Norwegian Coastal Administration

FORCE Technology has won a five year contract on training of Pilots and VTS Operators for the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA). The contract was won through a public tender, and during the contract period, FORCE Technology will conduct training of approximately 350 Norwegian Pilots and VTS Operators focussing on resource management and teamwork between Pilots and VTS Operators. ’We chose FORCE Technology because of their high competence level and their experience gained through many years of conducting training with a strong focus on human factors and pedagogical methods within simulatorbased training’, explains Jon Leon Ervik, Head of Centre for Pilotage and Vessel Traffic Services in Norway.

Another decisive factor in the choice of FORCE Technology as training provider was the marketleading simulator facilities offered in the DanSim training centre in Lyngby near Copenhagen, Denmark. Cathrine M. Steenberg, Head of Department, Simulation, Training & Ports says, ‘This is a significant contract for the maritime training department of FORCE Technology. FORCE Technology has been conducting international pilot training and providing input to design of VTS operations for many years, and we are very happy that the NCA has chosen our company as training provider.

We see this as the result of many years of focused effort on the development of efficient training tools ’ High degree of training transfer FORCE Technology is known for providing highly knowledgeable and experienced simulator instructors, and with the five year contract, FORCE Technology will add further distance to the other simulator training centres. But besides this, Cathrine M. Steenberg highlights the NCA’s choice of experience and quality when it comes to training.

Cathrine M. Steenberg explains, ‘Together with the simulator instructors’ competences, the pedagogical approach is the most important non-technical factor in achieving a high degree of training transfer. It is easy to be tempted by the low-cost simulator training courses offered by providers in some parts of the world. But we have proved that the degree of training transfer is proportional with the quality of the training including the quality of the instructors, the pedagogical tools and the quality of the simulator facilities. Therefore, we are happy that our Norwegian neighbours are committed to providing the best possible training for their Pilots and VTS Operators.’ On the technical side, the accuracy of the ship models and the simulator set-up are the most important factors. 

FORCE Technology uses the in-house developed software SimFlex4 which is based on the most accurate mathematical model, the DEN-Mark1 model, within maritime ship simulation. The mathematical core of the software is based on more than 50 years of hydro- and aerodynamic knowledge and supported by a unique and unmatched combination of knowledge within simulator development and use. Internationally recognised training FORCE Technology has been engaged in the development of simulator-based training methods for many years, and our methods are now internationally recognised and used in other domains using simulators, e.g. air traffic controllers and power station operators. The methods have e.g. resulted in a reduction of the failure rate for air traffic controllers from 50% to near zero.