Sperry Marine, a unit of Northrop Grumman Corporation, today announced the Grand Opening of a new training center in New Malden.

The new training center is designed to provide realistic, practical training for ships’ navigation officers in safe and proper operation of modern navigation systems.

The newly constructed training facility features the latest electronic teaching aids and a complete functional virtual integrated bridge system (IBS) with visual simulator. There is also a separate classroom with six individual workstations for practical chart work and live electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) applications, and a “Smartboard” showing interactive simulated scenarios for comprehensive learning.

The initial course offering at the New Malden training center will be a 40-hour, five-day ECDIS class, taught by a master mariner with extensive training experience. The course syllabus closely follows the International Maritime Organization (IMO) model course 1.27 for the operational use of ECDIS. Students who demonstrate competence by successfully completing practice exercises and a written exam will receive a Certificate of Training.

Sperry Marine operates a similar training center at its international headquarters in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Charlottesville facility has been certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to satisfy the international requirements for ECDIS training under the 1995 amendments to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW-95) code. The New Malden facility meets the same exacting standards.

Sperry Marine, with worldwide headquarters in Charlottesville, Va., is part of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector. The business unit provides smart navigation and ship control solutions for the international marine industry under the Sperry Marine, Decca and C. Plath brand names, with customer service and support through offices in 16 countries, sales representatives in 47 countries, and authorized service depots in more than 250 locations worldwide.

Headquartered in Baltimore, Md., Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of defense electronics and systems including airborne radar systems, navigation systems, electronic warfare systems, precision weapons, air traffic control systems, air defense systems, communications systems, space systems, marine systems, oceanic and naval systems, logistics systems, and automation and information systems.