Virtual training

GAC has announced the launch of GAC Training & Service Solutions Limited (GTSS), a new initiative that will provide training solutions for the LNG and tanker markets, as well as other commodity and maritime sectors. A joint venture between GAC and the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), the partnership will provide delivery of a portfolio of training courses for both seafarers and shore-based shipping personnel.

GAC says courses will be available at the US$100 million training facility at NMCI in Cork, Ireland, the client’s location and through the latest e-learning provision, or any combination thereof. Respected names in maritime training, including Howard Candelet, the former Vice President of British Gas LNG Services at BG LNG Services and Nick de Spon, a former master mariner with over 40 years high level experience of the oil and gas sectors, have developed and will deliver course content.

The training will help empower and equip employees to provide safe and secure terminal and jetty operations, reducing the physical, environmental and financial risk synonymous with modern shipping and onshore services, according to the company. GTSS courses offer a broad appeal with course modules ranging from safety and security to laytime and demurrage for terminal jetty operators. For those engaged in shipping and commodity operations, GTSS will provide course modules that include INCO terms, Bills of Lading, charter party and contract demurrage.

The courses are designed to provide unique “hands-on” training to ship owners, operators, managers, charterers and trading companies, oil, gas and chemical companies (on shore and off shore), terminal owners and operators, industry bodies, trade finance banks, insurance companies and P&I Clubs, cargo inspection companies and ship brokers.

“Education is key to the success of most companies and we are committed to providing our customers with first class courses, lecturers, materials and facilities,” says Christer Sjodoff, Group Vice President, GAC Solutions. “GTSS combines GAC’s global network, commercial contacts, knowledge and over fifty years of maritime expertise with the superb facilities of NMCI – the world’s most advanced maritime college.”

“Our own internal GAC Corporate Academy has been operational for some years now and we can clearly see the impact it has had in improving our services to our customers and in motivating our people. We expect GTSS to do exactly the same for our customers,” he adds.

“In challenging times, investment in human capital is crucial, as the opportunity for retuning and re-aligning skills and operations becomes increasingly pronounced,” commented Conor Mowlds, Director, GTSS. “Ultimately, the launch of GTSS will empower our clients’ personnel to do their jobs better, supporting the quest for a continuously improving, safer and more professional maritime industry.”

A key feature of the GTSS courses is the use of virtual experiences created through the use of Return to Scene (R2S) digital imagery captured inside LNG shore tanks, ships’ tanks, the cargo manifold, CCR and other areas. Using highly specialised cameras never before used for training purposes, R2S technology provides 360 high-resolution images that are then interlinked to create a virtual walk through environment for GTSS trainees – providing a previously unseen system for viewing technical or remote physical assets. R2S allows operations procedures, risk assessments, lessons learned and even assessment criteria to be linked and accessed onboard a vessel, platform or refinery.