The O&O Fund Hydraulic Engineering invests in five new dredging simulators for secondary vocational education. STC, a leader in hydraulic engineering education in Rotterdam, will receive four simulators, the fifth is for Nova College in the Dutch IJmond region.
STC will receive one mobile and three fixed simulators. The fifth simulator for Nova College will also be a fixed one and will be used for shipping and technical education in IJmuiden and Beverwijk. This will give students the opportunity to gain practical experience in a safe, realistic learning environment.
STC’s mobile simulator is deployed nationwide. Other maritime schools in the Netherlands can also use it. This will make hands-on marine engineering education more accessible to students across the country.
‘This investment takes our education to the next level,’ says Hans Boele, director STC mbo (secondary vocational education). ‘Our students not only develop technical skills, but also the insight and decision-making skills needed in the modern dredging industry. Innovation and practical experience come together here.’
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Dutch Dredging Simulators
The simulators are being developed by Dutch Dredging Simulators (DDS), a consortium of Controllab Projects, De Klop BV and MSA-Services. The technology allows students to practise dredging operations under realistic conditions, making them better prepared for the real world.
On 10 March 2025, the cooperation was officially ratified by Petra van Lange and Sven Tump, Executive Board STC. Together with the O&O Fund for Hydraulic Engineering (Stichting Opleidings- en Ontwikkelingsfonds Waterbouw), they signed the contract enabling the realisation of the simulators.
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First results in sight
On 27 March 2025, the project team met for an initial review. The first simulator will be delivered before the summer holidays. From school year 2025/2026, all simulators will go into operation.
Gijs Lankhorst, Chairman of O&O Fund : ‘With this investment, we are making maritime education future-proof. Students learn to work with the latest technologies in an environment that approximates real-life practice. In doing so, together we are strengthening tomorrow’s hydraulic engineering sector.’
Picture: On 10 March 2025, the cooperation was officially ratified by Petra van Lange and Sven Tump, Executive Board STC (photo by STC).
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