ONE of the most advanced maritime training centres in Europe is running team building exercises for Merseyside office workers.
The Lairdside Maritime Centre in Birkenhead is part of Liverpool John Moores University and has developed the only 360º ship simulator in the UK.
It is used to train ships’ officers how to handle vessels using state-of-theart computer projections of the Mersey or other waterways.
Some of the tasks mariners are set include piloting a tug boat and guiding huge oil tankers up the river in whatever river or weather conditions the trainers decide.
…
“As we have the only 360º simulator in the country, delegates have the chance to plot a course down the River Mersey or a stretch of water of their choice and feel as though they are really there. It is so realistic that we often get cases of sea sickness!
“Our newly-introduced tug simulator forces the teams to work together and communicate while facing the task of connecting the two vessels and navigating them to port.”