(HOUSTON) — Kongsberg Maritime has completed the installation of a range of ship’s bridge simulators at the newly established PEM Offshore Simulation and Innovation Center Inc. USA (POSAIC USA). Located in Houston, Texas, POSAIC USA is a state-of-the-art facility uniquely focused on retraining and educating United States military veterans for careers in the offshore sector.
PEM and Kongsberg Maritime Simulation Inc. entered into a contract for the supply and installation of Class B and Class C bridge simulation trainers in spring 2015. POSAIC USA’s new simulators offer advanced technology training for certification in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard, Det Norsk Veritas (DNV) and International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) standards.
The military veterans focus of POSAIC USA is the brainchild of Philips Matthew, PEM’s senior VP of Americas/Africa and a loyal supporter of veterans worldwide. A dedicated supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project in Houston, Matthew has made it a priority to give to veterans everywhere he can.
“I remember Memorial Day weekend, I was sitting in my living room and watching stories about our American soldiers who give their lives to make sure the world is safe. I knew it was time to give back, which is why I put my whole heart into this,” said Matthew.
With the assistance of Clayton Burry, acting general manager, Americas, at Kongsberg Maritime Simulation Inc., Matthew devised a plan to build a training center that would create opportunities for veterans to obtain gainful employment in a relatable profession. Citing the various similarities between military and maritime communication and training, Matthew knew the offshore industry would be the perfect work force to transition into.
“Veterans read Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, they’ve learned ECDIS and radar, and they behave the same way we behave. It’s easy to train military personnel and put them back into the maritime industry,” said Matthew.
Working closely with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Kongsberg, Matthew proposed the Galleria, a central location in Houston, to be home to this facility. With installation completed in October 2015, the center has received approval by the U.S. Coast Guard to teach approved courses.
A well-respected player in the offshore industry, Matthew has expressed his confidence that this center is a pathway to employment. “The goal is not to train them and leave them. The goal is to train them and then place them. Companies love to give back. They want to employ these veterans, but they need to be properly certified,” he said.
While POSAIC USA is working on final touches before officially kicking off training, future development for the center is already being planned. In the long run, POSAIC USA will offer both ROV and engine room simulation in addition to ship’s bridge simulation, providing a full range of advanced training to meet the demands of the offshore industry.
