The Marine Survival Training Center increased its ability to provide state-of-the-art training for offshore and maritime workers.
The Center opened a new 12,000 sq. foot training facility today. The addition includes a second swimming pool and a second Modular Egress Training Simulator.
鈥 The addition of this facility will greatly enhance UL Lafayette鈥檚 ability to meet the training needs of petroleum, maritime and aviation industries,鈥 said MSTC Director Jim Gunter.
The Center showcased the new facility during an Open House today at its 60-acre lake site location near Lafayette Regional Airport.
Since June 1989, MSTC has brought more than 50,000 offshore workers up-to-date in water safety and survival techniques.
鈥 MSTC was the first facility in the country to provide this state-of-the-art Helicopter Underwater Egress Training utilizing our Modular Egress Training Simulator to U.S. industries,鈥 said Gunter. 鈥淧rior to this, only military personnel could obtain this level of training. With the addition of this second training tank and METS unit, MSTC is one of the best equipped training facilities of its type in the world.鈥
Of the helicopter "dunkers" currently used around the world, the METS is unique in that the seating configuration can easily be changed to simulate any type of craft. Also, changeable side panels can represent any type of emergency exit. Special panels can be fabricated to duplicate any type of exit.
The first permanent METS in the U.S. was installed in 1997 at MSTC.
MSTC has come a long way since 1989. Aside from survival craft training and underwater helicopter egress training, the facility has expanded to include marine fire safety and much more.
Its mission is to provide the best safety training in the world by using advanced training facilities and experienced motivated instructors while expanding global leadership in research and marine safety education.