$2 million world-class maritime simulators for South Metropolitan TAFE

• South Metropolitan TAFE's Fremantle campus home to new maritime simulator technology
• Complete maritime simulator suite of hardware and software ready for students to use from Semester 1, 2023
• Project part of Rebuilding our TAFEs plan which includes $215.8 million capital works investment
  

Maritime students at South Metropolitan TAFE's Fremantle campus are set to benefit from world-class simulator technology, preparing future shipmasters, officers and engineers for their maritime careers.

The $2 million state-of-the-art maritime simulator suite includes fully upgraded SMT's maritime training capability, ensuring students are using the latest technology to gain the skills needed for border patrol, naval defence and oil and gas industries.

The simulators will allow for training in new and emerging maritime technologies and maritime engineering studies, while meeting the regulatory requirements of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and international maritime safety standards.

The new equipment and workstations will provide students with the latest and most advanced maritime training on the western seaboard, with the flexibility of the simulators also enabling expansion at any time - future-proofing the training tools.

The simulators will enable training for a broad range of operations, including navigation, ship handling and manoeuvring, bridge watch-keeping, ship interaction, varying environmental conditions, communication and Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), tugging and tow master/pilot training and responses in emergencies.

Contracts were awarded to two suppliers:

• Kongsberg Digital in Norway for bridge, engine, electronic chart display and ship stability simulators; and
• Wartsila Voyage Limited in Finland for the GMDSS.
  

The project is part of the McGowan Government's biggest TAFE investment in history, with $215.8 million going towards essential infrastructure upgrades across the five Western Australian TAFE Colleges.

Comments attributed to Training Minister Simone McGurk:

"The McGowan Government is committed to upgrading Western Australia's TAFE network and helping to equip students with the skills they need to walk into the industry of their choice.

"The $2 million suite of state-of-the-art maritime simulators will be a huge boost to South Metropolitan TAFE's maritime students.

"By training with cutting edge technology and real-time simulation, it will go a long way to ensuring students are job ready for this exciting industry.

"This investment for specialised maritime qualifications will further enhance South Metropolitan TAFE's reputation as one of the largest and most influential maritime training institutes in Australia."

Minister's office - 6552 6600