Citation

Gudelj A, Krcum M, Krcum P. Int. J. Emerg. Manage. 2008; 5(3/4): 219-234.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Inderscience Publishers)

DOI

10.1504/IJEM.2008.025093

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Maritime transport is an important aspect of the economy of every maritime state and this needs safety and efficiency. It is well known that one of the major factors of accident prevention is perfect theoretical and practical knowledge, which can help reduce accidents at sea and in harbours, ship collisions and sinking and loss of human lives and protects the environment. There are many different tools and systems used to satisfy these demands. Our forefathers have sailed using paper charts and sextants; today we use radar, Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA), Global Positioning System (GPS), nautical charts and publications. This study provides an experience of teaching graduate students how new technologies and techniques (Petri nets, genetic algorithms) have been applied. All these are very effective for improving engineers' and officers' management experiences and operational skills in emergency situations. But the cadets who lack practical experience have to spend most of their time learning theoretical courses on land. To meet the challenge of modern maritime development, the responsibility of education is to produce a great number of talents with ideas and work abilities. This paper's conclusion is that the use of interactive computer simulations in maritime education results in increased emergency preparedness, which consequently leads to hazard mitigation and reduces the risk of human error in the operation and maintenance of marine equipment.