Effectiveness of simulator training in understanding COLREGs by nautical science students in the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

Abstract

Collision is a major accident at sea; even International Regulations for Preventing Collision (COLREGs) have been used very well in Maritime Education and Training (MET) for the seafarer. Lack of ability to recall, understand and interpret the Rule of the road affects decision making during the real situation at sea. The appropriate way of learning COLREGs is necessary and not just oriented in the classroom. Exposure to the real situation is needed to train future seafarers. The ship simulator serves as a bridge to connect the classroom and real work situations. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the effectiveness of simulator training in understanding COLREGs by nautical students in UMT. A COLREGs assessment is used to compare simulator training. In the classroom, a division of group A and B. Group A learnt COLREGs using the Simulator and group B using the traditional classroom method. A comparison of the assessment result determined if the simulator training is more effective compared to the classroom. This study also determines the issues that affect simulator training in understanding COLREGs and ways to overcome them. The result will be the effectiveness of simulator training in understanding the identified COLREGs using the assessment result. Simulator training was used to provide a glimpse of how learning of COLREGs can be made more effective.