| Abstract | The Institute for Ocean Technology along with the Memorial University of Newfoundland completed phase 1 of Validation and Accreditation of Simulator Training (VAST) field trails. The field trails were completed in May 2010 in Holyrood, Newfoundland, Canada.Although simulation training in many other areas has existed for many years, it has only recently become a part of marine safety and therefore very little research has been done in this area. The VAST study proposed to examine how simulated lifeboat navigation training may improve performance in emergency evacuation situations involving ice covered waters, compared to those trained under standard training regimes.19 Naive Participants were recruited, trained, and completed a series of tests, which involved operating a totally enclosed motor propelled safety craft through a simulated ice field. The 19 participants were divided into threes groups which each received a different form of training. Participants from groups 1 and 2 received a traditional form of training, where as the participants from group 3 were trained solely using a davit launched lifeboat simulator.The preliminary results for the performance data for one participant in each of three groups will be presented in this report. The human data acquired from the trials is not yet in a form capable of being analyzed. Thus far all the preliminary results from rudder executions, DGPS lifeboat paths and impacts indicate that group 3 appears to have more control over the movement and responsiveness of the lifeboat. Therefore they are able to completed manoeuvres that ultimately avoid major impacts and potential damage to the lifeboat. |
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