New Learning Methods for Marine Oil Spill Response Training

Abstract

In Finland the Regional Fire and Rescue Services (RFRS) are responsible for near shore oil spill response and shoreline cleanup operations. In addition, they assist in other types of maritime incidents, such as search and rescue operations and fire-fighting on board. These statutory assignments require the RFRS to have capability to act both on land and at sea. As maritime incidents occur infrequently, little routine has been established. In order to improve their performance in maritime operations, the RFRS are participating in a new oil spill training programme to be launched by South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences. This training programme aims to utilize new educational methods; e-learning and simulator based training. In addition to fully exploiting the existing navigational bridge simulator, radio communication simulator and crisis management simulator, an entirely new simulator is developed. This simulator is designed to model the oil recovery process; recovery method, rate and volume in various conditions with different oil types. New simulator enables creation of a comprehensive training programme covering training tasks from a distress call to the completion of an oil spill response operation. Structure of the training programme, as well as the training objectives, are based on the findings from competence and education surveys conducted in spring 2016. In these results, a need for vessel maneuvering and navigation exercises together with actual response measures training were emphasized. Also additional training for maritime radio communication, GMDSS-emergency protocols and collaboration with maritime authorities were seemed important. This paper describes new approach to the maritime operations training designed for rescue authorities, a way of learning by doing, without mobilising the vessels at sea.

Efficiency of Maritime Simulator Training in Oil Spill Response Competence Development

“…The participants also noted that the visual determination of dimensions and distances was more challenging in the simulator environment Rantavuo et al 2018a). As the bridge simulators utilized in the trainings are mainly used for STCW-training of seafarers (Halonen, Lanki & Rantavuo 2017), some differences compared to the rescue service vessels were to be expected. Since scale-difference was assumed to be a potential disadvantage, the participants were asked to assess the applicability of the full-scale bridges.…”

“…In the conclusions chapter, the outcomes are summarized and the efficiency of the maritime simulator training discussed. (Halonen, Lanki & Rantavuo 2017).…”

“…The development of the training courses commenced with a national study on the current oil spill response training possibilities and competence needs (See Halonen, Lanki & Rantavuo 2017). The objectives of the new training courses were based on the results of these education and competence surveys (n=144).…”

“…Most of the respondents represented the regional rescue services (n=127) and the study encompassed 80% of the rescue services in Finland. Based on the survey results, the courses were built to focus on the maritime related skills, namely vessel manoeuvring and navigational skills as well as the skills related to the marine oil spill response operation (Halonen, Lanki & Rantavuo 2017). Main training topics were chosen to include the on-water oil spill response and recovery tactics and techniques, as well as conducting the response measures in challenging operating environments.…”

“…(Leonard & Roberson 1999;Patrick & Barber 2001;IPIECA & IOGP 2014. ) In order to maintain sufficient training frequency, the restricted resources of time and personnel are recognized to be the main limiting factor requiring effective, intensive and low-cost training solutions (Lonka 1998; Leonard & Roberson 1999;Halonen, Lanki & Rantavuo 2017;Halonen, Rantavuo & Altarriba 2017). The urge to reduce the training costs has boosted the use of discussion-based exercises.…”