By:Ralf Johanning

Just a glance at the huge wall of screens cannot fail to leave you impressed. It extends across almost the entire side wall of the room. Two control centre workstations are located just below. Gamers dream of this kind of setup. But the purpose here is to provide basic and advanced training to port employees. “We have created a futuristic workplace in a digital format. Admittedly it is not an operational container terminal. But everything here is highly realistic”, says Thomas Lührs, project manager for PortSkill 4.0 at ma-co maritimes competenzcentrum, the training provider within the German seaport industry. For example, control centres or remote control stations for container gantry cranes and other lifting equipment can be simulated to train staff at the virtual workplace. The simulation capabilities also extend to complex workflows from the delivery of a container to the vessel’s departure with the shipment on board.

Three rooms at the HHLA Container Terminal in Altenwerder are currently set aside for this purpose. They are the nerve centre within ma-co’s new digital training centre. Other facilities have also been established at the ma-co sites in Hamburg and Bremen. “We will be able to practise the same scenario with the different professional groups on one terminal. Although learners will work from different locations, they can still collaborate on a single issue in a virtual space”, says Lührs to describe the curriculum.

The digital training centre is part of the PortSkill 4.0 project within the Innovative Port Technologies funding initiative (IHATEC II). Its aim is to develop tailored and modern qualification concepts by the end of next year as a means of providing long-term security for ports jobs. Aside from ma-co, HHLA, BLG Logistics and PatientZero Games are also involved as consortium partners. Ver.di and the Central Association of German Seaport Operators (ZDS) are among the associated partners as well. They all share a vested interest in adapting the working world at ports to accommodate the demands of the digital age.

The first step was to define fresh skills and competencies that a port worker would need to possess in an automated work environment. In addition to profound digital skills, these include a certain understanding of graphic presentation and environments. Not to forget the ability to operate special IT systems and applications. And there are other, far broader competencies that range from good concentration and self-management to a holistic mindset and strong teamworking skills. “We have defined 20 future skills in total, which we wish to convey in the digital training centre. To do so, we have already prepared – and in some cases tested – the first course modules. Now we are focused on training the trainers so that we can run more thorough tests”, says project manager Lührs. So things are already in motion.

„We have defined
20 future skills
in total, which we
wish to convey
in the digital
training centre.“"

Thomas Lührs.
Project manager for PortSkill 4.0 at
ma-co maritimes competenzcentrum