MOL Training Centre Europe (MOL Europe) is one of seven training centres run by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL). These centres provide practical education and training for seafarers to ensure safe maritime transport now and in the future.
MOL Europe prides itself on its advanced, high-quality training, so it was keen to be at the forefront of new developments in simulation-based learning. The centre was looking to expand its training offering with new advanced and integrated training options for both bridge and engine room personnel.
Maritime training providers are under increasing pressure to deliver training that reflects the realities of modern vessel operations and prepares crews for complex real-world scenarios. Seafarers need to develop the technical competence, collaboration, communication and situational awareness skills needed to respond effectively in demanding operational environments.
To support these objectives, MOL Europe became one of the earliest pilot partners for the Wärtsilä NTPRO 7 simulation platform. The training centre wanted a platform that could support increasingly realistic scenarios while providing flexibility and the ability to adapt to future training requirements.
“We saw this collaboration as an opportunity to improve the realism, flexibility and quality of our simulator-based training,” says Jelena Odalovic Karaman, Director, MOL Europe. “Working with Wärtsilä we have been able to create more integrated and realistic training and provide our instructors with valuable opportunities to further develop their skills and share their experience.”
Working closely with Wärtsilä from the early stages of NTPRO 7, MOL Europe directly contributed to the platform’s development and implementation, while benefiting from early access to its next-generation simulation technology.
MOL’s team of vastly experienced trainers were well aware of the value of integrated training that brings together engine room and bridge teams. “Integrated simulator training means that operational challenges become shared problems, exactly like on a real voyage,” says Captain Jovo Dakic, Training Instructor at MOL Europe. “This integration drastically improves critical skills like decision-making, communication, team management and situational awareness, especially in high-stress situations.”
The pilot project began in 2024 and was characterised by continuous collaboration between MOL Europe and Wärtsilä. The comprehensive setup at MOL Europe made it the ideal location for robust testing and validation of new simulator features and functions.
“The feedback from MOL Europe has been exceptionally valuable to the development of the NTPRO 7 platform, particularly in terms of the interfaces and features,” says Sergey Zimin, Product Lead, Wärtsilä Marine. Because their trainees are professional seafarers, they represent an audience whose feedback we truly trust in terms of validating that our simulation solutions reflect real-world operations.”
Over nine project visits, MOL Europe and Wärtsilä experts worked together to test new functionalities, validate operational scenarios and refine the simulation platform based on MOL Europe’s practical training experience.
MOL Europe’s feedback directly contributed to the development of NTPRO 7, while the training centre delivered increasingly immersive and integrated training experiences that better prepare seafarers for real-world operational scenarios. NTPRO 7 has now become a core part of MOL Europe’s training offering.
“We can now run more complex exercises, combine different simulator environments and provide our trainees with more realistic representations of real onboard operations.” Karaman explains.
Early access to the next-generation technology of NTPRO 7 has helped MOL Europe enhance the realism, flexibility and capability of its training programmes. Today, the centre is delivering realistic simulation-based training for vessel types including LNG carriers and Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs).
“Realism in simulator training is crucial because it allows us to replicate high-risk scenarios that candidates may never experience at sea and allows candidates to put their theoretical knowledge into practice immediately,” highlights C/E Malovic, Training Instructor at MOL Europe. “As a result, their readiness to react swiftly and correctly in real life is drastically improved.”
MOL Europe has also achieved an important milestone through the successful implementation of integrated Maritime Resource Management (MRM) exercises that combine bridge and engine room operations within a shared simulation environment. These exercises have demonstrated the value of integrated training in enhancing communication, teamwork and decision making during realistic operational scenarios.
Trainee and instructor feedback has consistently highlighted the realism, immersion and operational relevance of the training. Participants have frequently referenced the ability to experience realistic stress levels, decision-making challenges and navigational scenarios.
"You look at yourself and see that actually you are stressing and sweating like you would be in real life."
Chief Officer, training participant
"It feels like you're on normal ship and actually at sea."
Captain, training participant
“The simulator was great – I was really impressed. I enjoyed it a lot and would like more opportunities to go in the simulator during the course.”
Deck Cadet, training participant
As maritime operations continue to evolve, training organisations need simulation platforms that can evolve with them. By focusing on the real-world needs of the industry, MOL Europe and Wärtsilä have collaborated to develop a simulation platform that uses realism and immersion to help prepare crews for situations they might face at sea.
Today, MOL Europe continues to expand its training capabilities with the help of Wärtsilä NTPRO 7. The flexible simulation platform supports the development of increasingly advanced training scenarios, helping to prepare the next generation of seafarers with immersive learning experiences that reflect the realities of modern ship operations.
Are you looking for more realistic maritime training that better supports real-world vessel operations? Discover Wärtsilä NTPRO 7’s immersive and future-ready simulation technology.