ENGINEERING company Global Marine Systems Ltd has opened a new training school at its Portland base.

The firm has launched the facility to instruct operators in the use of remotely operated vehicles (ROV) to meet increasing demand for skilled staff in the industry worldwide.

It will run the International Maritime Contractors' Association (ICMA) courses and certificate of competency scheme from Global Marine's depot at Portland Port.

Instructors will use the waters off Portland, combining theoretical work with practical experience - learning how to operate the machines as they work on the seabed to lay, repair and maintain cables.

The courses are open to Global Marine employees as well as individuals and companies in the industry. Instructors say the sessions can be tailored to meet an organisation's exact needs.

Global Marine training programme manager John Davies said: "This real world ROV training facility will help to fill the gap that exists in the market for trained ROV personnel and act as a training porthole for those small operators who do not have the means to have their own in-house scheme.

"By offering training which is flexible, informative, and run to industry-recognised standards and best practice, we can ensure that trainees have the right skill sets to contribute to advances in the subsea industry."

The three-week course teaches terminology crucial to related roles and covers a range of topics, including permit to work systems and types of offshore structure together with new skills a pilot technician will require.

Instructors said that those who apply should have relevant technical experience and skills but do not need to have worked offshore or with ROVs previously.

They said that the course is an excellent starting point for those interested in such a career.

Global Marine has had a presence on Portland for about eight years. Two of its ships are based at the port for operations around the UK and Europe.

The growth in the oil and gas industry and the return of the submarine telecoms industry has resulted in a world shortage of ROV pilot technicians.

Three new staff have been taken on at Portland to operate the new arm of Global Marine's business - sales administrator, trainer and training manager.

Trainees are evaluated through exams, assignments and practical assessments and upon completion they are also then entered into the Global Marine Certificate of Competence Scheme, which continues after the course ends and ensures that there is consistent training throughout the trainee's career.

Global Marine has equipment to give trainees hands-on experience with equipment they would be using in their future role.

There are also a number of workshop activities that take a trainee through practical experience of electrical, electronic and hydraulic systems to include an operational sonar and cameras to a full reterm of an armoured umbilical.

In addition, theoretical coursework is complemented with a simulator used for computer-based training and scenario modelling.

These methods develop trainees before going offshore as part of a team on an ROV or Plough System.