VSTEP

14/10/2026

Future maritime officers need opportunities to apply their knowledge in realistic environments and prepare for increasingly demanding responsibilities at sea.

Through a recent grant by the Athina I. Martinou Foundation, approximately 400 future naval officers gained access to a suite of NAUTIS simulators, where they can train in navigation and ship handling under realistic conditions as part of their education.

The project shows how the influence of such investments can make advanced and innovative training part of long-term naval education.

Explore the project here: https://www.foundationaim.org/en/mi-katigoriopoiimeno/grant-by-the-athina-i-martinou-foundation-to-the-hellenic-naval-academy/

On December 16th, the inauguration of the Hellenic Naval Academy’s Navigation Simulator took place, following a grant by the Athina I. Martinou Foundation, along with the complete renovation of the hosting facilities. It is an integrated, state-of-the-art full mission bridge simulation system, wit...

12/10/2026

✈️ VSTEP is heading to Le Havre for IMLA31

The conference brings maritime educators from around the world together at ENSM, to present and discuss the most current topics influencing maritime as a whole.

Research shapes the way people are trained, just as training shapes the questions researchers ask, which is why we are looking forward to being in the place where both sides come together.

We will be listening out for:
✔️ Research on 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
✔️ How 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 is evolving
✔️ 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, from communication to inclusivity

📍 Le Havre, France

09/10/2026

The latest NAUTIS Home update is ready! 🚢

This release adds a new vessel to handle, environment to explore, and an improvement to the charts that allows navigate in a more precise way.

🌊 𝗥𝗶́𝗮 𝗱𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗴𝗼
Head to Spain’s northwest coast and navigate the newest environment. Not sure where to begin? Start with the exploration scenario which will take you from the harbour further along the ria, for a chance to learn the surroundings.

🚤 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝘂
Try out Cousteau, a 25-metre survey vessel built for precise work on the water. Survey work calls for a different kind of control, and Cousteau gives you the chance to practise it. Train with the azimuth propulsion to manoeuvre accurately, work your way into shallower areas and practise holding the vessel over a precise location.

🗺️ 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀
Improved quay detail now helps you position bollards more accurately. The improved chart gives you a clearer view while mooring and manoeuvring.

Together, these additions continue to make NAUTIS Home more realistic to train with and more intuitive to use.

Release notes: https://f.mtr.cool/fh2op0glbm
Updated development roadmap: https://f.mtr.cool/9519k6h67e

08/10/2026

We are looking forward to being back in Manila for Crew Connect!🛟

From 20 to 22 October, VSTEP will be attending Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global at Shangri-La The Fort.

Understanding what crews deal with on board is essential for us. Its important to hear about the pressures they face, the routines they follow and the gaps they encounter. Real feedback helps shape training which reflects the real conditions seafarers work in.

If you are wondering how simulation training can give crews a safe environment to prepare for the difficulties they may face on board, or want to exchange experiences around the challenges, come and find us at:
📍 Booth 13
🗓️ 20-22 October

30/09/2026

The maritime officer shortage keeps widening even as more people enter the profession. What is happening between the moment someone joins the pipeline and the moment they qualify that keeps many from completing that journey?

Read the article below to find out where that pathway, from entry into the profession through to long-term retention, tends to lose people, and where training and simulation can help close those points.

If you are working in maritime training, or watching how technology is reshaping the industry dive in here:
👉 https://f.mtr.cool/hs8q67eons

24/09/2026

Today, we honor the seafarers worldwide who face challenges every day to keep international shipping moving safely ⚓

The theme of this year's World Maritime Day is "From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence." While international policies set the framework for safer waters, it is the dedicated crews at sea who put those standards into practice.

As a company that enables learning by simulation, it is an important part of our mission to turn policy into practice by creating safe, accessible ways to prepare crews for their challenges.

Safety begins long before stepping on board, and today is a reminder of the shared responsibility across the maritime community to support seafarers on every voyage.

23/09/2026

The VSTEP office was transformed to answer the question: what brings you joy? ☀️

To celebrate our yearly summer event we split into groups to repaint our logo by surrounding it with everything that brings our team joy. Everyone added their own little touch, so that by the end, VSTEP had a small piece of everyone painted right around it. 🎨

Once the paint had dried, the day moved into games, a relaxed way to get to know colleagues from other departments a little better. That matters to us at VSTEP, that no matter which team you belong to we are all happy to collaborate with each other.

A Tuesday would not be complete without tacos, which turned out to be the highlight everyone was talking about. Judging by the number of people going back for seconds, they were a hit.

A big thank you to the team who made sure this could all happen, and to everyone who was able to participate. We can't wait for the next one!

22/09/2026

Meet the tool behind scenario design in NAUTIS Instructor: the Logic Editor 🧩
Save it and it's there whenever you need it again.

This tutorial gives a hands-on walkthrough showing how you as an instructor go from opening the logic editor for the first time to using it to intuitively automate your own scenarios.

Discover our tutorial series: Fewer clicks. Better teaching.
Watch the video here 👇

17/09/2026

The Djibouti Coast Guard is bringing its home waters into NAUTIS 🌊

Following the delivery of its first NAUTIS Class A simulator, the Coast Guard is already taking the next step. As its training needs evolve, the simulation environment is evolving with them.

The Gulf of Aden environment will be expanded around the Port of Djibouti, including selected surrounding areas and approaches. One of the Coast Guard’s own vessels will also be modelled in NAUTIS.

Bringing local waters and a familiar vessel into simulation gives officers a training environment that reflects the realities of their own operations. They can practise different situations, revisit demanding scenarios, and build experience in a setting that reflects where they actually operate.

It is a good example of how the NAUTIS ecosystem evolves with changing training needs, adding new content and capability along the way.

We’re glad to keep building on this partnership with the Djibouti Coast Guard.

09/09/2026

MARSIM is in full swing in Warnemünde 🚢

It has been a busy couple of days, with specialists from across maritime simulation coming together to share research and perspectives on where the fast paced industry is heading.

Mutgeert, Vos and are there on site for VSTEP, joining the discussions and sharing how we see simulation supporting crew training and operational readiness.

A big part of that is making sure the technology works for the people using it. For us, that means giving instructors effective tools for teaching and giving maritime professionals more opportunities to build competence through safe, realistic practice.

If you are at MARSIM, find the team and say hello. There is always room for another conversation.