The Bernard Schulte Shipmanagement Training Center (BSMTC), is a training facility for crew members of BSM. It is often overlooked how rigorous of a job being a crew member is. Visiting BSMTC will prove the fact that crew members have one of the most important jobs in the entire supply chain.

The Simulation

The impressive BSMTC facility has everything needed to train crew members to perfection, without having to go on a boat. For example, the crew members controlling the boat were practicing in a simulation room, which replicated everything from weather to physical effects on the boat such as crashes. Outside of the room was the trainer, or the captain, who had full control over the simulation.

Oftentimes, technological advancements can have a negative effect on society. Simulations such as this prove otherwise. Instead of wasting fuel and risking injury, potential crew members can have a more than satisfactory education. One reason simulations can provide better education is due to having full control over conditions. As stated before, the captain was able to change things such as the weather, which is impossible outside of the simulation.

The Process

The most intriguing part of the trip to BSMTC was learning about the process of the crew members’ education. I gained a new level of respect for people who work jobs that often go unnoticed, such as crew members. These trainees enter a program where they do intensive training every day. They eat, sleep, and work in the same facility until they prove that they can work on a real vessel. Being on the vessel is no easier. Sometimes the workers can live on the vessel for up to 4 months at a time. If a crew member messes up one thing, companies can lost countless amounts of money, and more importantly, lives can be at risk. These are some things that I failed to think about before coming on this trip. I now have a better understanding of the importance of blue collar workers in society.