VSTEP launched their latest maritime simulator - NAUTIS Home for maritime professionals, students, or enthusiasts. Making ship simulation available on a large scale brings them closer to their goal, which is to ensure that simulation-based learning becomes a vital part in maritime education and training.
Simulation-based learning has been applied to a great extent in a variety of fields such as aviation and healthcare. In the maritime industry, simulation training has not yet obtained that equal role compared to other industries, while learning by simulation holds great value when it comes to the development and training of skills for maritime professionals.
Simulation-based training key to enhancing safety
“Simulation-based training is essential when it comes to improving the safety, efficiency and sustainability of the maritime industry,” said Fabian van den Berg, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VSTEP.
Simulation–based learning can assist to prepare the maritime professionals"
The maritime industry is evolving constantly, powering innovation, but also simultaneously bringing new challenges to the surface.
Fabian van den Berg continues, “Technological advances are pushing maritime professionals and future seafarers to learn and train new skills and competences. Simulation–based learning can assist to prepare the maritime professionals, especially in the current market with a shortage of qualified personnel.”
On-premises maritime simulators
On-premises maritime simulators already play a crucial role in providing the right training value in maritime education. However, until now, ship simulation was mostly accessible at larger simulator set–ups at schools, organisations or training centres for maritime students or professionals.
“We want to enable learning by simulation in the maritime industry,” states Fabian van den Berg, adding “Which is why we aim to expand the accessibility of professional ship simulation towards a scalable, non-location bound product.”
NAUTIS Home in Early Access - maritime simulation solution
VSTEP just launched their new maritime simulation solution - NAUTIS Home in Early Access, aiming for a feature complete product by the end of 2023. NAUTIS Home offers an immersive simulation experience with realistic hydrodynamics to mimic true to nature vessel behaviour.
The software is based on their professional maritime software - NAUTIS, which is used for large simulator set-ups for schools and training centres. NAUTIS Home contains standardised content for individual sailing, training, and assessment.
Digitalisation of education is crucial
LXP is a new web-based platform that acts as a learning passport for the user
“As we see in many other industries, digitalisation of education is crucial, of which the importance grew only more since the COVID-19 pandemic when looking for instance at the extreme shortage of qualified personnel in the market,” said Tije Vos, the Commercial Director of VSTEP.
Therefore, together with NAUTIS Home, VSTEP launched their new Learning Experience Platform (LXP). LXP is a new web-based platform that acts as a learning passport for the user. A user can create a learning profile to access the courseware complementary to the training scenarios in NAUTIS Home.
Accessible, low-cost training solution
According to Tije Vos, the response of the professional community so far has been overwhelming. He said, “NAUTIS Home is an accessible, low-cost training solution that can be used complementary to on-premises simulators.”
Tije Vos continues, “NAUTIS Home licences start from €5.95 per month, making this maritime simulator ideal for maritime schools, training centres or shipping companies to scale their current training program and foster a continuous learning cycle.”
Opportunity to invest in personal maritime development
Only needing a PC with 3D graphics card makes NAUTIS Home suitable for the individual maritime professional, student and even enthusiastic hobbyist as well, providing them with an opportunity to invest in their own maritime development.
What is next? “Continuous development,” states Fabian van den Berg. This Early Access version of the software is the basis on which VSTEP will continue to develop and improve.
“To release in Early Access allows us the opportunity to get valuable input and feedback from the users directly, giving us the chance to adjust the development course to make sure the software meets the market needs for the long term,” adds Fabian van den Berg.
NAUTIS Home Community Platform
The NAUTIS Home Community Platform plays a crucial role in this process
The NAUTIS Home Community Platform plays a crucial role in this process. It is the central place where users can interact with each other and with VSTEP to leave their feedback and ideas on how to improve the product.
The first product update is already planned before the end of the year 2022, followed by many larger updates in 2023. A variety of courseware will be added, such as Anchoring and Mooring. The inland domain will be represented with more courseware, vessels, and environments.
Develop and roll-out Multiplayer and Communication in 2023
“The goal is to create an enthusiastic community with dedicated users, which motivates the decision to develop and roll-out Multiplayer and Communication for next year,” explains Fabian van den Berg.
Tailoring the product to market needs, enriching the software with educational courseware, and maintaining accessibility - those are some of the objectives that VSTEP has for NAUTIS Home, all with the overall mission to enable learning by simulation in the maritime industry.
