Rotterdam, 29 March 2018 – VSTEP is happy to announce its new partnership with DNV GL, a Norwegian classification society, for the certification of martime training providers. The new partnership will allow VSTEP to issue Product Certifications for Maritime Simulator Systems to maritime training providers, which assures compliance with STCW Regulations I/12. This will reduce the overall cost of certification and stimulate faster certification, which increases the overall quality of training.
DNV GL, a merger between Det Norske Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd, has a maritime history that dates back more than 150 years. The company has grown to become a world leader in classifications. Besides classifications, DNV GL also provides technical assurance, software and independent expert advisory services to the maritime, oil & gas, power and renewables industries. Their operations are in line with a commitment to make the world a safer, smarter and greener place. The company currently serves more than 100,000 customers from 300 offices in 100 countries, indicating the large scale of the operations.
When the STCW 78 Manila amendments were introduced in 2010 and implemented in 2012, it created more than 80 new areas for the use of simulators as mandatory training and assessment. These simulators require approval to ensure it conforms to specific standards. The DNV GL Product Certification for maritime simulators, which has been available since 2000, follows the requirements for DNVGL ST-0033 Maritime Simulator Systems. This standard ensures that the installed simulator is in compliance with STCW Regulations I/12 use of simulators.
“VSTEP is a simulator manufacturer that is already in possession of a DNV GL Statement of Compliance for their various simulator systems as well as having a customer service system in place. This qualifies their delivered simulators to undergo a simplified process of certification. This involves a shorter time for the certification process preserving the high quality that is ensured by DNV GL as the issuing body, while at the same time reducing the cost of the process.” says Capt. Aksel Nordholm, Manager Simulator Certification at DNV GL.
This new partnership will allow faster certification that verifies that simulator systems comply with STCW 78 and the DNV GL-ST-0033 Maritime Simulator System standard. This standard has several benefits for training centres. Firstly, it reassures users of the simulator that there is enough relevant level of physical and behavioural realism in accordance with recognized training and assessment objectives. It also shows that the simulator equipment has been properly installed and configured. Lastly, it proves that simulator systems conform to international requirements.
“VSTEP is committed to safe operations and providing the best service to its customers. This new partnership will not only help training centres acquire their certifications faster, but also at a more affordable price. By providing these certifications, we are helping the industry increase standards and enable future seafarers the ability to get the best training possible. For these reasons, I am very pleased that we could strike this deal with DNV GL.” says Henk van den Berg, CEO of VSTEP Simulation.
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