SEATTLE – Seattle Fire Department boat pilots will practice how to respond to vessel and maritime facility emergencies using the Seattle Maritime Academy’s vessel bridge simulator. The simulator mimics a fully functional bridge facility, including controls, communications, radar and realistic 360-degree visual displays.
The training has been specifically tailored to the types of vessels and navigation routes that Seattle Fire Department fire boats are likely to encounter. The SFD staff will practice navigation and communication skills using scenarios such as a vessel fire in the Duwamish Waterway, or crossing the Puget Sound to assist with a fire in Eagle Harbor in Bainbridge Island.
When:
The first set of simulator runs will happen on Feb. 6, 2019, between 2 and 3 p.m.
Please RSVP if you plan to attend – there’s limited space in the simulator
Where:
The Seattle Maritime Academy at Seattle Central College
4455 Shilshole Ave. NW, Seattle
Why:
The simulator training is part of a general training for boat pilots and staff at SFD, so they can to respond quickly and safely to fires and other emergencies involving vessels and maritime facilities. It is an example of the kind of partnerships and services Seattle Colleges provide to local agencies and the community.
This training builds on skills such as rules of road best practices, radio communications best practices and licensing, working within Vessel Traffic Systems, bridge resource management, and radar and electronic chart display and information systems.
The Seattle Maritime Academy is a division of Seattle Central College that prepares men and women for successful careers in passenger transportation, fishing and seafood processing, international trade, military operations and other maritime sub-sectors. The academy also provides customized trainings for government agencies and businesses in the maritime industry, including the Washington State Ferries and tug boat operator Foss Maritime.
For more information about the academy, visit https://maritime.seattlecentral.edu/
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Roberto Bonaccorso, Seattle Central College
206-934-4487
Roberto.bonaccorso@seattlecolleges.edu
Kristin Tinsley, Seattle Fire Department
206-250-1892
Kristin.tinsley@seattle.gov