ECDIS Ltd recognise the Education and Training Theme of World Maritime Day 2015

In the month of World Maritime Day, ECDIS Ltd has been working to inspire the local younger generation and share the impact of the shipping industry.

[Whiteley, Hampshire September 2015] 13^th Eastleigh Sea Scouts visited ECDIS Ltd HQ this month for an afternoon of activities and learning with the UK’s largest privately owned training centre in the UK.

The group of Sea Scouts were firstly tasked with Bridge Team Management in the Fairpoint Sherpa Ocean-going Tug. Working together, they had to use the equipment and safely enter port at Dover avoiding collisions and grounding. This all took place in ECDIS Ltd’s Full Mission Bridge simulator.

The Sea Scouts also took part in a presentation with ex-serviceman and ECDIS Ltd’s own HELM and Advanced Course Manager Richard ‘Joe’ Sloly, discussing how ECDIS Ltd play their part in the training and simulation sector and the value behind what they do. The discussion also highlighted the opportunities and potential that the Scouts, as digital natives, would have and where the future of the shipping industry may lie.

The evening finished with healthy competition in the form of a carting style game played on ECDIS Ltd’s console simulators. Racing speed boats around the race track which was created by ECDIS Ltd’s 3D artists and design team, originally used for ECDIS Ltd’s Corporate Team Building Day service.

Samantha Hucklesby, Head of Marketing at ECDIS Ltd said “As ECDIS Ltd has grown, it has always been important as a company to work with local community projects and broaden their expectations; not only in regards to the maritime industry, but from a business point of view. It is important to engage them also as young entrepreneurs, and make them think about what they can achieve with enough knowledge and specialism in a certain field. The theme for this year’s World Maritime Day supports everything ECDIS Ltd is about, and inviting the Sea Scouts was an excellent way to recognise it and give back.”

Simon Powell, Operations Director at Marine South East Ltd and Sailing Instructor for the Sea Scouts added… “’Through my position at Marine South East, a marine and maritime cluster based in Southampton, I am aware of the vast range of innovative, exciting, high growth, world-class companies and research organisations active in the sector; so I was delighted on receiving the invitation from ECDIS Ltd for the Sea Scout group to give them an insight into the fascinating world of ship bridge simulators and ECDIS systems. As a father of 14 and 9 year old girls, I have become aware that without enough information and experience, children are ill-equipped to make good educational and career choices in an ever more competitive world.  I also observe that many companies struggle to recruit enough suitably qualified and motivated people. ECDIS Ltd MD, Mark Broster, was keen to welcome the Scouts and ECDIS Ltd organised an excellent visit.  Twenty two Scouts visited and were given a privileged tour of the facilities. In the bridge simulator they got to steer huge ships in and out of Dover in a storm, race and crash power boats and a few managed to fill their pockets with sweets!   A well as having lots of fun the kids learnt a great deal and some may be inspired to pursue maritime careers.  On the drive home one 13 year old girl said she would like to work at ECDIS Ltd so you never know…”