By
Rebecca Gibson |
Carnival Corporation & plc is to begin developing a new training facility for 6,500 deck and technical training officers after purchasing land in Almere, Netherlands.
Expected to open in 2016, the new purpose-built facility will be three times larger than the company’s current Center for Simulator Maritime Training (CSMART), which opened in Almere in 2009. The centre will feature four full mission bridge simulators including bridge wings, four engine room simulators and nine smaller part task simulators, as well as advanced equipment and instructional tools. This will enable Carnival to enhance, expand and streamline its global training efforts across all nine of its cruise brands.
“Carnival has established a world-class centre for maritime training and research featuring the latest innovations in technology, and expanding our facility and capabilities underscores the company’s top priority, which is to consistently exceed our guests’ expectations by providing great vacations and memories,” said David Christie, senior vice president of maritime quality assurance for Carnival Corporation. “We are eager to begin building our new centre in a city that has been a wonderful home for CSMART and in a development that provides a great setting for our deck and technical officers.”
Working in collaboration with Dutch property group AMVEST Vastgoed, Carnival purchased the seven-acre property on the coast in Duin, a planned business and residential community in Almere.
Built in Duin, the new and original centres are the product of Carnival Corporation’s US$50 million investment in maritime safety training. It will provide employment for up to 52 individuals and generate significant revenue and commerce for businesses in Almere, including Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, transportation services, food suppliers and others.
“Carnival’s training centre will seamlessly fit into AMVEST’s development plans for our 250-acre DUIN project on Almere's lake shore,” said Wienke Bodewes, CEO of AMVEST Vastgoed. “The centre will be the first anchor in our development, which will feature dunes and beaches, a marina and a boulevard, homes, apartments, shops and offices – all of which complement a maritime enterprise like Carnival and will serve as great resources for visitors to the CSMART training campus.”
Construction on the facility is expected to begin in 2015.