VICTORIA – A new standard in virtual training for the Royal Canadian Navy was used to train the crew for the first Resolve Class Naval Support Ship

The inaugural naval crew of MV Asterix is assigned to Canada’s first Resolve Class Naval Support Ship, and the largest ship built in Canada for the Royal Canadian Navy. The crew completed their initial qualifications on a state of the art future naval training system designed by Victoria BC based technology company, RaceRocks3D. Training was completed over the summer of 2017, before the ship was actually built.

Federal Fleet Services (FFS) reported that 75 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel began training virtually for the task on June 22nd, 2017. To date the ship’s Officer in Charge (OIC) and mission specialists have received qualifications through the Defence Learning Network (DLN).

Naval leaders are calling the project the first deployed example of future naval training and education under the fleet renewal.

The Technology Enabled Learning (TEL) delivered as part of Project Resolve is the first system that aligns with the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Future Naval Training System (FNTS), and the first system fielded on a clean slate Canadian naval platform in the digital learning age.

“Federal Fleet Services prides itself in engaging small industry while getting our Navy the tools it needs. This approach was highlighted in the training development, where small businesses from Victoria and Halifax worked directly with CAF personnel from the Naval Personnel and Training Group (NPTG) to develop, vet and make the training modern, effective and relevant,” explained Scott Dewis, CEO of RaceRocks3D.

“This achievement is the result of a cooperative effort between navy experts, industry experts, and the government of Canada”.

RaceRocks led development of the system, which was built by a bicoastal team of RaceRocks3D, Modest Tree and CAF personnel located in Victoria, Quebec, and Halifax. The team also worked closely with FFS and Davie Shipyard teams in Quebec and Ottawa.

The Resolve Class training system included documentary case studies, rich media learning, interactive simulations, and an entire virtual ship built with Modest Tree’s award winning software.

“We set out with direction from FFS to use tools to ensure this ship is one of the safest afloat,” said RaceRocks3D President, Anita Pawluk.

“Video interviews with sailors involved in HMCS Kootenay, Protecteur and Regina incidents set the stage for training that uses rich media and interactive activities. This is immersive first person simulation to engage learners, and make them part of the learning experience”.