The article addresses the problem of modern maritime education and training in the perspective of computer technologies development, especially the internet. Computer-based training is being a standard for the maritime industry for almost 25 years, but there is still no unified approach on the use of this teaching method in MET. Authors suggest to open a conversation on harmonization of standards regarding CBT in the industry and wider implementation of this teaching method into STCW training process via a blended learning approach, where theoretical part of the course may be taken online, while the practical part is taken in the training facility.

As for today, modern container fleet keeps growing in size and capacity. For example, the container ship MSC Oscar with a length of 395 meters, a width of 59 meters and a draft of 16 meters, with a capacity of 19,224 TEU was launched in 2015. Despite the fact that the total number of navigational accidents (collisions, piles, groundings) has decreased in the last decade, emergency cases involving largetonnage vessels are quite frequent. At the same time, according to the results of AGCS (Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty), the loss of a container ship with a cargo capacity of 19,000 TEU could cost as much as 1 billion US dollars. Obviously, with the increase in the size of ships, the problem of ensuring their navigation safety in narrow waters becomes even more critical. Mathematical modelling and simulation is a necessary process involved into design and operation of ships and port facilities. At the same time, physical modelling using scaled models is time consuming and expensive, which, if necessary, is performed at the final design stage. Proper mathematical modelling helps to find out limitations and possible problems or look for optimal solutions at early design stage as well as in the subsequent design process.A manoeuvring model of an ultra large container vessel equipped with single screw fixed pitch propeller and semi-balanced spade rudder is represented in the paper. In order to check model's validity simulated data had to be compared with trial report data, which was obtained in ballast condition with significant trim. In such circumstances model coefficients cannot be calculated by known methods and have to be corrected as per trial data. The correction algorithm with a specifically developed objective function obtained as a result of this study are given in the paper.

According to the international maritime accident statistics data, about half of the total number of accidents occurred are collisions, standings, or groundings. At the same time, the main causes of accidents in more than 65 percent of cases are bridge team or sole deck officer's mistakes. Statistics, based on incident investigations, is not always sufficient for retrieving objective information and designing comprehensive solutions with regard to deck officers training system adaptation and development of technical means aimed at reducing the incident rate and improving the efficiency of navigation. Classification of the most common errors made by navigators was suggested in this work among with results of navigational incidents analysis, which have occurred during carrying out of simulator training. That allows, on the one hand, to identify factors that may affect similar errors in the real situation and place appropriate emphasis on training. Two situations were identified as an incident: close quarters and collision. Close quarters was defined as a situation in which the distance between ships was less than the distance of the last moment maneuver, which was obtained based on mathematical modeling of the ship's movement, with the closest point of approach less than specified. An adaptive criterion for assessing the close quarters depending on the area of navigation, the size of the vessel, and the angle of course intersection between the own vessel and the target are proposed. The choice of the adaptive criterion is caused by the fact that when approaching in narrow waters on reciprocal or coinciding courses it may be difficult and due to the limitations of the available navigational space is not always possible to maintain a large distance between vessels. On the other hand, if the water area allows vessels to approach at angles close to perpendicular, the navigators must maintain a certain margin at a distance to leave room for maneuver. The results of the data analysis obtained during the training showed that the most common errors were related to the maneuvering of the vessel, which is somewhat different from statistics of real collisions, where the main reasons are insufficient or no observation and incorrect assessment of the situation. The latter is caused by the fact that the driver focuses on the task and apriori monitors the targets.

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