Course Descriptions...
Bridge Resource Management (U. S. Navy specific): A five day, forty hour course of instruction, focusing on team building and effective communications within the ship control team and among bridge watch personnel.- Topics include situational awareness, analysis of error chains, voyage planning, ECDIS, ARPA, stress and fatigue, case studies, decision making, leadership, ship handling theory, a Rules of the Road exam, review of Commanding Officer's standing orders, and simulator exercises in the Kongsberg Polaris V2 full mission bridge simulator.
- Class size is from 7 to 10. As a minimum, three watch teams (each consisting of an OOD and Conning Officer) plus a senior observer are required to attend. The senior observer position must be filled by the CO, XO or Senior Watch Officer. Up to three additional students (prospective OOD's or Conning Officers) can be included. For large-deck ships (CVN, LHA, LHD), the Navigator can act as senior observer. Often, the CO, XO and Senior Watch Officer (or Navigator for large-deck ships) share the senior observer duty. The recommended minimum participation for the CO is to conduct the lesson on standing orders (as a seminar), attend the lesson on CO-Pilot Relation, and observe one simulator session.
- Course completion criteria include a score of 90% on the Rules of the Road exam, attendance at a minimum of 80% of the total course hours, and attendance at 100% of the scheduled simulator hours. If a student satisfies the BRM attendance criteria but does not achieve a score of 90% on the Rules of the Road exam, a completion certificate may be awarded once the student demonstrates a satisfactory level of knowledge during ROR remediation or successfully passes a subsequent, command-administered make-up exam.
- Certain support materials for the course must be provided by the command. Ships will provide three plotting kits, three sets of charts to support voyage planning exercises, pencils and erasers for chart work, and directives supporting voyage planning (Fleet Guides, Coast Pilot, Port Directory, etc.) Some of these materials may be available in the NSST facility. A complete copy of Standing Orders to the OOD shall be provided to the instructor on day one.
- The instructor will make voyage planning and case study assignments on day one of the course. Typically, an inbound and outbound transit of homeport plus a transit of another fleet-area port will be assigned for voyage planning.
- It is recommended that all students be OOD qualified or close to completing OOD qualification to derive maximum benefit from this course.
The following geographic databases are currently available on the simulator:
| Bahrain | English Channel | Halifax | Ingleside | Kuwait | Mayport |
| Naples | Norfolk | Okinawa | Open Sea | Pascagoula | Pearl Harbor |
| Puget Sound | Pusan | Rota | San Diego | Sasebo | Tokyo Bay |
| Abu Dhabi | San Francisco | Boston | Vancouver | ||
| Jebel Ali | Little Creek | Yorktown | Lua Lua Lei | Singapore | Strait of Hormuz |
In the final portion of the BSH course, as a form of "final exam" without instructor coaching, each student demonstrates a series of four shiphandling evolutions; getting underway from alongside a pier, making a landing, underway replenishment, and man overboard. These demonstrations are assessed by an experienced instructor and the assessment process may be observed or assessed by the ship's Commanding Officer.
The BSH Course includes 10 shiphandling lessons:
- Introduction
Classroom instruction covers course format and schedule, explanation of textbook and shiphandling fundamentals. Included are principles of physics; Archimedes, Newton, Bernoulli and Venturi. Discussion focuses on ship stability and buoyancy, laws of motion and the combination of art and science in bringing together the proficient use of forces to control position and movement of a ship. A one hour orientation provides an introduction to the shiphandling simulator. - Forces on the Ship
Classroom instruction covers the basic principles of controllable forces; propulsion, rudder, mooring lines, tugs and anchors and how these forces can be used to control and position the ship. Pilot status is included. Uncontrollable forces, wind and current, including tides, are discussed with explanations of determination of effects. - Standard Commands
Classroom instruction covers the need for and methods of using standard commands in steering, rudder position, speed control, mooring lines, tug control and anchor. Students then demonstrate ship control with standard commands in shiphandling simulator exercises. - Getting Underway from Alongside a Pier
Classroom instruction covers methods of getting a ship underway from alongside a pier with considerations of wind and current. Instruction includes review of forces, preparations, use of mooring lines, twisting, flow past the rudder, pivot point and safe maneuvering in proximity to other ships. Each student then practices getting underway procedures by conning the ship under instruction in the shiphandling simulator. - Making a Landing – Pier Arrival
Classroom instruction covers methods of bringing a ship from a channel into position alongside a pier with considerations of wind and current. Instruction includes review of forces, preparations, use of tug, rudder and speed control, approach, flow past the rudder, final adjustments, pivot point, use of mooring lines and safe maneuvering in proximity to other ships. Each student then practices making a landing by conning the ship under instruction in the shiphandling simulator. - Basic Rules of the Road
Classroom instruction covers the three basic Rules of the Road situations; head-on, crossing and overtaking. Instruction includes determination of stand-on or give-way status, sound signals, lights, distress signals, international and inland rules, and demarcation lines. Students then demonstrate appropriate Rules of the Road procedures in shiphandling simulator exercises. Homework includes an open book Basic Rules of the Road exam with classroom critique. - Underway Replenishment
Classroom instruction covers the importance of and procedures employed in conducting underway replenishment. Instruction includes preparation, approach, alongside and breakaway with emphasis on safety. Each student then practices conduct of underway replenishment procedures under instruction in the shiphandling simulator. - Man Overboard
Classroom instruction covers shiphandling maneuvers and procedures to be taken in man overboard situations. Instruction includes initial actions, four recovery maneuvers (Anderson, Williamson, Racetrack and Y Backing), recovery and pick-up procedures. Each student then practices maneuvering the ship for a man overboard by conning the ship under instruction in the shiphandling simulator. - Tactical Maneuvering
Classroom instruction covers basic formations and maneuvering of the ship in line formations. Students then demonstrate ship maneuvering in line formations under instruction in the shiphandling simulator. A NATO-like operation order and signal book sets the scene and provides the basis of delayed execution directive communications. - Anchoring
Classroom instruction covers; equipment, characteristics and piloting, selection of the anchorage, plotting the anchorage, executing the anchorage, and post anchorage procedures. Instruction includes terminology and emphasizes safety in this basic seamanship evolution.
These Simulator Ownship Ship Models are currently available:
| ARS 50 Rescue and Salvage | CG 47 Ticonderoga Class Cruiser | CVN 68 Supercarrier |
| CVN 76 Supercarrier | DDG 51 Guided Missile Destroyer | DDG 72 Guided Missile Destroyer |
| DDG 79 Guided Missile Destroyer | FFG 7 Guided Missile Frigate | LCAC 1 Landing Craft Air Cushion |
| LCC 19 Amphibious Command Ship | LCS 1 Littoral Combat Ship | LCS 2 Littoral Combat Ship |
| LHA 1 Amphibious Assault Ship General Purpose | LHD 1 Amphibious Assault Ship Multi Purpose | LPD 17 Amphibious Transport Dock |
| LPD 4 Amphibious Transport Dock | LSD 49 Landing Ship Dock | MCM 1 Mine Countermeasures Ship |
| PC 1 Coastal Patrol Boat | RHIB 7 Meter | RHIB 11 Meter |
Special Evolutions Training (Navy Specific Maneuvers): Four hour modules of Kongsberg Polaris V2 training, designed as professional development and self assessment for U. S. Navy shipboard bridge watch-standers and ship control personnel.
- Topics include Pier Work, Underway Replenishment, Working with Tugs, Contact Management, Flight Operations, Conning (general, swept, and narrow channel), Tactical Maneuvering, Man Overboard, Plane Guard, Math for the OOD (I&II), and Low Visibility Navigation, among others.
- Class size is limited to six students. Instruction is primarily intended for conning officers, but most scenarios include a training opportunity for other key personnel. Refer to the applicable instructional module for information on intended training audience and other training opportunities.
- Class format for Special Evolutions training is one hour of classroom instruction, and three hours of simulator training.
- In general, for the Special Evolutions training to be most effective, it is recommended that the four-hour modules not be broken apart. For example, students will get more out of four hours of pier work than they will from two hours of UNREP work and two hours of harbor transit work.
- The Special Evolutions topic or scenario, and, if necessary, additional information must be entered by the command in the training request.
- To enhance training, commands are encouraged to bring plotting kits, charts, maneuvering boards, pencils, and any other applicable support material required as the facilities have limited supplies onhand.
List of Special Evolutions here »
Radar Observer Course (Unlimited) (STCW Certified): A five day, forty hour course of instruction, focusing on radar theory, usage, limitations, target characteristics, collision avoidance, relative motion and navigation. Class size is limited to ten students. Each attendee should bring a set of dividers, parallel rulers, and pad of maneuvering boards (fifty). Plotting sheets will be provided at the facility.- Radar plotting sheet and maneuvering board utilization is exercised.
- Introductory Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA) practice is included.
- Certification meets the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping and 46CFR 10.480, and the requirements for certification as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on vessels of 500 or more gross tonnage.
View Radar Observer schedule »
Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA) Course (STCW Certified): A five day, forty hour course designed to meet equivalency for the Standards of Training and Certification of Watchstanders in the theory and usage of Automatic Radar Plotting Aid systems as an aid to standing a navigational watch on a U. S. Navy vessel. Class size is limited to four students. Each attendee should bring a set of dividers, parallel rulers, and pad of maneuvering boards (fifty). Plotting sheets will be provided at the facility. The command should also provide three sets of charts to support navigation and parallel indexing exercises. Topics of discussion and instruction include:- ARPA theory and the setup and usage of an ARPA display for collision avoidance and navigation.
- Performance standards of an ARPA system, including tracking accuracy and trial maneuvers.
- The proper set up and display maintenance involved with an ARPA system.
- The usage of ARPA as a decision making tool to improve situational awareness.
- Discuss the avoidance of over reliance on ARPA as a single source of information and possible sources of error.
- System theory and usage, including practical application.
- Discussion of the different types of chart variants and the U. S. Navy's direction on certified systems.
- U. S. Navy performance standards with regards to navigational tasks.
- System sensor inputs, route planning, radar video display, proper use of tools and Lines of Position.
- The limitations of ECDIS and avoiding over reliance on any one type of system for proper navigation.
For more ECDIS-N information click here... »
Polaris Shipboard V1 Operations Refresher Course: A five day refresher course for commands outfitted with the Polaris shipboard V1 ship handling simulator. This course highlights the operations and training features of the Polaris V1, and can be conducted at the shore side Fleet Concentration Area (FCA) ship handling complexes. Topics of instruction include:- Introduction to the Polaris V1 equipment.
- Initializations and shutdown procedures for the system.
- Software menus and E-coach exercises.
- Basic exercise construction.
- Polaris system maintenance.
Course completion
Upon successful completion of each course of instruction, a letter will be issued to Commander, Naval Surface Forces N7, outlining the course of instruction attended, the command’s course participants, the instructor’s name, and the hours completed for each course, including an assessment. A copy for the command is available upon request. Online documentation of course completion will also be reflected under the “Master Schedule/Training Request, View Ship Course Records” as confirmation of the completed course of instruction.
For Special Evolutions training involving particular course of instruction modules, an hours and type of evolution breakdown will be provided for entry into the individual(s) Training Reference Book (TRB) (Reference: Navigation, Seamanship, and Shiphandling Training Requirements Document, Chief of Naval Operations Surface Warfare Directorate 15 June 2002, Chapter 5, Section 5.5.3 Special Evolutions.) Record entry codes provided on the letter for entry in the TRB are as follows:
Simulator Log Entry Information Format: The TRB requires specific information and formatting for inclusion in the Simulator Log portion of the record. No deviation from the following format is permitted:
The character or kind of watch stood will be described by a NUMBER-LETTER-NUMBER code as follows:
1st NUMBER – to denote watch / simulation ENVIRONMENTLETTER – to denote GENERAL PURPOSE of the watch/simulation
2nd NUMBER – to denote SPECIFIC PURPOSE of the watch/simulation
- The Code for watch/simulation ENVIRONMENT (first number) shall be selected as appropriate from the following:
- Day unrestricted visibility
- Day restricted visibility
- Night unrestricted visibility
- Night restricted visibility
Use Code 3 if over 50% of the watch/simulation duration was in darkness, unless classifiable as 4.
Use Code 4 if over 50% of watch/simulation duration was in darkness and 50% of the watch during darkness was under actual restricted visibility. - The Code for GENERAL PURPOSE of watch/simulation (first letter) shall be selected from the following:
General Training
- Independent steaming
- Formation steaming
- Multi ship operations
- Special Evolution
- The appropriate Code for the SPECIFIC PURPOSE of watch/simulation (second number) shall be selected from the following:
For GENERAL PURPOSE Code A and B:
- Transit
- Deployed away from homeport
- Joint training exercise
- Patrol
- Underway Replenishment
- Flight Operations
- Man Overboard
- Engineering drills/evolutions
- Damage control drills/evolutions
- Integrated training team drills and evolutions
- Sea detail