# Immersive Safe Oceans Technology: Developing Virtual Onboard Training Episodes for Maritime Safety
###### Abstract  
This paper introduces four safety training episodes and virtual training technology called Immersive Safe Oceans which can be used in further education of professionals in immersive training scenarios. These episodes were developed for maritime safety and are under testing. Immersive Safe Oceans Technology is a cost-effective, portable technology that can be used on board just in time or in maritime training centers. Four introduced episodes, namely, (1) command bridge, (2) machine room, (3) crane, and (4) fire safety, illustrate how Immersive Safe Oceans technology can be used in various professional training scenarios. These episodes also emphasize the growing need for virtual reality training in the shipping industry. As a result, next generation learning will happen onboard in sophisticated virtual training centers. virtual training; virtual reality; maritime safety training; shipping 2020; 1280  
promising. Due to the interactive content accessible by anyone, anytime, and anywhere, VR transforms the industry effectively and impressively. Allied Market Research [6] has predicted that the global virtual training and simulation market size will grow to USD 329 billion by 2022, and its compound annual growth rate in the period 2016-2022 will be approximately 16.8%. One industry that indicates impressive adaptation to VR is the maritime sector, where technology and VR, in particular, impacts significant investments, decisions, and organizational structures on maritime training. There are many examples of initiatives by leading organizations in the maritime sector that approached safety training with VR and other related technologies [7]. Some of them are the following:  
* Lloyd's Register showcased during the last SPE Offshore Europe its VR Safety Simulator and gaming technology in order to raise awareness about the critical area of safety and risk in the oil and gas industry;
* Korean Register intends to develop a VR training simulator using a realistic ship environment to provide surveyor training on the classification rules and inspection procedures;
* Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) developed a mariner safety education tool goggle that uses VR technology created by Tsumiki Seisaku Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan);
* Immerse, a London startup with leading role in the VR learning movement, developed a platform to create bespoke live learning experiences;
* Kongsberg Digital provides VR solutions for enhanced training experiences. The company innovates by integrating mixed reality (MR), VR, and AR;
* Propel developed SAYFR, a 3D simulation model to allow people interact in different scenarios onboard and ashore;
* K Line LNG Shipping (UK) Ltd. (London, UK) uses the Propel 3D simulation tool to train crew onboard. * Carnival opened a Center of Simulator Maritime Training (CSMART) in Almere, Netherlands, which is a simulator and maritime training tool, to provide maritime training through technology solutions from Transas. Due to the importance and expectations for continuous training in the maritime sector the development of immersive and engaging training technologies within effective knowledge transfer environments, AR and VR technologies will have a significant share of this growth. According to Goldman Sachs [1] knowledge transfer is the biggest business area for AR and VR technologies. Virtual reality, as an interactive technology, offers training centers a way to educate their students in immersive learning environments. However, and despite the projected and expected effectiveness of AR and VR in the global markets, today education holds the smallest market share (2%) with only 0.7 billions USD, indicating the potential growth in the AR and VR sector (Figure 1) [8].