Due to the huge amount of maritime traffic in the North Sea Region, many accidents happen in the harbours and at sea. There is a need to change the mentality of the actors in the sector (employers, maritime organizations) and change the attitude/ promote the knowledge of employees on board and in harbours regarding safety measures/procedures of employees and regarding the use of simulation and e-tools within the maritime sector.

The use of new technologies (i.e. simulation and e-tools) can anticipate these problems and bring a solution. However, the technologies available are not always in use in the maritime sector in the North Sea Region. Cooperation with existing innovation capacity regarding the subject in the Region (training institutes, port institutes, R&D and Ship Owner companies) will contribute to maritime security and safety.

By making use of new technologies accessible for all maritime actors and trough sensibilization, the project will bring more awareness and up-to-date knowledge regarding safety and security. This is a European problem, so there is a need to share knowledge, innovation and develop a mutual strategy.

The main aim of the project is to improve maritime (in harbours and on the sea) safety and security in the North Sea Region by making use of innovative technologies (i.e. Edutainment). Develop a strategy with maritime partners to exchange experience and expertise regarding the use of simulation & e-tools. The specific objectives of the project are the following: • Contribute to a knowledge economy within the North-Sea Region One objective is the exchange of knowledge, good and bad practices present within and outside the partner organisations about Serious Games - games designed for a primary purpose other than pure entertainment - and simulation techniques in the maritime sector. By doing research and analysis regarding innovative e-technologies and methods (i.e. Serious Games and simulation) and by implementing these new technologies and methods for knowledge improvement. • Create sustainable maritime communities within the North-Sea Region Through strong cooperation with different actors in the maritime sector, new approaches (innovative e-tools and methods) will be implemented. This will reduce the obstacles (cost, time intensive …) for training in maritime safety and security and reinforce human resources in the sector. The knowledge regarding maritime safety and security will also improve and will lead to strong, sustainable and competitive communities. • Sensibilization of different maritime actors regarding (the use of innovative e-methods and technologies to improve) maritime safety and security The project wants to improve the use of innovative e-technologies by relevant actors within the maritime sector. Serious Games will be a new tool for all people involved in the maritime sector (workers in the harbour, seamen and employees). We will promote the advantages (reduction of the duration of the training, contribution to climate change, enhancing the motivation of participants,…) of simulation tools and Serious Games on ships and ports. The project will also contribute to environmental challenges in the North Sea region, as a separate course regarding climate change in the sector will be developed. The use of e-tools has an environmental impact too. Simulating complex and dangerous situations demands a lot of human resources as well as equipment. Serious Games emergency situations with an environmental impact (for example a ship disaster with oil leaking) can be trained so that people are able to react properly and make better choices during real emergency situations, thus preventing severe damage to nature. As commonly known, e-tools makes it possible to learn on distance. This makes frequent transportations less needed, which contributes to the environment. In general, the project will inform, create awareness and change attitudes regarding safety and security among the maritime community (maritime agencies, maritime training institutes, R&D institutes,…) through dissemination of the project outcomes.

Envisaged Output

Activities:

• Research and analysis of innovative training methods and technologies.
• Development and adaptation (i.e. transfer) of new training methods (i.e. Serious Games) to the maritime sector, by R&D institutes.
• Co-operation with important maritime institutes in the North Sea Region for testing of innovative methodology (i.e. edutainment).
• Development of blended learning courses regarding safety, security and climate change by making use of Edutainment. These courses will also anticipate on the new regulations (i.e. STCW 2010,…)
• Evaluation and adaption of training courses by organizing TTT-sessions (Train - The - Trainer Sessions) for intermediate target groups.
• Market research regarding different target groups within the sector.
• Validation of the project outcomes by peer review.
• Implementation of the edutainment tools by maritime institutes and employers.
• Dissemination of the project outcomes to relevant maritime actors (i.e. MSUO; different maritime institutes and harbour companies) and the wider maritime community.

Expected results:

• New training modules regarding maritime safety and security on ships and and in harbours
• Innovative training methodology (i.e. Edutainment) and framework for use within the maritime sector
• Dissemination activities in all partner countries
• Dissemination products (i.e. leaflets, courseware)
• Train-the-trainer
• Open simulation development software to improve interchangeability

R&D institutes; Training institutes; Maritime companies and employees