alt.hn

3/20/2026 at 12:04:49 PM

Training Center for Maneuvering on Manned Model Ships

 https://www.portrevel.com/

by mhb

3/22/2026 at 7:14:58 AM

Tom Scott visited a similar facility in Poland, Port Iława, where he got to pilot one of the scale models there under the guidance of the instructor. https://youtu.be/jplrbxI5GN8

by grumblepeet

3/22/2026 at 10:05:11 AM

The Navy requisitioned excursion boats to train pilots in WW2 and somehow this is not a more well known story.

by ashwinnair99

3/22/2026 at 7:01:22 AM

Did not know this existed. Makes sense though, port accidents are expensive enough that even a niche training facility pays for itself fast.

by ashwinnair99

3/22/2026 at 7:00:43 AM

> Training on models provides experience that could never be gained on real ships for the simple reason that neither shipowners nor local authorities would allow such risks to be taken.

I was trained onboard a real ship. It took about a year to become qualified as officer of the deck. There are also sims now which are probably better.

by ok_dad

3/22/2026 at 7:45:05 AM

I don't understand your point. Are you saying that it's possible to get adequate training on a real ship, and using the fact that you managed to do it as an example?

Of course it's possible to train on a real ship. But the sailors who trained on models have certain specific experience that you will hope never to get. As for the things you experienced and they didn't, they can catch up with those during their first year on a real ship.

by dmurray

3/22/2026 at 7:06:47 PM

These small models won’t train you in maneuvering skills directly, but rather in how to think about maneuvering and the mindset you need in traffic. A sim or a real ship gives you actual maneuvering skills in addition to that experience. You could sit in a classroom with models of ships of a desk and get the same experience as this place, in my opinion as someone who did this work. Obviously you don’t want to crash a real ship, but you don’t want to be crashing sims either.

by ok_dad