The COLREGS & IALA Buoyage Training Course from Videotel
Every incident of ship collision brings the risk of costly damage to a vessel and its cargo; the prospect of environmental damage; and the danger of personnel injury or even death. For 40 years, the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) have been in force and yet still vessel collisions occur on a far too frequent basis.
Addressing this is the new hotly awaited training course from Videotel Marine International, the COLREGS & IALA Buoyage Training Course. Developed in conjunction with Steamship Mutual, the course is designed to ensure that all deck officers and crew performing lookout duties are fully conversant with the regulations designed to prevent unnecessary accidents. It deals with both COLREGS and the IALA (International Association of Marine Aids and Lighthouse Authorities) buoyage system.
“In recent years, increased ship size and high traffic density have heightened the risk of collision,” explains Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel. “It is an absolute requirement that the watchkeeping officer – and indeed every member of crew performing lookout duties – thoroughly understand and follow these important rules to ensure safe navigation of the ship.
“Yet still the majority of incidents are caused through negligence and the failure to fully understand the Collision Regulations. Research has also found that the understanding of and adherence to the rules is not as comprehensive as would be expected. These regulations have been put in place to help the team on the bridge ensure the safety of the vessel, cargo and crew.”
The first part of the course deals with the Collision Regulations. It clarifies the meanings of every Rule, putting them into simple easy-to-understand language and illustrating them with graphic diagrams, sound and light signals, where appropriate. It also includes the full text of the Rules and the four Annexes.
The second part of the course deals with the IALA buoyage system. Being able to recognise every buoy and knowing what each means is essential for all watchkeeping officers and each type of buoy, their top marks and lights are described and their meanings illustrated graphically. The course deals with the lateral buoyage systems in regions A and B, the cardinal marks, isolated danger marks, safe water marks, special marks and the emergency wreck marking buoy.
For maximum effect the course is delivered using interactive eLearning Computer Based Training (CBT). Voiced narration, graphics and 3D animation as well as video are used to illustrate concepts and aid understanding. As this knowledge is fundamental to bridge watchkeeping, both parts of the course end with a test comprising of extensive randomised questions and a high pass mark is required.
Over the last three months alone Videotel has produced and launched over 15 training programmes and courses, which are provided in up to 29 languages. These range from training programmes on COLREGS to others dealing with a variety of important subjects including specialist requirements for Deep Water Ship handling to the practical management and switching of marine fuels.
Source: Videotel
