May 7, 2001

Reinforcement of Training System for Oil and Liquefied Gases Transportation
 
It is a pleasure to inform you that Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) has expanded its “K” LINE Training Center (KTC) in Machida, Tokyo to include a Training Center for Dangerous Cargo Carriers (TCDC). Installed at TCDC are an oil tanker simulator that “K” LINE developed jointly with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) and completed at the end of March, and training simulators for both LNG and LPG carriers. With these computer-based educational tools in place, we can further encourage perfection in safe operation of oil tankers and liquefied gas carriers as well as also make additional efforts for preservation and protection of the earthly environment.
 
1. Training Center for Dangerous Cargo Carriers (TCDC)
 
1) Purpose of TCDC
The Company operates dangerous cargo carriers such as VLCCs carrying over 300,000 tons of crude oil, LNG carriers transporting liquefied natural gas refrigerated at minus 160 degrees C and LPG carriers loading liquid oil gases such as liquefied propane gas refrigerated at minus 40 degrees C. As a note of explanation, cargo operations of crude oil and liquefied oil gases are performed by ship crews themselves.
Should an accident happen to any of those ships, they would be in danger of inviting a huge disaster such as fire, explosion, sea pollution, etc. For that reason, there is a need for special training and upgrading of crew skills for safe transportation.
As the Company has declared in its 5-year management plan, New “K” LINE Spirit for 21, safe ship navigation and preservation/protection of the earthly environment are commitments of eternal importance. As a concrete measure in that regard, we have introduced the most sophisticated training simulators and also established TCDC.
 
2) Composition of TCDC
TCDC is composed of the LNG Simulator Room, LPG Simulator Room and Oil Tanker Simulator Room. Each room has its own simulator, a one-fiftieth-precise-model LNG tank, piping panel, loading computers for calculation to make loading/discharging plan, model valve operable with oil pressure and hand pumps, etc. With the best-combined use of all this simulation equipment, we stand ready to provide the most effective and practical training to crews of dangerous cargo-carrying ships.
 
3) Training Systems
Through training at the training centers on shore and onboard, we have been endeavoring to upgrade crew skills to the highest possible level. We consider OJT (On the Job Training) as the most effective means of training.
Simultaneously it must be understood that training with a simulator makes it practical to discipline trainees by creating a simulated emergency situation that is hard to experience in reality onboard, and to give them an opportunity to learn how they are required to behave in that situation. It will increase their awareness of security/safety and help them learn how important it is to fully abide by procedures outlined in the company manual. At TCDC we are providing simulation-based training to not only Japanese crews but also foreign crew members as familiarization and/or advanced pre-boarding training. In this way, we are making an extensive effort to upgrade overall crew skills.
 
2. Training Simulator for Oil Tankers
 
“K” LINE and KHI jointly developed and completed the oil tanker simulator with specifications of a double-hulled tanker as a training simulator for cargo operations. The M.S KUMANOGAWA, the first “K” LINE double-hulled VLCC completed by KHI on April 20, is the model for the simulator. It has various features of top-class quality for simulators of this type.
(1) It has a cargo operation panel on which specs are the same as the ship. Every kind of cargo operational work onboard can be reproduced.
(2) There is a local valve board with which to see the overall piping of the ship at a glance. The board makes it possible to exercise operations of opening/closing local valves and other related drills.
(3) About 600 kinds of typical and/or extraordinary cases can be set at instructorfs option, making it possible to drill any type of emergency case.
(4) The sonic simulation apparatus can reproduce operating sounds of pumps, etc. which allows trainees to perceive a sense of actual presence in a real emergency situation.
(5) With built-in software for computation of hull strength, changes in draft and trim of the ship during cargo operations and their impact can be reproduced.
(6) Gearing an actual oil-pressure valve to a simulator, trainees can confirm and experience hand pump operations, etc. that are needed in an emergency.
 
For further details, kindly contact:
 
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., Tokyo
Fuminori Shimada, General Manager, “K” LINE Training Center

TEL: 042-722-8054
Akira Shoji, Manager, International Seafares Team

TEL: 03-3595-5654

FAX: 03-3595-5351

 

“Training Simulator for Oil Tankers”
Training Simulator for Oil Tankers Training Simulator for Oil Tankers
[back]
Copyright(C) 2001 Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. all rights reserved.