Dredge Training – A Necessity For Optimal Use Of Modern Dredging Equipment 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime' (old Chinese proverb)

摘要

Modern dredging technology is becoming more and more efficient, using advanced designs, dredging components and integrated systems. This allows high dredging capacities and larger dredging depths at improved accuracy. Although advanced automation and control systems are used more and more to control the operation of these dredgers, the operational ability of crew members still determines efficient use to a large extend. Without a high level of crew competence - best described as a combination of proper dredging knowledge, skills and experience - it will be difficult to get an optimum result out of nowadays modern dredging technology.This is not only true for the European dredge contractors, but also for companies operating in other places around the globe and especially in the expanding Chinese dredging world.Whereas in the old days dredging practice was taught hands-on from generation to generation aboard of the dredgers, nowadays competence improvement in the field is more and more supported by specific training. Most of the European contractors established their own education centers to train their own staff.As part of IHC Holland's R&D Institute MTI Holland, the Training Institute for Dredging (TID) has been involved for quiet a long time in different aspects of dredge training and education as well. Not only to support these European based companies, but especially to assist other dredge contractors, port authorities and numerous organizations involved in dredging world-wide. Based on this experience a Dredging Learning Pyramid Model was developed by TID to establish a proper basis to improve the dredging competence levels of staff and crew.This article describes this model and its corner stones knowledge level, skill and experience in more detail and highlights current developments in the field of dredge training like blended training programs, use of interactive training methods and dredge simulators for cutter and hopper dredging.