Traditionally, our students and small craft sailors have practiced maneuvering and mooring either in simulators or on the training ship itself. Now a newly created digital twin offers a seamless integration of these two training methods. Between a simulator with identical parameters and a real ship, the skills and knowledge acquired in the virtual environment can be directly applied on board "Sinilind". This innovative solution enhances the hands-on learning experience, ensuring our students are well prepared for real-world maritime operations. A digital twin provides a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between theory and practice, promoting a deeper understanding of seafaring and ship handling.

As the maritime industry moves increasingly towards digitalization, it is important to keep up with technological advances. One of the most exciting aspects of the digital twin project is the introduction of remote control capabilities. In the final phase of the project, the training ship will be equipped for remote control operations, where the system will display a real-time image from the cameras on the ship to the instructor. This intermediate step towards autonomous ships equips our students with the skills needed to operate and manage future marine technologies.

Opportunities for cooperation and further education

The digital twin opens up new opportunities for cooperation with other universities and research institutions, and in the future we can offer training for remote control operators, which is an important training direction, taking into account the introduction of greater automation and remote control of ships in the maritime industry. This project emphasizes the Estonian Maritime Academy's commitment to innovation in maritime education. By integrating advanced digital solutions, we not only improve our training programs, but also contribute to the wider development of remote-controlled and autonomous maritime operations.