Like many ports around the world, the Port of Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada, saw a surge in demand for terminal equipment operators in recent years due to a retiring workforce and an increase in shipping traffic.
In 2022 alone, the port moved 601,700 TEUs through its two containerized cargo terminals, PSA Halifax Atlantic Hub and PSA Halifax Fairview Cove. Some ships had a carrying capacity of more than 10,000 TEUs, representing thousands of containers that needed to be loaded and unloaded.
To address the growing demand for terminal operators to manage those loads, the port’s training partner, the Halifax Employers Association (HEA) , began using simulation training to teach new hires how to operate cranes and other heavy machinery more efficiently and effectively. This was critical for increasing the safety of its operators, ensuring damage-free containers, and keeping the supply chain in motion.
This candid interview with HEA Training Advisor Robert Bonnar explains how the HEA prepares new operators for work in the field every year using simulation training. This includes how:
- New hires are fully vetted and have the required skills to operate cranes on the first day on the job safely;
- New operators complete their training program faster and with less stress; and,
- The number of accidents and damaged containers caused by operators has decreased.
Read on to learn more about the Port of Halifax and how simulation training has been making a difference.
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