The Use of the K-Sim Polaris Simulator in the Process of Automatic Assessment of Navigator Competence in the Aspect of Anticollision Activities

Abstract

Very high safety standards set for modern sea shipping are a big challenge both for the navigators themselves and training centers. Practical training, which gives the possibility to practice any typical and unusual sea situations, unexpected events and failures, rescue operations, or maneuvering in restricted areas, is very important. Full mission bridge simulators are widely used in this field. The aim of this conducted research was to verify the usefulness of a multitask navigation bridge simulator in the process of automatic evaluation of anticollision actions executed by a navigator. To achieve that, the available literature was analyzed, several simulations were carried out, and expert studies were performed. The simulations were carried out in the K-Sim Polaris simulator with the participation of students, deck officers, and captains. Expert research was carried out with a group of navigators with different professional experiences. This allowed for verification of the used evaluation criteria and their mutual relations. The results analysis concludes that properly programmed scenarios of testing navigator competence led to an objectivized assessment, which is its important element. However, the key is both the proper programming of the testing scenario as well as the correct selection of the criteria for the assessment itself. Therefore, during test scenario creation, it is necessary to use both the knowledge of experts and a multistage modification of the applied evaluation parameters.