Maine Maritime Academy takes VR bridge training to sea with VIAB deployment aboard State of Maine
- Andy Parkin
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) has selected VASCO in a Box (VIAB) to bring Virtual Reality (VR) bridge training aboard its new training vessel, State of Maine, extending simulator-based learning into an operational sea environment.
The selection follows MMA’s requirement for a flexible, VR-based bridge simulator capable of supporting multi-user training, operating without reliance on fixed infrastructure, and enabling instructors to create and assess realistic navigation scenarios.
Extending Bridge Training Beyond the Simulator
While traditional simulators remain essential, access is often limited by scheduling and location.
By deploying VIAB directly onboard, MMA extends training beyond the simulator room. Students have more frequent opportunities to put their knowledge into practice, make decisions, and operate as a bridge team within structured scenarios.
This gives instructors a clearer view of how students communicate, coordinate, and work together as a team.
Supporting Practical Skill Development
VIAB is being considered for integration into career programmes, supporting the development of core bridge skills including situational awareness, communication, and decision-making.
It also allows instructors to observe performance in real time, giving a more practical view of their capability.
Early Feedback from MMA
Maine Maritime Academy Marine Transportation Department Chair Ender Asyali commented:
“Although the system has not yet been fully introduced to students, my experience using it to date has been positive. The technology is being incorporated to enhance student learning and support the development of professional competencies alongside our conventional training tools.
VIAB is portable, untethered, and easy to use for both students and instructors, which makes it well suited for use during our summer sea term training cruise. The VR simulator provides an immersive learning environment that effectively supports instruction in BRM, watchkeeping, and the application of COLREGs.”
Kilo Comment
Andy Parkin, Managing Director of Kilo Solutions, commented:
“We are delighted to be supporting Maine Maritime Academy with the integration of VIAB into their training curriculum.
Extending bridge training onboard a working training vessel gives students more opportunities to build experience and be evaluated in contexts that reflect real-world operations.
This aligns with the industry’s increasing focus on continuous skill development and understanding how it relates to real operational environments.”
About MMA
Maine Maritime Academy is one of six state maritime academies in the United States offering programs in marine transportation and engineering, ocean studies, and international business and logistics. The college is consistently recognized for providing a high value education by organizations including U.S. News and World Report, the Brookings Institution, Niche, and Money Magazine, which named the school one of America’s Best Colleges in 2025.
About Kilo Solutions
Kilo Solutions Ltd is a UK-based provider of maritime training technologies, specialising in untethered virtual reality environments that support the development, maintenance, and evaluation of bridge team competence.
