A group of elected student leaders have responded to the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency's consultation on the use of simulators in the cadet training programme on behalf of our fellow cadets at Warsash Maritime School (Solent University).
We outlined our support for the proposed 10-day accredited simulator course in lieu of one month of sea time. We feel this scheme strikes the right balance between sea and simulation time.
We are well aware of the importance and benefits of 'real' sea time during our training as cadets. However, our letter conveys a plethora of reasons supporting simulator time such as standardisation of training, variation of experience and enhanced ability to debrief.
Other countries, such as the Netherlands, have implemented simulator training with high reviews from seafarers. We call on other nautical colleges and bodies of cadets to respond to the consultation as we feel it is vitally important the MCA hear from current cadets as well as experienced seafarers.
Gareth Hampton
More letters
Ships of the past letter - Malakand
I read through the Malakand article and it said she went up in the early hours. What I experienced couldn't have been anything to do with that. It happened over 80 years ago, and the recollection I have is that the ship went up later in the day.
Ships of the past letter - Priam
My father, Ronald Blundell, was a chief engineer with Blue Funnel and sailed on the Priam on her maiden voyage.
Memories shared at Clan Line reunion
The air was thick with an abundance of nostalgia and reminiscence at the Liner Hotel in Liverpool in October, when nearly 100 former shipmates and colleagues met up for the Clan Line reunion to share happy memories over lunch and refreshments.