Today (FRI) was the grand opening of the Great Lakes International Marine Simulation and Research Centre at the Georgian College Owen Sound campus.
Centre Director Archie Dickson says the 8 million dollar facility is the first of its kind in Canada and one of the best in the world.
The centre includes four simulators of ship bridges and engine rooms, as well as a world class full mission ship simulator.
The full mission simulator can be programmed to act as any ship and provide a 360-degree view of any harbour in the world.
Trainees stand at a wheel in front of all the controls found on a real bridge and practise navigating through different vessels through different ports and weather conditions.
It’s so realistic Dickson says he has experienced captains who come in and swear the floor is moving – others even feel seasick when the waves on the screen really start moving.
Dickson says the simulator means students can train as captains in a no-risk environment.
Another benefit of training with a simulator is efficiency – Dickson says mariners could be on the water for years before they experience all the potential situations that could hit, and with the simulator they can train on anything, anytime.
Navigation student Matthew Taylor says his instructors had him sail into Miami during a snow storm.
Dickson says the Centre has a capacity for 150 students, although right now just 100 are enrolled.
He says they need to get the word out there that a marine life is a very viable career – there is a worldwide shortage of ship’s officers and seafarers.
And it’s not just Georgian College students who will be using the Centre.
Dickson says interest from the marine industry is so huge, they’ve been booked for training programs throughout the winter without even advertising.
Dickson says the Great Lakes International Marine Simulation and Research Centre is going to put Owen Sound on the map.
He says people had to go outside Canada to receive this kind of training before, and now people from across the world are going to be coming to Owen Sound.
