Training & Education
MMA: A 'Hands-on' Ship Handling Course
By Maggie Linskey Merrill,
The Advanced Shiphandling in Manned Models is a unique program offered by the Center for Maritime Training at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, Mass. Nowhere else in the world is there a USCG-Approved program that puts master mariners at the helm of fully operational scale models of large tankers and cargo vessels. The 12-year-old program is designed specifically for experienced ship handlers such as 2nd mates who want to become chief mates or chief mates who aspire to become captains; to enable them to tune up on certain maneuvering skills as well as to upgrade their licenses. Successful completion of the course will result in a certificate that is recognized by both the International Maritime Organization and the U.S. Coast Guard. MMA is the only program for advanced ship handling using scale models in the western hemisphere. The program is attracting more and more students from overseas due to the declining value of the U.S. dollar. Attending the U.S.-based training program is economically preferable to more expensive European based programs. Students that would have attended similar programs in France, Poland and England, for instance are registering for the MMA course at an increased rate. MMA contends that the program's popularity with U.S. and international commercial maritime companies stems from the fact that it cuts in half the amount of time needed to obtain the certification while offering world-class training. While the European and MMA versions of manned-model training run one week (40 hour), simulation-based courses run for two full weeks (80 hours), according to MMA. The MMA program runs from AprilNovember. Last year 82 students attended and this year they're expecting at least 90 registrations. Openings remain for select weeks of training, with the most popular months of September and October filling quickly. Each session is limited to seven students giving each ample time on the water and in the classroom to satisfy the course requirements. The simulator lab is used only in cases of extremely severe weather, which is rare on the lake used for training. During the rigorous 5 day, 40-hour course, students can practice anchoring, docking and undocking, slow speed
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Instructor Ronald Mason and a pilot from the Southeast Alaska Pilots Association during the debriefing dockside at the training center. (Photo Credit: MMA)
Several of the Crescent River Pilots from Louisiana attended the Advanced Shiphandling course at MMA this fall. (Photo Credit: MMA)
maneuvering, movement of the pivot point, passing in narrow channels, understanding the shallow water effect, experiment with thruster controls in a calm, inland pond with supervision and critiques. There are chalk talks presented by qualified instructors prior to each on board drill as well as a review of the Academy's state of the art bridge simulator. MMA operates three custom built models that are 1/16 and 1/25 scale of ocean going vessels. These yacht-sized boats are operated in fresh water in Herring Pond located a few miles inland from MMA's Buzzards Bay location. They are battery operated, but they simulate how a steam or diesel powered ship would respond to commands. "We hope to add another model (estimated to
cost upwards of $300,000) in the next couple of years," said Commander Robert Walsh, Director of the Commercial Maritime Training program. "In fact, we're currently researching what type of model to build based on current industry needs and trends. We don't know yet if we'll build a car carrier, a passenger ship or a motor tanker for instance." Most of the students are mariners who pilot boats in U.S. ports and waterways. Some come from the New Orleans and Mississippi area and other locations along the east coast. Mariners from the ports of Long Beach to Southern Alaska attend regularly. This past year brought the second group of pilots from Tangiers, Morocco, a port built and
operated by the Moroccan government in conjunction with the container line Maersk, Ltd. MMA is reaching out to maritime operators all over the globe including the Caribbean, and Pacific to provide long term contracts for personnel training in many aspects of ship operations. The MMA Center for Maritime Training also offers of full suite of courses that enable ship's crew, officers and managers to hone their skills and upgrade their licenses. A list of course offerings for the 2008 year are available on line at www.maritime.edu/cmt. Coastal disasters such as the devastating hurricanes (Rita, Katrina and Wilma); the south Pacific tsunami and, of course the 9/11 terrorist attacks have heightened the need for better training on the part of the entire chain of emergency responders. MMA has responded to the needs of the emergency management community by offering a Master of Science in Emergency Management (MSEM). The program is designed for the working emergency management professional who wants to broaden both their management and crisis mitigation skills. It's a 34 credit, 11 course executive program offered in a fast paced 18 month time frame. Students attend class every other weekend, Friday night and Saturday, at a conference hotel west of Boston. This location just outside Boston allows more working professionals from both the public and private sectors, to participate. MMA is one of nine state colleges in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. It offers major fields of study to 900 undergraduates in facilities and environmental engineering; international maritime business; marine engineering; marine safety and environmental protection; and marine transportation. They also offer a professional masters degree in facilities management.
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