Seagull Maritime AS and GVF Collaborate on International Out-Reach Programme to Reach Maritime Professionals Serving on More Than 9,000 Commercial Vessels

LONDON & OSLO – Maritime operational effectiveness is to be enhanced globally through the provision of training and certification for seafarers assigned to use advanced satellite communication systems on-board commercial vessels.

The initiative, which has been tailored for maritime professionals serving on thousands of commercial vessels at sea, is being led by Seagull Maritime, a Norwegian provider of seafarer training, and GVF, the London-based international association of the satellite communications industry.

“Ship owners and managers depend daily upon broadband satellite communications for mission-critical applications”, said Roger Ringstad, Master Mariner and Managing Director of Seagull Maritime. “Everything from navigation and asset tracking, to seafarer health and safety can be more effectively provided by ensuring that training is available for the operation of maritime satellite systems. Therefore, we are pleased to make the GVF Marine Satcom learning and certification modules available to seafarers through the Seagull Maritime global training system.”

“Having enrolled more than 10,000 trainees in GVF’s land-based Certification programme, Seagull Maritime’s leadership in the maritime sector will now enable the satellite industry to offer vital skills-building to the seafaring community,” said David Hartshorn, Secretary General of GVF. “The Seagull Maritime network, combined with interactive GVF training developed by SatProf, is being made available in response to unprecedented demand for maritime broadband satellite communications.”

Key features of the training and Certification programme include the following:

Ø Real-Time Skills Building: With thousands of earth stations currently operating onboard fleets of commercial vessels, the Seagull Maritime-GVF collaboration will enable delivery of training to mariners who are already at sea. This will be achieved through provision of GVF’s SatProf interactive training via the Seagull Maritime computer systems now in use on the vessels.

Ø Professional Advancement: Seafarers who successfully complete the designated training courses, which include integral exams, will receive GVF Marine Satcom Operator Specialist Certifications, which have been endorsed by the global satellite industry. InterManager members have begun a research project to evaluate the benefits of “Certification”. InterManager is the international association of in-house and third party ship managers.

Ø Improved Operations: Ship owners and managers will benefit from reinforced skills that enable communications applications that reduce operational costs, increase efficiencies, and optimise crew safety and welfare.

Further information:

About Seagull Maritime AS

Seagull Maritime AS is the leading provider of computer based training systems for seafarers worldwide and offers a comprehensive library of training and onboard courses for regulatory compliance and improved seafarer knowledge. Founded in 1996 by experienced mariners the company works with leading shipping companies to deliver a full range of assessment and management tools that ensure meeting and exceeding STCW and IMO standards. Seagull Maritime solutions have been delivered to over 9000 ships and offices around the world.

About GVF (www.gvf.org)

GVF is the international association of the satellite communications industry. Supported by 200 companies based in every major region of the world, GVF promotes higher standards of service and improved conditions for the satellite communications user community. For more information please contact mailto:angie.marLiz.Grimm@gvf.org.

About InterManager

InterManager is the international trade association for the shipmanagement industry. Its members are in-house or third party ship managers, crew managers or related organisations and businesses from throughout the shipping industry. Collectively InterManager members are involved in the management of almost 5,000 ships and responsible for some 250,000 seafarers. InterManager is the only organisation exclusively dedicated to representing the ship-management industry. InterManager is committed to improving transparency and governance in shipping and ensuring standards are maintained in the ship-management sector.

About SatProf

SatProf offers standard and custom web-based learning material and technical support for satellite installers, technicians, engineers, and managers. Its advanced web-based e-learning materials feature interactive animations based on numerical simulation algorithms. Students equipped only with Internet terminals access realistic simulations of real-world equipment. Its interactive, 3-D, animated tutorials enable a better grasp of technical concepts and permit the student to practice hands-on skills such as dish pointing, polarization alignment, and uplink signal lineup. Its training content and service support the GVF Certification Programme.