New MTC Kochi: Incorporating smart Technologies into Seafarer Training

Motivated and highly qualified sea personnel are the backbone of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM). The HR Marine department is working hard to steadily expand the company’s pool of skilled seafarers and thus ensure the safe and efficient operation of the growing fleet under BSM crew management. An important component of the recruitment and qualification strategy is the company’s wholly owned training centres, which must be constantly adapted to meet new industry requirements and technological developments.

The latest development in BSM’s Maritime Training Centres is the relocation of the previous MTC in Mumbai to Kochi in the southern Indian state of Kerala where it has expanded its footprint approximately fivefold to 24,000 square feet. The new MTC is equipped with modern classrooms facilitating online and offline training. The facilities are supported by the latest technology including fully immersive simulators for bridge, engine, LNG, LPG, chemical, electrical and cargo handling. It also features a fully equipped mechanical workshop, slinging and lifting training facilities, together with a galley and external mooring station. This enables BSM to deliver foundation and ongoing skills improvement programmes for its new and existing seafarers.

The external mooring station is 5,000 square feet, almost the same size of the whole MTC in its former Mumbai location. It brings seafarer training to life through an external promenade with a practical training area that replicates an actual vessel’s mooring deck with all on-board equipment to deliver a range of maritime-focused training.