiency, increasing customer satisfaction and reducing maintenance calls.
General Description of the Course: The USCG approved course is conducted at Sperry Marine’s Worldwide Headquarters in Charlottesville, Virginia USA. An identical course, non-USCG approved, is conducted at our facility in London (New Malden), UK. The training facilities include both a classroom and a bridge simulator. The instructor presents PowerPoint slides projected on an electronic touchscreen-whiteboard to teach the theory portion and to clearly demonstrate all ECDIS functions. In the classroom, each student operates a stand-alone ECDIS with independent Simulator for individual ship control. This approach maximizes hands-on learning. The bridge simulator features several networked ECDIS stations configured to work with important components (real equipment), such as the track-keeping Autopilot and the ARPA radar. A variety of student exercises must be performed successfully to complete the course. The students learn the system using the DNV-approved Sperry ECDIS and other components that are typically installed as part of a Sperry Integrated Bridge System.
Staff Information: The instructors are licensed mariners who have been teaching the operation of this system for several years at the Sperry Marine training facility, on board many customer vessels, and at other shore side training facilities. The instructors have been formally approved by the National Maritime Center, on behalf of USCG.
Off-Site and On Board Training: In addition to the class offered at our Charlottesville, VA facility, training can be accommodated off-site and aboard customer vessels via mobile classroom. The mobile classroom consists of several laptop computers that can be configured to support the version of VMS-ECDIS used by the customer and operated independently, much like full-scale training facility in Charlottesville.
