Posted: October 19, 2011
GAC Training and Service Solutions (GTSS) launches high value bunker course to increase understanding and improve efficiencies
GAC Training and Service Solutions (GTSS), one of the world’s leading training providers for seafarers and shore-based shipping personnel, today announced the launch of its inaugural “Complete Guide to Bunkering” course, to be held from 22 to 24 November at the $100 million National Maritime Training College of Ireland in Cork.
Led by leading bunker market experts Robin Meech and Chris Fisher, this new course is designed to reflect the latest trends facing the bunker suppliers, traders and brokers, as well as bunker fuel purchasers, class societies, surveyors and other bunkering stakeholders. The course reflects the new importance of bunker fuel as the major cost for the shipping industry – with fuel costs having risen 600% over the past 10 years and representing over 70% of most shipping companies’ costs.
The new course has been designed by bunker industry expert Meech, managing director of Marine and Energy Consulting and co-author of “Outlook for Bunker Fuel Oil and Heavy Fuel Oil to 2030” published in July 2011. Focusing heavily on delivering value for money, the course content encompasses the full breadth of the bunker industry, including: history and background, the latest regulations (SOx, NOx and Greenhouse Gases), abatement and energy efficiency, demand and pricing, LNG (LNG training)and other alternative fuels, the latest fuels standards (ISO 8217:2010), sampling and surveys, metering, price risk management and an introduction to the legal framework and contracts.
Robin Meech explained:
“The modern bunker market is a constantly changing operating environment – increasing prices, environmental regulation, record prices, poor credit, growing demand for metering, the potential of LNG powered vessels; all of which directly influences the decisions taken by those operating across the full spectrum of the bunker supply chain. This course reflects the bunker market as it is today and GTSS should be commended for looking at the bunker industry and allowing it to use its state-of-the-art training facilities.
“Given the sheer scale of relative cost for bunker fuel in the modern shipping market, it is not only the buyer and seller of bunkers that play a crucial role in maximising profitability. Expanding the depth of people’s knowledge right across the value chain, including board members, can help provide them with a better understanding of the bigger picture, as well as the consequences of their actions, enabling them to make more informed decisions with confidence. Ultimately this improves the overall efficiency of end-to-end operations and allows organisations to benefit from the associated commercial savings.”
The course has been created paying close attention to the current trends and likely future of the bunker market. It combines elements of strategic long-term thinking with technical and regulatory requirements, as well as the day-to-day realities of bunker sales, procurement and delivery.
Conor Mowlds, Director, GTSS said:
“With bunker prices at an all time high the bunker purchaser has a more influential role than ever before. The viability of many a company is resting on the successful purchase of bunkers at the right price, and when done effectively this can give an organisation a competitive edge. In today’s operating environment, increased understanding can indeed provide competitive advantage, which is why GTSS has designed the best value for money course in the industry.”
The first GTSS ‘Complete Guide to Bunkering’ course will run from 22-24 November at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Cork – a 45 minute plane journey from London’s Heathrow, and serviced by flights from Geneva, Lisbon, Amsterdam and other international destinations. The course costs Euro 1,645 per person and includes three nights accommodation, breakfast, lunch and daily refreshments, a welcome drinks reception and a networking meal on the final evening. Other evening activities can be arranged for attendees. An early-bird rate of Euro 1,495 is available until 28th October. For more information please visit www.nmci.ie/gtssbunkercourse
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Posted: October 14, 2011
During the first week of October the National Maritime College of Ireland’s Simulation unit provided its first course for a group of Brazilian customers.
Following an initial enquiry (from Mr. Diogo Weberszpil do Amaral) for a ship handling course, the Simulation unit’s Captain Clive Hotham created a specialised course, to be run in the units’ 360° full mission bridge simulator, to provide the practical training that the group required.
The group consisted of four people, Mr. Diogo Weberpilz, Mr Eliel de Andrade, Mr. Fabio Sousa de Oliveira, Mr. Diogo Nery Monteiro, and all of whom are candidates in the current round of recruitment of Trainee Pilots for Brazilian Ports.
Mr. Diogo Weberpilz, Mr Eliel de Andrade, Captain Clive Hotham (Lecturer and simulation co-ordinator),Mr. Fabio Sousa de Oliveira, Mr. Diogo Nery Monteiro
The week consisted of lectures on ship handling theory, practical ship handling of different vessels in different situations, practical communications between ships and port control, and debriefing sessions to discuss how each practical session went.
Bridge Team at Work
In the practical sessions each person was given a particular role – Pilot, Captain, Officer, and Helmsman – to reinforce the need for team work on a ships bridge. This meant that each person performed the manoeuvres and when they were not acting as pilot could observe each other’s performance.
As the week progressed the abilities of the group improved greatly, each person gaining more confidence with each exercise.
“Helmsman” – Fabio, “Captain” –Eliel, “Officer” – Diogo, “Pilot” - Diogo
The week was a success and the feedback from the group was very positive. All the lecturers involved (Captains: Clive Hotham, Peter Walter, Cormac MacSweeney, and Roddy Cook) enjoyed working with the group during the week.
The NMCI Simulation unit is looking forward to the next group of Brazilian customers in December and beyond.
It is hoped that the Simulation unit can provide further training for more Brazilian customers; for courses ranging from this, to specialised courses for experienced pilots, and manoeuvring studies for pilots and ports.
Call us for more information on our Bridge Simulator.
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Posted: October 5, 2011
We are now taking bookings for the next OPITO Approved Offshore Courses.
- Minimum Industry Safety Training (MIST) – Oct 17th & 18th
- Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) Oct 19th -21st
- Further Offshore Emergency Training (FOET) Oct 28th
Our BOSIET comprises of Sea Survival, Fire fighting and Self Rescue. During the BOSIET delegates are also put through their paces on the HUET,(Helicopter Simulator) which is preparation training in the event of that the helicopter is required to ditch.
Our BOSIET is fully approved by the Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization (OPITO). OPITO currently operates in 32 countries around the world and brings with it over 30 years of experience in maritime training.
For more information please call us on: 021 497 0609, book online at: www.nmci.ie, or email: info@seftecnmcioffshore.com
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Posted: September 30, 2011
Our Head of Commercial Wet Course Development and Training, Ray Johnston recently appeared in the RTE show “Rescue 115” training the Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue crew.
The Irish Coast Guards regularly simulate lifesaving exercises at the college in preparation for search and rescue operations in some of the most hostile sea environments in the world.
The show takes place over a number of months and is a six part series. It follows the rescue crews at Shannon Helicopter base, as they battle to save lives around the Irish coast.
This week’s episode follows the Irish Coast Guards latest recruit as he has his world turned upside down while completing the Helicopter Underwater Egress Safety Training with Emergency Breathing Systems in the SEFtec configurable HUET.
The show follows his training to become a Winchman in the Shannon Helicopter base which includes interviews, paramedic training and medical, physical and physiological tests. But before he can save lives he has to learn a drill he hopes he never has to use, which is learning how to react in the event of a helicopter ditching.
Click on the image below to watch the show.
Helicopters are top heavy and because of this when a helicopter crashes into the sea it may roll over upside down in the water and in preparation of this event all crew must be trained in exiting the helicopter safely in this unnatural situation.
The HUET training is what will save their lives in the unlikely event of a helicopter ditching, this special course is held here at the National Maritime College in a specially built tank in a replica helicopter cock pit.
Daithí Ó Cearbhalláin, Senior Crewman of Rescue 115 said “Every crew man, every pilot has to complete this every three years so all of crews rotate through this using this facility here.” “It’s a great exercise, absolutely invaluable it teaches the boys what they have to do in regard to action training that in a real emergency you would follow through with these drills without thinking”.
Commenting on his HUET experience, the delegate said “The most surprising thing for me was being inverted, being upside down and trying to get your brain to tell you to breathe when it is telling you not to breathe because you are under water”.
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Posted: August 5, 2011
SEFtec NMCI Offshore Training Ltd, specialists in offshore training, recently visited the E-ON Offshore Wind Farm, the ‘Robin Rigg’. This is located just off the coast of Workington in Cumbria.
E-ON UK is the UK’s leading energy company and they are one of the UK’s leading energy suppliers and the second largest electricity generator in Britain. They are part of E-ON; the world’s largest investor-owned power and gas company, which has its headquarters in Germany.
Caption L to R: Annette Coughlan, Programme Executive (SNO) Sally Shenton, Site Manager, Jason Hall, Business Development UK.
In the UK E-ON’s focus is on wind, both onshore and offshore, dedicated biomass and marine. Currently, they have 18 operational onshore and three offshore wind farms. In 2007 they completed construction on one of the UK’s largest dedicated biomass power stations, the award winning Steven’s Croft in Lockerbie. Robin Rigg, the third and largest offshore wind farm in the UK is located in the Solway Firth and became operational in 2010.
The recent visit to the “Robin Rigg” which was very kindly arranged by Sally Shenton -Site Manager; proved to be quite beneficial and without a doubt will impress upon us what elements of training are most relevant to technicians, engineers etc and those who are tasked to work in such environments.
E-ON Wind Farm
SEFtec NMCI Offshore Training Ltd are specialists in Offshore training as are in the process of achieving Renewable UK’s MST( Marine Safety Training) standard which is a crucial step for the NMCI in 2011. Our ambition is to be a centre of excellence in offshore renewable training for the Irish and the British Isles as a whole.
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