Netherlands-based virtual reality (VR) training startup Parable has developed a VR firefighting training programme to improve safety in the maritime industry.
The custom-made immersive learning solution was designed to help Port of Rotterdam staff carry out simulated exercises for patrol vessels in charge of chemical firefighting at the port.
Sam Ryan, co-founder of Parable, said: “Anything that's technically complex, expensive to operate or just plain dangerous is a good base for doing the training in virtual reality because you can do it an unlimited number of times. You can train in a very safe environment because it's not actually real and it's more cost effective to do.”
The firefighting training is designed so that the Industrial Firefighting Pool (IBP) in the Port of Rotterdam can train more often and more efficiently to improve its level of operational readiness.
Created by Mr Ryan and Parable’s other co-founders, John Heukers and Octavian Nasul, the training can be completed with single player observational learning, as well as asymmetric & symmetric multiplayer learning.
Focused on training companies that service and repair or operate industrial equipment, Parable is also currently working with an offshore company to provide virtual reality training for its offshore cargo lifting requirements.
Parable’s launch was supported by Port of Rotterdam Authority-founded PortXL, which mentors start-ups working in port-related industries to help them accelerate their business in a three-month programme.
PortXL is a minority equity partner in Parable, which has just completed its programme. Following the conclusion of the programme, which also saw companies receive coaching from partners and experts from the PortXL network, the Port of Rotterdam Authority signed a pilot contract with Parable.
As part of its long-term strategy with PortXL, Parable may work with the Port of Singapore to create training solutions.
Mr Ryan believes that ports will continue to be a focus for Parable. As he explained: There are a lot of pressure points and characteristics that are make our training particularly valuable for clients coming into ports. For instance, almost every company coming into a port deals with some kind of advanced technology.
“Dredgers, lifting equipment, LNG storage systems, it's dangerous it's technically complex, it's expensive equipment and the people that operate these vessels and the equipment on them need to be highly trained and not just for day to day operations but for all the types of risks and scenarios that can happen that you don't want to have.
“Doing that kind of training in virtual reality will become even more interesting for a whole range of companies in the port and other places.”
The Port of Rotterdam Authority founded PortXL in 2015 with partners Van Oord, Vopak, Boskalis EY, Uniper, Rabobank, Rotterdam Port Fund, InnovationQuarter and Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship.
