Author: MSAteam

Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, and Virgin Voyages CEO Tom McAlpin made a special visit to the MSA Solent on Sunday 15^th September to open our new simulator centre officially with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

During the visit, Sir Richard Branson tested the simulator centre for himself and met some of the Crew who will be sailing and training at the centre for Virgin Voyages.

The Viking Maritime Group have worked in conjunction with Virgin Voyages and the passenger industry to build and create one of the most prestigious and modern, forward thinking simulation centres in the world.

On the South Coast of the UK, The Maritime Skills Academy have developed two training centres, one for safety training in Dover, Kent and most recently one for simulator training in Portsmouth, Hampshire.

The MSA Solent provides the Virgin Voyages Crew with a fresh and culturally-attuned environment and is where over the coming years, the company’s crew will train and enhance in their skills running through Bridge Resource Management, Ship Handling, ECDIS, Engine Room Management, High Voltage and many other courses created in line with Virgin Voyages’ procedures.

MSA Solent is the world’s only commercial training centre to have a fully integrated Wärtsilä Nacos Platinum system within the full mission bridge simulator and associated course provision, including full vision bridge wings and interactive tactical tables.

MSA Solent is a purpose-built, state-of-the-art centre. The simulation facilities have been created in partnership with global maritime simulation leaders, Wärtsilä (formerly known as Transas Marine).

The key sector focus for clients at MSA Solent will be the passenger industries (cruise, superyacht and passenger ferries) which have increased the call for more simulator training.

Major customers who are already looking to train here are Windstar Cruises, Marella, V-Ships, DFDS, Port of Dover.

MSA Dover will also see the Virgin Voyages Crew from around Europe visiting as Viking Maritime Group were selected as the sole provider of all basic, advanced and updating STCW safety training courses.

The centre houses an environmental survival pool, fire training centre with a command & Control module, lifeboat centre and engineering workshops.

New to the MSA Dover, is the UK’s first commercial Command & Control Safety centre and Damage Control modules. Operational exercises in fire training using the safety centre mirror onboard passenger scenarios and techniques.

The Damage modules are where crew are put through their paces in a stark and challenging environment to repair leaks, splits and learn the practical and theoretical ways to reduce water ingress.

Viking Maritime Group in brief:

Viking Maritime Group is leading the way as a maritime services company and operates in the United Kingdom, USA, New Zealand and the Philippines.

Founded in 1988, today the company encompasses a diverse group of businesses including; Viking Crew, the leading maritime crew services provider and the Maritime Skills Academy, with training centres in Dover, Portsmouth, and Gibraltar.

Across the company there is alignment and synergy in our ethos, in putting people first, and helping support and develop the talent and expertise within the global maritime industry.

Date of Issue: 17th September 2019
Last Edited: 27th August 2024

We are pleased to say the Viking Maritime Group are sponsors for this year’s Yacht Needs Crew Party in Antibes!

When? Friday 20th September at 6.30pm
Where? Bastion St Jaume Terraces, Port Vauban, Antibes (close to the I.Y.C.A quay and up where the letter statue is located)

Come and join the Viking Crew & Maritime Skills Academy team for fresh pizza and a BBQ cooked on-site – there will be local beers and delicious wines available provided by Colgan’s Brewery and VSF Group, accompanied by world-class DJ’s and musicians supplied by GF Entertainment.

Rebecca Adams and Lien Eggermont, Senior Yacht Placement Consultants at Viking Crew will be in attendance – if you would like to arrange a meeting, please call/email on +44 (0)7872 839 366 / RebeccaA@vikingcrew.com or LienE@vikingcrew.com

During the event the Viking Maritime Group will be announcing a brand new promotional offer – make sure you don’t miss out!

Let us know if you are interested in attending by the hitting the ‘interested’ or ‘going’ buttons via the Yacht Needs Facebook page and join us for an evening of good music, smashing food, fine wine and beer, great company and dance the night away at the beach themed crew party. We are looking forward to seeing you all there!

Please note that this is a crew only event and not open to public. There will be security at the entrance.

Since 2000, Merchant Navy Day on 3rd September has honoured the brave men and women who kept our ‘island nation’ afloat during both World Wars, and celebrated our dependence on modern day merchant seafarers who are responsible for 95% of the UK’s imports, including half the food we eat, plenty of the fuel we burn and virtually all the products and goods we take for granted!

For the fifth year running, Seafarers UK is campaigning for the Red Ensign – the UK Merchant Navy’s official flag – to be flown on 3rd September on civic buildings and landmark flagpoles across the UK. Parish, community, town, city, district and borough councils are all invited to take part, along with higher-tier local authorities and governments.

There are many locations where the Red Ensign can be freely flown ashore – civic centres, town halls, public libraries, village greens, churches, sports venues, historic buildings, tourist attractions, ports, etc.

This year hundreds of local flag-hoisting ceremonies will be organised, involving VIPs, civic dignitaries, Merchant Navy veterans, naval cadets, etc. A message of support from HRH The Earl of Wessex is available to be read out at participating locations ‘to remember the sacrifices, salute the courage and support the future of the often unsung personnel of our Merchant Navy.’

In 2019 our target is for the Red Ensign to be flown ashore at more than one thousand locations across the UK. As Merchant Navy Day on 3rd September falls on a Tuesday, we are encouraging participants to fly the flag for the whole week! Flag-hoisting ceremonies can be organised for any date, including on the preceding weekend.

Here at Viking Maritime Group we are proud to be flying the Red Ensign today for #MerchantNavyDay acknowledging seafarers contributions past and present.