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The paper focuses on the maritime project entitled “VTS-Bot” which aims to exploit the innovative use of computer dialogue systems (aka ChatBots) to assist future Officers of the Watch (OOW) in acquiring maritime communication skills based on the IMO (International Maritime Organization) SMCP (Standard Marine Communication Phrases). As part of their training, deck and engineering cadets in the Merchant Marine are required to obtain a mandatory range of communication competencies in line with the IMO STCW code (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping, chapter II, table A-II/1). The VTS-Bot developed within the project is freely available online and allows students to practise the relevant maritime communication at their own individual learning pace, thus establishing a student-centred educative approach. The exercises contained in the ChatBot target the compulsory Part A of the IMO SMCP used in VHF communication, and provide authentic maritime scenarios wherein the cadet conducts in real time a simulated maritime conversation with the ChatBot.

The workshop focuses on training SMCP-based maritime communication with the help of computer dialogue systems (aka ChatBots). The communication competencies put forth in the STCW code (chapter II, table A-II/1) are acquired by practising relevant maritime communication at the student's own individual learning pace thus catering for a student-centred education approach. On the one hand, the exercises presented in the workshop will target the compulsory part A of the SMCP in their use in communication on VHF. On the other hand, a simulated phone call challenges participants to develop an efficient communication strategy in order to obtain relevant details on a navigational accident. Response from conference participants will be used to further improve the developed exercises. In addition participants will be trained to use the ChatBot technology and exercises as teaching material in the classroom once the computer dialogues are freely available on the Internet.