A Contemporary Concept in Troubleshooting and Fixing Malfunctions Using an Engine Room Simulator in Augmented Reality Environment

Engine simulators are used to achieve the critical educational objectives in training the ship's crew. The simulators provide a complete scientific insight into systems, engines, machinery and everyday operation, as well as detection and fixing of problems. In addition, engine room simulators help teamwork, adaptation to different situations, and decision-making in a crisis situation. An exercise for seafarers was developed in a virtual LNG Carrier with Steam Turbine as main engine in the ERS TehSim 5000 simulation complex. The participants are divided into different teams: - for engine room team, and technical team. The exercise was developed on the basis of the ability of the marine engineers' training complex and the LNG Carrier vessel model on the simulator. The exercise consisted of work on the ship's steam system on LNG Carrier mixed with a real failure on the steam line. The engine room team operates on the simulated complex, and the technical team is dealing with the real work until troubleshooting. The exercise consists of: work on a real check list to start the power system; alarm sound; real work on the problem; implementation of emergency response procedures. The working staffs of the exercise are Greek students – fourth year mechanics, with experience of LNG Carrier.