Integrated Training

Maritime Pilots Institute is a maritime training facility in the United States conveniently offering both Manned Model and Simulator training year round. MPI offers small personalized training for maritime professionals that includes classroom-based learning, fully customizable manned model training, and state-of-the-art simulation.

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Manned model training at MPI was, hands down, the best continuing education class I have taken. The instructors were phenomenal and the facility was state of the art and well maintained. I would highly recommend this class.

Captain Alison Buckler The Association of Maryland Pilots

Course Directory

Find our complete course catalog below. You may also contact our admissions department directly at 985-867-9789.

Legal Aspects of Pilotage: 4-Hour

The 1-Day Legal Aspects of Pilotage course is a 4-hour course of instruction outlining the legal basis of US State Pilotage, including the historical precedent for the legal position of the independent US State Ship Pilot and other relevant factors relating to the personal liability of piloting.

This program is presented by experienced pilot counsel and/or representatives from the American Pilots Association.

Course Elements

  • Understanding State Pilotage
  • Origins of US pilotage law
  • The Lighthouse Act of 1871
  • Guy v. Donald and the independent ship pilot
  • Role of the pilot
  • Representing the interests of the State
  • The criminalization of the mariner
  • Current legal issues in pilotage

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Collision Regulations for Pilots: 1-Day

The 1-Day Collision Regulations for Pilots (COLREG) course is an 8-hour program designed to refresh pilots in the their knowledge of the International and Inland Rules of the Road.

The program is taught by experienced MPI staff with expertise in maritime rules of the road.

Schedule

  • 0830 - 1000: Rules overview presentation, class quiz
  • 1000 - 1130: General prudential rules, Steering and Sailing Rules, differences between Inland and International rules
  • 1130 - 1230: Lunch
  • 1230 - 1430: Light and Shapes, special circumstances, annexes
  • 1430 - 1600: Class exercises

Course Elements

  • COLREG overview
  • International rules
  • Inland rules
  • Steering and sailing
  • Restricted visibility
  • River specific rules
  • Lights, shapes, sounds
  • Audience response and special software used for engaging training

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Incident Management for Pilots: 1-Day

The 1-Day MPI Post Incident Management for Pilots is an 8-hour course of instruction in the piloting best practices to observe following a maritime incident.

The course includes typical incident scenarios and how to best communicate with ship’s staff, authorities, the press and your peers.

Material covered includes examples of evidence useful in your defense and what to expect in if you are involved in a maritime incident deposition. A special section is included about the role of the pilot during marine salvage operations. Instruction is provided by experienced maritime counsel and MPI pilot instructors. This program is typically a custom course; MPI will coordinate with your pilot group attorney and host the course relative to your local requirements.

Schedule

  • 0830 - 1000: Typical errors pilots make following a piloting incident
  • 1000 - 1130: Examples of useful evidence
  • 1130 - 1230: Lunch
  • 1230 - 1430: Understanding maritime depositions
  • 1430 - 1600: Understanding the pilot’s role in marine salvage

Course Elements

  • Actions after an incident
  • How to communicate with your attorney, office, peers and the press
  • Examples of useful evidence
  • What to expect in a deposition
  • Working with a Salvage Master
  • Guided Q&A session with your attorney

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Pilot Electronics: 1-Day

The 1-day pilot electronics program is an 8-hour simulator-based program designed to introduce or refresh pilots in the technology and use of Pilot carry-Aboard unit’s.

The program includes simulator exercises in traffic management and navigation maneuvers.

Custom exercises are provided for docking, basin clearances, ranges and channels, meeting and overtaking or other special exercises as per the students pick. The program can be adapted to and is manufacturer endorsed by RAVEN, ARINC, ROSEPOINT and others. The program can be adapted to serve as initial training or as refresher training.

Schedule

  • 0830 - 1000: DGPS technology overview
  • 1000 - 1130: Equipment setup, software overview
  • 1130 - 1230: Lunch
  • 1230 - 1430: Simulation exercises
  • 1430 - 1600: Class designed radar exercises

Course Elements

  • DGPS technology overview
  • Hardware overview
  • Software overview
  • Simulation exercises

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Portable Piloting Unit (PPU) Training for Pilots: 1-Day

1-Day Portable Piloting Unit (PPU) Training for Pilots is a custom training program for pilot groups for initial or ongoing training in the safe use and capabilities of custom Portable Piloting Units.

MPI staff are able to support training for many manufactures PPU equipment, including Raven, Rosepoint and ARINC vendors. The program can be set-up for classroom or simulator-based instruction and is easily adaptable for offsite training at your group's facility.

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Radar Use for Pilots: 1-Day

The MPI 1-Day Radar Use for Pilots course is an 8-hour simulator-based program in the use of radar for Pilots.

This training program is not the USCG RADAR RENEWAL Program. This program is customized for river use of radar in piloting. Includes display set-up and use of EBL and VRM for making turns, anchor approaches, clearing bridges and working in river ranges and crossings. The program is taught by experienced MPI pilot instructors who have extensive experience piloting in rivers using radar.

Schedule

  • 0830 - 1000: Radar set-up, tuning and use. Using EBL and VRM for turns, bridge clearances and anchoring.
  • 1000 - 1130: Radar exercises fornavigation in river ranges
  • 1130 - 1230: Lunch
  • 1230 - 1430: Radar exercises for navigation through bridges and for anchoring
  • 1430 - 1600: Class designed radar exercises

Course Elements

  • Radar set-up
  • EBL and VRM use for Pilots
  • Radar use in river ranges
  • Radar use for anchoring
  • Radar use for bridge clearance

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Restricted Visibility Navigation for Pilots: 1-Day

The 1-Day Restricted Visibility Navigation for Pilots course is a simulator-based training program focusing on the use of radar and the integrated use of radar, portable piloting units (PPU) and ship's ECDIS while piloting.

An important element of the program is radar tuning and setting-up radar displays for parallel indexing and other traditional navigation methods. The simulator is used with realistic exercises to demonstrate the integrated use of equipment and best strategies for successful piloting in restricted visibility.

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Sleep, Fatigue and Lifestyle Management for Pilots: 1-Day

The 1-Day Sleep, Fatigue and Lifestyle Management for Pilots is an 8-hour course of instruction in lifestyle management for shift workers taught by industry leading researchers in sleep and fatigue.

Developed and offered in coordination with Circadian System of Boston, MA, the program provides an overview of the science of Pilot fatigue, stress, workload and rest, including study work in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other common sleep disorders, while providing strategies to minimize the negative factors associated with these issues through sound lifestyle management.

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Azipod Maneuvering for Pilots: 2-Day

The 2-Day, 16-hour Azipod Maneuvering for Pilots course is a simulator-based training program taught by experienced azipod maneuvering instructors with the primary focus of save, hands-on maneuvering of large passenger vessels in harbor areas and for docking maneuvers.

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Bridge Resource Management for Pilots (BRMP): 2-Day

The MPI Bridge Resource Management for Pilots (BRMP) course is a 2-day, 16-hour course of instruction approved by the American Pilots Association.

The program follows the APA guidance for BRMP, including the Role of the Pilot, the Master-Pilot Relationship, Communications, Situation Awareness, Decision Making, Culture, Fatigue and Sleep, Medications and Pilot Current Events.

The program uses case studies of actual marine incidents to highlight the principals of piloting best practices. The course is offered in our MPI classrooms and is available to be taught at your site as well. It is easily adaptable for large groups.

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) for Pilots: 2-Day

The 2-Day, 16-hour Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) for Pilots course is a simulator-based training program utilizing the MPI Radar/ARPA/ECDIS Lab and is taught by experienced navigation electronics instructors.

The program follows the American Pilots Association (APA) recommended course outline for ECDIS for Pilots training and uses interactive exercises in the MPI RADAR/ARPA/ECDIS Lab along with custom lectures to orient pilots to the regulations, operations and safe use of ECDIS in Piloting.

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Emergency Shiphandling for Pilots: 2-Day

The MPI 2-Day Emergency Shiphandling for Pilots program is a 16-hour simulator-based program designed to provide initial and continuing education for Pilots in the piloting best practices employed during shipboard incidents.

The program is presented in two sections, on-board emergencies and external emergencies. The program has prepared exercises for rudder and engine loss, equipment failures, bridge team failures, embarrassed navigation situations, environments problems and other complex scenarios involving docking, tugs and mooring systems. Students are allowed time to develop their own scenarios and work out problems using the MPI ship simulator.

Schedule

Day 1

  • 0800-0900: Intro and Admin Items: Introduction to the Ship Simulator; Presentation: On-Board Emergencies
  • 0900-1000: Exercise 1: On-board Emergencies - Engine Problems
  • 1000-1100: EX1: continued
  • 1100-1200: Exercise 2: On-Board Emergencies - Engine Problems
  • 1200-1300: Lunch
  • 1300-1400: Exercise 3: On-board Emergencies-Bridge Problems
  • 1400-1500:
  • 1500-1600: Exercise 4: Student Pick
  • 1600-1700: EX4: Continued

Day 2

  • 0800-0900: Daily Review; Exercise 5:On-board Emergencies- Anchor Problems
  • 0900-1000:
  • 1000-1100: Exercise 6: On-board Emergencies - Extreme Trim
  • 1100-1200: Presentation: External Emergencies
  • 1200-1300: Lunch
  • 1300-1400: Exercise 7: External Emergencies –Traffic Problem
  • 1400-1500: Exercise 8: External Emergencies -Traffic
  • 1500-1600: Exercise 9: External Emergencies –Tug Failures
  • 1600-1700: Exercise 10: External Emergencies – Tug Failures

Course Elements

  • Piloting emergency best practices
  • Onboard emergencies
  • External emergencies
  • Student designed exercises

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

River Navigation Safety Program: 2-Day

The 2-Day, 16-hour, River Navigation Safety Program is a simulator-based training program for senior ship's officers to orient them with the unique navigation challenges posed by the Mississippi River during pilotage.

The program is taught by experienced Baton Rouge Pilots and uses scenarios on the Mississippi River in the MPI ship simulator.

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Use of Tractor Tugs for Pilots: 2-Day

The MPI 2-Day Use of Tractor Tugs for Pilots is a 16-hour simulator-based program designed to introduce direct and powered indirect ASD tug maneuvers and ship assist use for pilots.

The program includes instruction in tug types, maneuvers, speed regimes, safety, line and chock loading and standardized commands.

Piloting maneuvers include docking, direct pull and powered indirect maneuvers for emergency steering assist. Advanced instruction in escort towing, indirect maneuvers and tandem towing is available upon request. Course is taught by MPI pilot instructors who have extensive experience with tractor tug use in operational pilotage.

Schedule

Day 1

  • 0830: Introduction: Direct Pull and Communications
  • 1000: Direct Pull Exercise: BG Basin, Lake Charles
  • 1130: Lunch
  • 1230:Operate a tractor tug; Exercise: walk the tug
  • 1430: Powered Indirect Maneuvers
  • 1600: Exercise: Emergency Steering

Day 1

  • 0830: Review and Communications Quiz
  • 1000: Exercise: Steering using Powered Indirect maneuvers
  • 1130: Lunch
  • 1230: Exercise: Head Down Docking
  • 1430: Exercise: Class Designed Exercise

Course Elements

  • Piloting emergency best practices
  • Onboard emergencies
  • External emergencies
  • Student designed exercises

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Advanced Shiphandling for Pilots Using Manned Models: 3-Day

The MPI 3-Day Manned model program is designed to provide experienced ship pilots continuing education in shiphandling proficiency.

The program focuses on control of ship motion, pivot and turns using various forces including current, shallow water effects, anchor forces, ship’s power and rudder, thruster and tug effects.

The program is presented with a morning short introduction to the daily subject matter, and full day of exercises on the training pond conducting training circuits in the manned models. Our experienced instructors lead the class discussions and join aboard the manned models for critique and coaching.

We closely watch the weather and adapt the exercises for consideration of the prevailing wind. Classes start at 0700 to maximize time during the normal morning calm periods on the training pond.

Schedule

Day 1

  • AM 1 Introduction
  • AM 2 Break-in exercises
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 General circuits
  • PM 2 Canal work

Day 2

  • AM 1 Anchoring and dredging
  • AM 2 Anchoring and dredging
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 Dredging the horseshoe
  • PM 2 Student pick

Day 3

  • AM 1 Working in current
  • AM 2 Working in current
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 Student pick
  • PM 2 Student pick

Course Elements

  • Shaping on ranges
  • Headway control
  • Turns, slips and slides
  • Docking approaches
  • Head-down docking in current
  • Docking with tugs
  • Dredging anchor for docking
  • Pivot point control using various controls (horseshoe turn exercise)
  • Mooring, flying moor, anchoring in a stream using two anchors
  • Meeting and overtaking in a narrow channel
  • Bank cushion, suction and squat effects

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Manned Model 14K TEU Piloting Operations: 3-Day

24-hour manned model program focused on integrating E-pilot methods with tug use and connects the theory of ultra-large containership operations to actual practice in a scaled environment using 14k TEU Manned Model.

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Pilot Use of Tractor Tugs Using Manned Models: 3-Day

The MPI 3-Day Pilot Use of Tractor Tugs, Simulator and Manned Model Program is designed to provide experienced ship pilots continuing education in the use of modern Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tractor tugs for ship assist and escort.

The program focuses on the behavior and capabilities of ASD tugs and how these capabilities can be utilized by the pilot for effective shiphandling. A notable part of the program is the initial day where the pilot is afforded the opportunity to “drive” an ASD in our ship simulator.

The program is presented with two-days spent in the full mission ship simulator and one day of exercises on the training pond conducting training circuits in the manned models with scale assist tugs in use. The course stresses the use of standardized tractor commands and the application of tug forces for shiphandling in direct pull, powered indirect and full indirect tug modes. Our instructors, with specialized tractor tug experience, lead the class discussions and guide the simulation exercises and join aboard the manned models for critique and coaching.

We closely watch the weather and adapt the exercises for consideration of the prevailing wind. Simulation training days start at 0830 at the MPI Covington facility and manned model training begins at 0700 to maximize time during the normal morning calm periods on the training pond.

Schedule

Day 1

  • AM 1 Introduction to tugs and commands
  • AM 2 Hand’s on ASD tug work (sim)
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 Hand’s on ASD work (sim)
  • PM 2 Direct Pull berthing exercises (sim)

Day 2

  • AM 1 Introduction to powered indirect
  • AM 2 Emergency steering using powered indirect
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 Emergency steering using powered indirect
  • PM 2 Intro to Escort Towing

Day 3

  • AM 1 Manned model break-in exercises
  • AM 2 Docking exercises, direct pull ASD work
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 Emergency Steering ASD
  • PM 2 Student pick

Course Elements

  • Practical, hand’s-on tug steering for ASD maneuvers
  • Tug types
  • Speed regimes as per direct pull, powered indirect and indirect modes
  • Escort towing
  • Tandem towing intro
  • Standardized tug commands
  • Emergency steering using a single ASD
  • Understanding power, speed and tug polar relationships

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Advanced Shiphandling for Pilots Using Manned Models: 5-Day

The MPI 5-Day Manned model program is designed to provide experienced ship pilots continuing education in shiphandling proficiency.

The 5-day program adds two additional days to the three day Advanced Shiphandling program.

The two additional days focus special condition docking using tugs, special condition meeting and overtaking scenarios and emergency shiphandling exercises. The first three days are as previous, focusing on control of ship motion, pivot and turns using various forces including current, shallow water effects, anchor forces, ship’s power and rudder, thruster and tug effects.

The program is presented with a morning short introduction to the daily subject matter, and full day of exercises on the training pond conducting training circuits in the manned models. Our experienced instructors lead the class discussions and join aboard the manned models for critique and coaching.

We closely watch the weather and adapt the exercises for consideration of the prevailing wind. Classes start at 0700 to maximize time during the normal morning calm periods on the training pond.

Schedule

Day 1

  • AM 1 Introduction
  • AM 2 Break-in exercises
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 General circuits
  • PM 2 Canal work

Day 2

  • AM 1 Anchoring and dredging
  • AM 2 Anchoring and dredging
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 Dredging the horseshoe
  • PM 2 Student pick

Day 3

  • AM 1 Working in current
  • AM 2 Working in current
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 Student pick
  • PM 2 Student pick

Day 4

  • AM 1 Docking with Tugs
  • AM 2 Meeting and overtaking
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 Student pick
  • PM 2 Student pick

Day 5

  • AM 1 Emergency maneuvers
  • AM 2 Emergency maneuvers
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 Student pick
  • PM 2 Student pick

Course Elements

  • Shaping on ranges, headway control
  • Turns, slips and slides
  • Docking approaches, head-down docking in current
  • Docking with tugs
  • Dredging anchor for docking
  • Pivot point control using various controls (horseshoe turn exercise)
  • Mooring, flying moor, anchoring in a stream using two anchors
  • Meeting and overtaking in a narrow channel
  • Bank cushion, suction and squat effects
  • Emergency shiphandling maneuvers, power loss, rudder problems, tug and thruster problem

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.

Train the Trainer for Pilots: 5-Day

The MPI 5-day Train the Trainer for Pilots is a 40hr program which exceeds the requirements of IMO 1.05 Training Course for Instructors.

The course includes classroom presentation techniques, preparation and evaluation protocol for simulator and manned model training.

Each student will develop a custom simulator and manned model course learning section and present their short program to the group using actual equipment. The course has a strong focus on course preparation, facilitation, briefings, exercises and the debrief cycle of typical maritime training; and how to effectively provide meaningful evaluation for adult learners.

Schedule

Day 1

  • AM 1 Course materials and prep
  • AM 2 Facilitation techniques 1
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 Design a presentation
  • PM 2 Presentations

Day 2

  • AM 1 Facilitation techniques 2
  • AM 2 Presentations
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 Effective evaluation
  • PM 2

Day 3

  • AM 1 Evaluation-activity
  • AM 2 Designing effective training labs in simulation and modeling
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 Create a lab exercise for the simulator
  • PM 2 Create a lab exercise for the manned model

Day 4

  • AM 1 Simulator-based instruction
  • AM 2 Simulator-based instruction
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 Simulator-based instruction
  • PM 2 Simulator-based instruction

Day 5

  • AM 1 Manned model–based instruction
  • AM 2 Manned model –based instruction
  • Lunch
  • PM 1 Manned model –based instruction
  • PM 2 Manned model –based instruction

Course Elements

  • Methods of quality instruction
  • Facilitation techniques
  • Prepare a short lecture
  • Video-taped lectures with class feedback
  • Evaluation techniques
  • Practice effective evaluation
  • Create a simulation exercise
  • Create a manned model exercise
  • Practice simulation and manned model exercises using actual equipment

Information and Bookings

All courses include lunch and class materials. Local accommodations and travel assistance available through our admissions office. Please call MPI Admissions at 985-867-9789 or click below to contact us for more information.