Practical manoeuvring skills training using full-mission bridge simulators — required by shipping companies, pilot licensing authorities, and MCA CoC revalidation pathways for deck officers and marine pilots.
Ship handling and simulator training is practical skills-based training conducted using full-mission bridge simulators, manned scale models, or a combination of both. It develops a seafarer's ability to safely manoeuvre vessels in confined waters, ports, anchorages, and adverse conditions without risk to a real vessel. Unlike mandatory STCW safety courses, it sits in a category of professional development and advanced competency training — not a single standardised course, but a family of related offerings delivered by MCA-approved maritime training centres.
The most widely referenced formal framework is IMO Model Course 1.22 — Ship Simulator and Bridge Teamwork, updated under the 2010 Manila Amendments to STCW to incorporate Bridge Resource Management (BRM). This model course underpins the BRM / Ship Simulator and Bridge Teamwork (SSBT) qualification offered at approved centres including LJMU Maritime Centre, Warsash Maritime, and Fleetwood Nautical Campus. Simulator performance standards are set by the IMO's Revised guidelines on the use of simulators (MSC.1/Circ.1361).
The training draws on STCW Chapter II (Deck), specifically Regulations II/1 and II/2 covering Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch and Master / Chief Mate respectively, with competency columns in Tables A-II/1 and A-II/2 addressing manoeuvring and handling a ship in all conditions. In the UK, the MCA approves training providers and recognises certificates for CoC revalidation purposes. Flag state administrations accept certificates for their seafarers in line with their own STCW implementation.
This training is expected of deck officers progressing to command of larger or more complex vessels, marine pilots at UK ports (where Competent Harbour Authorities may require periodic simulator refreshers for licence renewal), and senior officers returning from a period ashore or moving between vessel types. Many flag states and shipping company safety management systems mandate it before allowing a new master to take command. It also complements ECDIS and ARPA/Radar training, both of which are mandatory simulator-based STCW requirements for deck officers.
Duration by variant: IMO Model Course 1.22 (BRM/SSBT) runs 3–5 days (approximately 36–40 contact hours). Full-week command-preparation programmes are 5 days. Pilot ship handling courses at centres such as Warsash typically combine manned scale models with bridge simulator time across 5 days. Bespoke company programmes vary from 1–5 days depending on scope.
Renewal: Ship handling simulator certificates do not carry a fixed expiry date in the same way as STCW Basic Safety certificates. However, MCA CoC revalidation is required every 5 years under STCW Regulation I/11, and updated simulator training is one acceptable form of evidence of continued professional competence. Many harbour authorities require annual or biennial simulator refreshers for marine pilot licence renewal. Company SMS and flag state requirements commonly specify a refresher interval of 3–5 years.