Training Facilities & EquipmentTraditional training methods relied on ships arriving in port and our ability to access to their equipment for training purposes. That has obvious drawbacks – for example there is one rating that involves a 17 day training program, but access to equipment to complete the program might take 3 months. Alleviating these inefficiencies led BCMEA to buy equipment like cranes, simulators, lift-trucks, bulldozers and other waterfront specific equipment to try to get away from the reliance on cargo related equipment. This means BCMEA is able to train people in a controlled environment that is more efficient, and more importantly, safer. Training CentresThe BCMEA has four training centres (click on links for location maps):
The Head Office training facility offers two fully equipped classrooms that can accommodate up to 40 people. We also have a networked computer lab for computer-based training, and a simulator for crane training. Our Waterfront Training Centre, based on Port Metro Vancouver land in North Vancouver, offers street-access to dry storage, two fully equipped classrooms and ample paved space for equipment operation. The Deltaport Training Centre includes a classroom facility and another crane training simulator. In addition, a field training supervisor is assigned to this location on a full-time basis. The Fraser Surrey Docks location is a trailer-based facillity with two fully equipped classrooms. 
EquipmentWe have a full range of equipment for training purposes located at our Waterfront Training Centre, including:
Plans are currently under way to add a front end loader, with a matching front end loader simulator, and an actual ship’s pedestal crane adapted to a dry land setup. We also have facilities to train in container lashing, log, steel and other break-bulk training. Simulators
We can simulate operation of dock, rubber tired and rail mounted-gantries, ship’s pedestal and gantry cranes, loading containers, logs, lumber, steel, pulp, etc. In addition to simulating cranes, ships, locations and cargo types, the system allows operators to experience a full range of weather and day time/night time situations. |
All crane-related training has a simulator component to provide trainees with ‘seat time’ before they handle expensive and delicate cargo in an actual production environment. The BCMEA’s two state-of-the-art crane simulators, located at our Head Office and Deltaport training facilities, realistically recreate, with vision, sound and motion, all conceivable conditions that might be encountered in a crane production environment.  |
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