Training

Training and Continuous Professional Development package

ECDIS generic and type specific training

AMSA compliance

Smartship's Electronic Chart Display Information System (ECDIS) course is approved by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) as meeting the requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) 1978, as amended in 2010.

The course is in accordance with AMSA Marine Order 70 and the International Maritime Organisation model course 1.27 (Ed.2012) for the following:

ECDIS type specific certificate

Pilots and officers who successfully complete the course will also receive a Type–Specific certificate of familiarisation with the Integrated Navigation System Sam Electronics NACOS (Platinum Series or 5th Generation depending on specific clients’ needs), which has widespread use on cruise ships, car carriers, offshore supply vessels and tankers.

Sam Electronics NACOS integrates:

Nationally recognised training

On successful completion, a statement of attainment will be issued for the nationally recognised unit of competency ‘MARH023, Use of electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) to maintain the safety of navigation’. Smartship’s RTO ID is 45378.  

2024 course dates

Course details

The course fee is $5,140 (GST exempt). Maximum 4 trainees per course.

Please note that the course has been redesigned with the theoretical elements delivered through distance learning (approximately 2 days study on–line) with the practical elements delivered over three days here at Smartship – the dates listed above are for the practical elements. Students attending the practical elements are expected to have already completed the theoretical elements.

As a guideline, course attendance at Smartship for the three days is between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm.

Pilots are welcome to bring their own Portable Pilots Units to connect them to Smartship’s simulators.

Shiphandling and Bridge Teamwork (BTM)

The course aims at developing individual shiphandling skills as well as team player skills and is ideal for Marine Pilots and Senior Deck Officers/Masters.

In order to maximize time spent manoeuvring in 2 Full Mission Bridge Simulators, trainees will have to review a hydrodynamics theory package sent to them before attending the course.

This package constitutes the knowledge base of the course and includes:

  • basic hydrodynamics
  • ship propulsion systems
  • steering systems
  • interaction effects
  • environmental forces
  • tug use in port.

The theory package also includes the following non–technical aspects that are relevant to the bridge teamwork component of the course:

  • cognitive potential and limitations
  • physiological potential and limitations
  • human error
  • verbal and non–verbal communication.

The course has been developed in accordance with IMO model course 1.22 (Ship Simulator and Bridge Team Work) Ed. 2002

Course details

This course has been recently refreshed and reorganised into a 4 day course with pre–reading.  The cost is $8,000 + GST if applicable.  

This course has extensive simulation activities and a small cohort (max 3 people per bridge).

This course is scheduled as required.  Please contact Smartship to discuss your needs.

2nd Generation Bridge Resource Management (BRM)

Marine Consultancy Group's BRM Course has been regularly updated over the last 20 years in line with developments in aviation safety and following learnings from analysis of investigation reports from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and other such agencies, and based on our own investigations. This process is ongoing and has led to the identification of the likelihood, type, and location of errors in the pilotage and maritime operating environment.

The present BRM Course is referred to as a 2nd Generation course and was fully developed in late–2010 and approved by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) in March 2011. The first generation course was conducted from 1995–2010.

2nd Generation BRM course

In the aviation industry there have been 5 generations of Cockpit Resource Management (CRM) training based on developments in operational research and on safety outcomes from human factor based investigations.

  • First Generation – Focus on Team building
  • Second Generation – Focus on Specific Skills & Behaviours
  • Third Generation – Integration of CRM into Technical Training
  • Fourth Generation – Training in the Limitations of Human Performance
  • Fifth Generation – Focus on the Management of Human Error

The aim of the 2nd Generation BRM course is to make it equivalent to the 5th Generation CRM course by focusing on the Identification and Management of Human Error in the maritime operating environment.

One of the main driving forces for developing the 2nd Generation BRM course is the recent trend of criminalising seafarers after maritime accidents, especially those involving pollution and/or casualties.

In the case of the Costa Concordia grounding all the officers on the bridge received jail sentences, in the case of a collision in Hong Kong the pilots and ship’s captain received jail sentences, following the May 2013 collision of the Jolly Nero with the Genoa Control Tower the master and pilot were arrested and charged. There are many other such examples.

The approach of the investigators now is to focus not on why an error occurred but how it failed to be corrected. This recent development makes the need for implementing Error Management critical.

The present course focuses on:

  • causes of human error
  • development of error wisdom
  • error management
  • developing a practical understanding of situational awareness
  • improved decision making
  • making the BRM approach the operating philosophy.

The 2nd Generation BRM course adopts an error management approach and attempts to instruct in the limitations of human performance while still weaving in the valuable lessons learned from 1st Generation of BRM. It also traces the radical development in thinking on safety over the last 30–years triggered by the work done on developing a new approach to safety for nuclear power.

The radical development refers to a shift to a systems approach to safety which is now being implemented in other hazardous industries.

The course is flexible and can be modified and adapted to meet the needs of a large part of the shipping industry including offshore personnel and marine pilots.

Nearly every pilot in Australia and New Zealand has attended the original and/or the 2nd Generation BRM course.

2024 course dates

  • 20 to 23 February
  • 07 to 10 May
  • 27 to 30 August
  • 5 to 8 November

Course details

The course fee is $2,750.00 incl. GST. Duration of the course is 4 days.

Please contact Ravi Nijjer for course bookings or for further information.

Advanced Marine Pilots Training (AMPT)

Smartship Australia’s Advanced Marine Pilots Training (AMPT) is the result of decades of professional development.

This course is supported by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), Australasian Marine Pilots Institute (AMPI) and Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) as professional development for Marine Pilots.

The course is approved by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) as an “approved pilotage training course” for the purposes of applying for a trainee coastal pilot license and for the purpose of coastal pilot license revalidation requirements in accordance with Marine Order 54 (Coastal Pilotage).

Port and Coastal Pilots holding an AMSA STCW78 or STCW95 certificate of competency who complete this course meet the current AMSA approved Revalidation Course requirements (Part A and B). Which can include the Medical Care revalidation course components if the participant completes the Medical Care Refresher course facilitated by Smartship Australia.

The AMPT course does not include the GMDSS, Advanced Fire Fighting, Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats, Security Awareness Training. For revalidation of a deck certificate of competency, complete an approved Advanced Marine Pilots development course and full courses in Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats and Advanced Firefighting within the preceding 5 years including appropriate deck revalidation course components.

Note: The information above is provided as a guide only. It is recommended to check with AMSA regarding the current requirements.

The AMPT course aims to:

  • update pilots on a range of topics in several areas of navigation and safety management
  • enable pilots to have an informed opinion on professional matters
  • address any issue of concern to pilots.

The topics covered by Smartship instructors and industry experts includes:

  • the shift from 'Pilot Centred' to Systems approach
  • the development and application of pilotage operation safety management system (POSMS)
  • the legal aspects of pilotage
  • the application of new technologies to both integrated navigation systems and portable pilot units.
  • the use of high–fidelity simulators to define operational limits.
  • the latest developments in enc/chart production.
  • how to manage fatigue and stress. 
  • 2024 course dates

    • 12 to 16 February
    • 13 to 17 May
    • 19 to 23 August
    • 11 to 15 November

    Course details

    The course fee is $4,285 plus $428.50 (GST if applicable) = $4,713.50.

    The Medical Refresher Course is no longer available from Smartship Australia please contact AMSA for an equivalent compliant first aid course.

    AMSA General contact:

    1800 627 484
    Monday to Friday
    8am to 5pm

    amsaconnect@amsa.gov.au

    Tug Handling

    The course aims to provide tug handling skills to mariners who aim to become tug masters. These include:

    • free sailing and familiarisation with specific tug model
    • harbour assisting methods
    • handling of small vessels
    • making fast at speed
    • escort towing
    • rotating about a fixed point
    • full Speed Turn
    • berthing and unberthing tug
    • coming alongside moving vessel and peeling away
    • centre lead aft towing
    • bow to bow towing
    • night operations
    • night blackout procedures
    • manoeuvring with 1 thruster
    • emergency steering.

    The content and the value of the course is recognised by the largest tug operators in Australia. Several Z Drive tug models are available from Smartship library, including ASDs, ATDs Rotor Tugs and Voith. Trainees will have to choose 1 of the above types of tug propulsion for their 5 days training.

    Course details

    The course fee is $12,780 plus $1,278.00 (GST) = $14,058.00. Only 2 trainees per each 5 day course.

    Check Pilot Training

    This three–day course explores the art and science of what makes a good marine check pilot before putting this theory directly into practice using our state–of–the–art simulator facility.

    Mapped to IMO model course 1.30 (On–board Assessment), the theory component draws heavily from the assessment units within the Australian Qualifications Authority Certificate IV Training and Assessment package. Importantly, all course content is specifically tailored for the role of the marine check pilot in the context of recent industry trends towards more formalised competency–based assessment.

    The course makes extensive use of the full mission bridge simulators with simulations specifically designed to highlight the role of a Marine Check Pilot. These simulations have been drawn from real–life situations. Moreover, the cohort of each course is limited to a maximum of 4 students, guaranteeing each student extensive contact time with the instructors and simulation time. 

    2024 course dates

    • 7 to 9 February
    • 20 to 22 May
    • 24 to 26 June
    • 26 to 28 August
    • 18 to 20 November

    Course details

    The course fee is $4,000 plus $400 (GST if applicable) = $4,400.

    Fees are quoted in Australian dollars.

    Mentor Pilot Training

    This 4–day course (1 day online and 3 days at Smartship Australia) is designed to enhance a Mentor Pilot’s ability to guide, coach and support marine pilots and PEC holders as they progress through the on–water training system within their own organisation.

    Suitable for new through to experienced mentors, this course will explore the tools and techniques needed to create a safe, supportive and effective environment for pilots and masters undergoing training, with a focus on the changing support requirements they may have as they progress through the training pipeline.

    Following an online theory module (1 day), course participants will undertake practical simulations in our full mission bridge simulator designed to explore effective mentor pilot techniques. The cohort of each course is limited to a maximum of 4 students, guaranteeing each student extensive contact time with the instructors and simulation time.

    Students are expected to work in pairs during the course so it is advantageous to book 2 students from the same customer.

    2024 course dates

    • 4 to 6 March
    • 1 to 3 May
    • 22 to 24 July
    • 9 to 11 September
    • 28 to 30 October

    Course details

    The course fee is $4,000 plus $400 (GST if applicable) = $4,400.

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