29 Sep Simwave Newsletter September 2020

Find out what happened at Simwave in our Newsletter September 2020. Sign up for the newsletter here for regular Simwave updates!

Message from our CEO Marcel Kind

The training season started again after the summer period and despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related crew change- challenges, shipping companies do feel the need for competency-based training and assessments. We are thrilled to welcome new and existing clients to our facilities as well as online through our learning management system and webinars in the month of September. 

Last month we released our ‘Best Practice Guideline for Training | From Compliance to Competency’ and based on that guideline we are happy to recognize a traction on our hybrid model for training through a mix of sophisticated tools, our Learning Management System, VR-solutions and simulator based training. 

We continuously expand our LMS with content and functionalities. The latest add-on in the LMS is our new developed Simwave Assessment System which is a great and effective tool which enables us to execute assessments through our world-wide network based on a unique methodology with the use of a range of scenario’s and a special designed visual database for the assessment program. In this newsletter you will read more about the Simwave Assessment System.

Simwave’s leadership team also recognized in recent months that seafarers are in need of different training during the pandemic. Extended contracts, additional challenges in ports, worries about the family back home etc. do impact the seafarer. Studies have shown that crew which is suffering from depression or anxiety are twice as likely to be involved in an accident. These topics are discussed during regular training, but we also created bespoke training to address these FATIQUE related issues to create a resilient crew. These trainings can be conducted through crew webinars, through our LMS and or in our centre of excellence.

We look forward to see you all again in October and if you have a question or remark feel free to sent me an email (mkind@simwave.nl).  

With warm regards,

Marcel Kind
CEO & Founder

Developed by Simwave!
A new assessment system for seagoing personnel

During the past twelve months our experienced assessor team developed a completely new assessment system.

The need for the development of this assessment system lies in the fact that many existing assessment systems or methods often are difficult to apply in the assessment process – observing, recording, interpreting, evaluating, and debriefing.

It is very hard for an assessor to observe, record, interpret, evaluate, and debrief candidates in a short time and staying objective and accurate in the process at the same time. The observation is mostly clear; however, the recording can be too complex, with the risk that other observations could be not complete or biased.

D A R T 
To avoid this risk, the new system enables the assessor to grade every skill/competency/behavior with an easy to use Digital Assessment Rating Tool (DART) available in our Learning Management System.

P R O G R A M
Assessments are available for four particular groups: Merchant, Cruise, Offshore & Renewables and Inland Shipping. Each candidate will be assessed in either his/her appropriate rank group or in the rank appointed by Simwave or the company involved. 

The assessment program encompasses a maximum of three simulation runs for each candidate, aimed to: 

• identify the actual individual proficiency status;
• identify officers who are ready for promotion; 
• identify suitability for ‘new hires’; 
• gather data to support training need analysis; and
• provide a continuous professional development for all Officers across a fleet.

S H I P
The assessment model Simwave developed consists of four main components: Systems & Navigation, the Human factor, Internal and external factor, and Procedures. Each main component contains several skills, competencies and/or behaviors. The numbered skills/competencies and behaviors are explained separately.

S	Systems & Navigation	The performance of the candidate in relation to the vessels systems and overall navigation.
H	Human	The performance of the candidate in relation to himself and others.
I	Internal/ external	The performance of the candidate in relation internal and external factors.
P	Procedures	The performance of the candidate in relation to procedures and regulations.

The SHIP competency model provides a description of bridge team performance on an individual basis. All aspects of this performance are included in the model.

The work of a bridge team is during departures, arrivals, restricted visibility, narrow waters etc. often a complex compilation of these situations and circumstances. All these elements are shown in the SHIP model, although they may often be closely related or sometimes even overlap.

Important is that a workable model with separate skills has been chosen, in order to provide effective feedback on (individual) bridge team members’ performance in the most efficient manner. 

Each assessment is done by two qualified assessors with relevant experience. Being assessed is per definition stressful for the candidates and therefore the rules must be clear in advance to both candidates and assessors.

We are confident that the new system provides for a clear, transparent, and effective assessment tool.                 

Open Enrolments

On our website we also offer a range of open courses. These courses will be extended in the coming period. The open courses that we are offering at the moment are Polar & Ice Navigation, DP Familiarization Course, STS operations, Navigation Assessor Course, etc.

Please have a look at our open courses.

In our Learning Management System we also offer a lot of different courses. If you would like to know more please contact us. 

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