
Port State Control of Germany trains with Safebridge
Hamburg, GER – 23 February 2016
Safebridge hosted the PORT STATE CONTROL of Germany offering a customized Basic ECDIS Training for the inspection officers of the BG Verkehr, the Authority responsible for conducting Port State inspections on vessels hailing German ports. The training covered the legal, technical and operational requirements for the carriage of ECDIS as primary means of navigation. In addition a practical insight to ECDIS solutions from different manufacturers was provided. The Port State Control officers were given the opportunity to simulate an inspection based on an audit check-list provided by Safebridge while our trainer demonstrated how the nautical officers on board would be expected to perform.
“We are very fortunate and happy to host annual training courses for Port State Control inspectors who share their first-hand experience about findings onboard as well as provide statistics on deficiencies.“, emphasized Managing Director Ulf Steden. “This allows us to further improve our training courses focusing on reducing specific weaknesses of crew onboard.“
Since this expertise is required from mariners in the first place, also shipping companies and Port State Control officers are facing challenges in respect of ECDIS. Shipping companies namely their superintendents and quality managers are obliged to establish the necessary procedures and checklists in their safety management manual. This forms a clear framework on the use of ECDIS to their fleet, which also includes to train their internal auditors for proper assessments.