Transas Develops Anti-Piracy Simulation Training

Transas Group said this week that it has developed a unique anti-piracy simulation training program to help schools provide students with relevant techniques to avoid attacks and hijackings.  The goal  of the simulator is to help trainees understand what effect their maneuvers have on approaching pirates and practice identifying approaching or nearby targets, evasion techniques, communication, making contact and engaging.

The unique anti-piracy package consists of a mothership, a smaller mothership and four fastboats with different speeds and all made to look like typical ‘pirate’ vessels, ie badly maintained and rusty. Alternatively, the fastboats have four different states that can be changed during the exercise from ‘fisherman’ to ‘agressive pirate’.

During the exercise, trainees learn how to detect a pirate vessel using ECDIS, radar plotting, AIS information, visual sightings (by fuel barrels on deck, weapons, type and number of crewmembers etc.) and by comparison of data with known behavioural patterns of pirates. The program teaches proper evasion techniques including avoidance of potentially hostile vessels or keeping out of range of known weapons using course and speed changes.  Preparations, best angle of approach and practicing of best course and speed decisions are also taught for closing and engaging pirates.

“Anti-Piracy training is all about early reconnaissance and recognition and then about initiating the countermeasures and best management practice at earliest, said Ralf Lehnert, Transas Marine Simulation Business Unit Director.  “That’s why we put a lot of efforts in making those typical piracy attack vessels visually very close to reality and also provide realistic manoeuvring characteristics.”

The Anti-Piracy solution is already in use by the US Merchant Marine Academy, Malaysia International Shipping Company and Akademi Laut Malaysia.

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