Scrubber manufacturer Yara Marine in early May said it has formally opened the Yara Marine Training Academy to provide training for engineers, deck officers and shore staff to achieve optimal scrubber performance

Training has traditionally been given by experts on site when a scrubber is installed. But the process has now been formalised in a modular package offered by newly created Yara Marine Training Academy, it explained.

Successive modules cover system design and function, governing documents, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting.

“Customers can operate and maintain the scrubber system in an optimised way when they have the right knowledge and skills,” said Ulf Johansson, Yara Marine technical trainer

Training can take place at customer sites, at Yara Marine’s offices in Gothenburg, or online in a virtual classroom. Modules can be tailored by the training team according to requirements. Flexibility is key. 

“Our focus is on developing and offering different learning methods for different target groups in different situations,” added Johansson.

While Covid-19 travel restrictions remain in place, some customers are using online training to ensure best practice. 

“Training should be seen as an investment that will pay off,” said Yara Marine research & development engineer Pekka Pohjanen.

“Well-trained crew who understand the system and regulatory issues will increase the lifetime of the machinery, reduce opex, and, crucially, lower the risk of non-compliance.”

“Sometimes the current crew can’t find the info they need in the manual. Basic training would solve that.,” 

Yara Marine notes its scrubbers are self-monitoring and self-recording, but as a large device it typically contains 40 sensors.

As the system is designed for continuous operation, it is essential sensors perform optimally. 

If non-critical alarms go unheeded, there will be a critical alarm and the scrubber will eventually shut itself down. Robust training can help to prevent that scenario.

Most unexpected problems training can mitigate are to do with compliance. “Crew often do not understand the regulatory background. It is not their job to know it in detail, but knowing the basics helps,” added Pohjanen.

Troubleshooting in the classroom will focus on critical problems based on past cases. 

“One of our customers has trained 600 crew members”, Pohjanen shared. 

“That kind of proactive approach means they get the best out of their system, the crew are confident in compliance, and the company will save money in the long run.”

Photo credit: Yara Marine
Published: 12 May, 2020