Computer simulation of a marine engine room using fully immersive and interactive virtual reality

The use of specialised simulators as a form of experiential learning is an integral part of the education of students at maritime universities and of seafarers in various types of maritime vocational training centers. Conventional marine engine room simulators (MERS) are an essential equipment for gaining experience and have been used in maritime education and training (MET) for more than thirty years. As MERS have a low level of immersion, a computer simulation of an innovative virtual reality marine engine room has been designed, developed and tested to improve the education, training and assessment of marine engineering students and seafarers. User trials were conducted to investigate the impact of a fully immersive and interactive virtual reality on user perception, sense of presence, psychological impact, performance and efficiency compared to conventional systems, as well as interest in using the new technology.