MUSCAT -- The International Maritime College Oman (IMCO), a joint venture between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the STC-Group from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, has installed its Transport Chain Simulator (TCS). This state-of-the-art training equipment is used to train the students in port, shipping and transport management.
The TCS consists of one control station and 16 work stations. It is capable of simulating the flow of information, communication and goods in the transport chain; just as in reality. During a simulation run, students can fulfil various active roles. Some of the roles are forwarder, stevedore, broker, transporter, the customs or even a bank.
The TCS is currently equipped to run five different scenarios where negotiations, operations and financing practices are trained. These scenarios reflect the international environment in which the students will work in the near future. The scenarios are played in Europe, South Africa and Vietnam giving the students an opportunity to work under different circumstances. In the future, scenarios of Korea and Oman will be developed.
All decisions and actions taken by each individual student can be recorded and analysed during and/or after each simulation session. A fully automatic screen and beamer in the middle of the room supports the trainer to discuss each simulation run. Next to computer and telephone handling the English language used can be assessed as well as their physical behaviour.
The following subjects are covered by the simulator: transportation, port, logistics, international commerce, forwarding, terminal operations and shipping. But also different classes of types of cargo and handling, outbound and inbound procedures, documentation, terminology, manifest and contracts. Students will understand the issues of the transport/logistics process way beyond the theory. The TCS training will be initiated with a group of students sponsored by Shell Development Oman and also students of the port, shipping and transport management programme.
© Oman Daily Observer 2008
