FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD. is pleased to announce that the type specific ECDIS training for the new ECDIS FMD-3200/FMD-3300 is now available at FURUNO INS Training Center Singapore. The new training program has been carefully developed by INSTC Denmark embracing the same philosophy as they did when they first developed the type specific training course for the FEA-2107/FEA-2807 ECDIS. The new training program is to be strictly in line with STCW and ISM Codes as well as currently known requirements from various flag states and other stakeholders.
With the growing demand for type specific ECDIS training, FURUNO makes the utmost efforts into providing easy access to this kind of training for all of FURUNO's ECDIS models. With the launch of the new generation ECDIS model FMD-3200/FMD-3300, FURUNO is setting up training systems around the world, starting with Denmark, Germany and Singapore and moving on to other locations as fast as possible. "FURUNO feels it our obligation and responsibility to ensure safe operation of our navigation and communication products, and we feel that this can be achieved through the combination of improved user interface and suitable end user training. The FMD-3200/FMD-3300 ECDIS is the first ECDIS in the market providing Task Based Operation, which means that the tools needed to a specific task be made available while other tools are hidden. This way the menu structure is made very simple with maximum of 2 menu layers at any time. The Task Based Operation philosophy was developed based on field studies on board vessels and through focus groups testing the user interface and commenting on the intuitiveness of it. It reflects the actual tasks performed by the navigators on board the vessel," explains Mads Friis Sorensen, Branch Manager in FURUNO European Branch Office.
INSTC Singapore had their instructors trained through Train-the-Trainer program in order for them to deliver the new training course to the navigators. Also, INSTC Singapore has installed in the facility the training workstations for the FMD-3200/FMD-3300, which are based on the real equipment. The plan in INSTC Singapore has it that the total of 8 training workstations for the new ECDIS shall be in place, allowing for extending the training capacity at one training session.
The first training session was successfully conducted on the 15th and 16th of April 2013 for a group of navigators, who have gained the in-depth knowledge about the functionalities and user interface specific to the new ECDIS. The first group of trainees are all satisfied with the contents of the training, and all came out with unwavering confidence in their ability of operating the new ECDIS in real life.
Further preparation for extending the availability of the type specific ECDIS training for the FMD-3200/FMD-3300 around the globe is currently underway, and the number of training facilities under FURUNO NavSkills contracts are expected to follow suit in the course of time: the most immediate of those would be Competent Maritime Professionals and Sea Staff (COMPASS) Training Center Inc. and Veritas Maritime Training Center in the Philippines, which are scheduled to commence the new training service in May 2013.