New Zealand Maritime School launches lifeboat simulator


Diploma of Nautical Science student Kyle Provan tries out the new lifeboat simulator at NZ Maritime School

The largest ship simulation centre in the Southern Hemisphere has been expanded to teach a critical skill for survival at sea.

New Zealand has become only the fourth country in the world to approve the use of simulation technology for lifeboat training following the US, Canada and Denmark.

“NZ Maritime School (NZMS) is at the forefront of applying technology to its training programmes and solidifies its position as a major provider worldwide,” says the school’s Industry Engagement and Simulation Manager Kees Buckens.

In early 2018, NZMS operated by Manukau Institute of Technology began searching for a suitable package to simulate lifeboat training with Virtual Marine Technologies of Newfoundland, Canada identified as our technology partner.

Working with Virtual Marine Technologies and Maritime NZ, the school has received approval to deliver survival training mainly based on simulation with a physical lifeboat maintained to compliment student learning.

“Moving to simulation in lifeboat training gives us the ability to take each student through a full lifeboat lowering and pick-up sequence, while capturing the exercise as evidence of meeting the required standards. In small groups of three students, they will also carry out emergency scenarios such as marshalling life rafts and conducting searches for persons in the water,” says Kees Buckens.

The new technology further enhances the school’s simulation centre as the largest Det Norske Veritas-certified ship simulator in the Southern Hemisphere and the only Nautical Institute-accredited training facility for Dynamic Positioning training in the country.

The centre includes:

  • Full Mission Bridge Simulator
  • Full Mission Engine room simulator
  • Two Full Mission Tug & Dynamic Positioning simulators
  • Four-Part Task simulators
  • and lifeboat simulator

Maritime New Zealand chief executive Kirstie Hewlett launched the new simulator, commending the school for its forwarding thinking approach to delivering the skills employers need to grow the industry.

“It’s really great today to be celebrating such a positive future step forward in the development of training approaches and something we truly believe will support a safer, dynamic and more attractive maritime sector,” she said.


Maritime NZ chief executive Kirstie Hewlett and MIT chief executive Gus Gilmore launching the new lifeboat simulator

Since 1924, NZMS has established itself as the premier provider of maritime and logistics training in New Zealand providing a range of short courses, diploma programmes, in-house training services and consultancies throughout the region.

The school offers training programmes for nautical and engineering programmes to the international Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers codes, accepting up to 25 students per strand a year.

NZMS also offers training for yacht masters and for all domestic maritime qualifications under NZ Maritime Rules.


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