SAMTRA, the SA Maritime Training Academy based in Simon’s Town, recently conducted a crisis and emergency course for a group of mooring masters responsible for the mooring and unmooring of tankers at offshore installations.
This is the first course that SAMTRA has developed to cater for the offshore industry using its full mission bridge simulators, which enable participants to be exposed to a range of simulated scenarios that focus on relevant emergencies that can affect single point moorings, a multi buoy operation or ship to ship transfers.
A range of simulator exercises were conducted during the course to expose mooring masters to emergency situations which included fires, collisions, heavy or unexpected weather, evacuation of ill or injured personnel, engine, rudder and navigation equipment failures.
These exercises afforded the mooring masters the opportunity to assess their reactions to the various situations and the efficiency of their company procedures for such emergencies.
In an industry where the consequences of errors of judgment impact critically on both terminal operations and the environment, such training provides participants the opportunity of making mistakes in a simulated controlled environment without risk.
SAMTRA’s first course in July was attended by experienced mooring masters from Smit Marine South Africa.