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MOL, MOLMEC Offer New Training Courses for Offshore Vessels Using Dynamic Positioning Simulators
July 08, 2024
TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto) and MOL Marine & Engineering Co., Ltd. (MOLMEC; President: Kazuhiko Kikuchi; Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo) are pleased to announce the launch of a comprehensive suite of simulator-based new training courses tailored specifically for offshore vessels involved in offshore wind farm development. These courses will leverage MOL's state-of-the-art Dynamic Positioning (DP) Simulator (Note 1) (Table 1) to provide realistic and immersive training experiences. With this initiative, MOL and MOLMEC are committed to supporting the development of skills essential for the safe operation of vessels that play a crucial role in offshore wind energy projects.
The new courses are designed for a broad audience, including MOL Group seafarers, crew members from other companies, and individuals without seafarer's licenses. By focusing on the unique challenges of offshore operations, these training programs aim to enhance the safety and efficiency of specialized vessels engaged in the growing offshore wind power sector.
(Table 1) [Training Course of Offshore Vessels]
| Name | Course Details | Start of Course |
|---|---|---|
| 1.Service Operation Vessel (Walk to Work) Course | This course contributes to ensures safe personnel transfers in offshore wind farms. It blends theory with simulations, preparing trainees for safe maneuvering and precise station-keeping of an SOV critical for walk-to-work gangways operations with automatic heave compensation for secure operations. | July 2024 |
| 2.Offshore Support Vessel Ship Handling Course | This course enhances nautical officers ship handling skills with theory and simulator exercise lessons. Trainees operate various offshore vessel models in the simulator while learning about Azimuth thrusters, bow thrusters, and pitch propellers. | August 2024 |
| 3.Anchor Handling Vessel Course | This course focuses on developing anchor handling maneuvering skills needed on Anchor handling vessels (AHVs). It enhances the trainees ship handling skills crucial for deploying, retrieving, and repositioning anchors for offshore platforms and rigs, emphasizing critical capabilities in anchor deployment and recovery. | September 2024 |
| 4.Self-Elevating Platform Vessel (SEP/Jack-Up) Familiarization Course |
This course is designed for Dynamic Positioning Operators, seafarers, and non-seafarers, involved with self-elevating platforms (SEP/jack-up rigs). It explains all about SEP vessels and its ecosystem, including basic SEP ship handling knowledge, practical skills in Auto Position Mode setup, leg deployment, maintenance, and safety procedures essential for SEP operations. | September 2024 |
| 5.Cable Laying Vessel Course | This course trains Dynamic Positioning Operators in managing cable laying vessels (CLVs), essential for underwater cable installations in telecommunications and power sectors. It emphasizes ship handling using DP systems and safety procedures crucial for effective vessel operation. | March 2025 |
These new training courses have been developed independently under the Offshore Wind Power Human Resource Development Project. This project is subsidized by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, a branch of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Additionally, these courses have received official certification from Class NK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai), confirming their adherence to high standards in maritime education and training.
(Ship : Wind Zaratan)
(Ship:TSS Pioneer)
Vessel model used in the Offshore Support Vessel Ship Handling Course
MOL has set the target of achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2050 under the "MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2" and will contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions not only by itself but also by society as a whole through the promotion of renewable energy and other businesses to create a sustainable world.
(Note 2) DPS automatically calculates external forces such as wind, wave, swell and tidal currents to maintain a vessel at a fixed point or navigate a set route with precision. It is indispensable for cable-laying ships, offshore wind power-related special-purpose vessels and seabed oil field-related offshore vessels, which must maintain their position precisely at a fixed point to do their work.
MOL and MOLMEC installed a DP simulator on the lobby floor of MOL Head Office in June 2022 and are offering six DP operator training courses using the simulator. (Table 2) This training facility is the first in Japan accredited by the Nautical Institute (NI; headquarters: U.K.) and can issue DP training certificates essential for acquiring a DP operator's license.
(Table 2) [The Nautical Institute certification course]
| Course Name | Course Details |
|---|---|
| 1.Basic course in DP ship handling (DP Induction) |
First course in NI's DP operator certification program; provides an understanding of DP structure, Position Reference System (PRS), and principles of DP, including sensors, thrusters, and operations. |
| 2.Advanced course in DP ship handling (DP Simulator) |
Second course in NI's DP operator certification program. Trainees simulate DP operations including errors, faults, and failures. Applies lessons learned from both the Induction course and subsequent DP onboard training. |
| 3.Couse to shorten DP ship boarding period (DP Sea Time Reduction) |
This course can reduce the required sea time from 60 days to 30 days after taking the DP simulator course. |
| 4.Revalidation course for DPOs whose boarding periods on DP vessels were for less than 30 days (DP Revalidation) |
Course required for renewal of DPO qualification with less than 30 days on board DP vessels in the last 5 years. |
| 5.DP operator certification renewal course (DP Refresher) |
Allows DPOs who have been onboard a DP vessel for at least 30 days in the past 5 years to renew their qualifications. |
| 6.DP Vessel Maintainer course (DPVM) | Provides technical staff with required knowledge regarding the concept of redundancy in DP operations |
Please refer to the following press release for more information on DP training.
(3) October 18, 2022 MOLMEC press release
MOLMEC to Expand Dynamic Positioning Training Course - Offering Offshore Wind Power-related Training for Various Ship Types -
(7) October 11, 2023
MOL & MOLMEC to Introduce Training Programs for SEP and SOV Crew - Contributing to Safe Operation of Offshore Wind Power Projects - | Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (mol.co.jp/en/)
MOL Group 5 Sustainability Issues
MOL Group identifies "Sustainability Issues" (Materiality) as our key issues for sustainable growth with society through realization of the Group Vision.
We anticipate this initiative to contribute especially to the realization of "Safety & Value -Provide added value through safe transportation and our social infrastructure business-", "Environment -Conservation for Marine and global environment-", "Human & Community -Contributing to the growth and development of people and communities-", and "Innovation -Innovation for development in marine technology-".
