Novikontas

The first day of Seawork 2026 was productive for the Novikontas team.

Our representatives, Jānis Sticenko and Mārcis Žabovs, met with a number of highly specialized maritime companies and service providers, uncovering unique niches within the industry and identifying exciting opportunities for future cooperation.

As one of the world's leading commercial marine exhibitions, Seawork brings together professionals from more than 60 countries. Throughout the day, our team explored new business avenues, connected with key decision-makers, and strengthened international ties across the maritime sector.

We look forward to turning these insights into lasting partnerships and projects.

[email protected] | www.novikontas.org

Reflecting on a successful DPTEG Session 42! 🚢⚓

Great to see the industry come together for the biannual Dynamic Positioning Training Executive Group (DPTEG) Committee meeting (Session 42), held in a hybrid format at The Nautical Institute Headquarters in London.

The session featured critical updates, with the most pivotal discussion centring on STCW and the potential shift of the DP training scheme to Part A of the STCW Convention. This move represents a significant talking point for the future of DPO training standards and global alignment.

A huge thank you to the working group and all stakeholders for their hard work, dedication, and continued contributions to advancing safety and training standards across our industry. 👏

[email protected] | www.novikontas.org

Learn more about the Dynamic Positioning Operator: https://tinyurl.com/y6cpfx35

🌱 As the maritime industry shifts toward greener energy, low-flashpoint fuels are becoming the new standard. But handling these alternatives comes with new operational and safety challenges that require specialised knowledge and practical experience.

⚠️ The use of methanol as a marine fuel introduces new operational and safety considerations that require specialised training.

🚀 That is why Novikontas Training Center is excited to announce an upgrade to our training capabilities in this regard.

🖥️ We have officially launched a Methanol simulator model, now fully integrated into our Wärtsilä TechSim system. This simulator allows seafarers to practise methanol operations, identify potential hazards, and develop decision-making skills in realistic scenarios within a safe training environment.

🎯 Ready to upgrade your crew's IGF Code training? Click the link below to explore the new simulator module and register today!
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/4pf5d97x

[email protected] | www.novikontas.org

RT-FLEX: From Theory to Operational Confidence 🚢

A modern engine is a complex system where powerful mechanics meet sophisticated electronic control.

Our WARTSILA RT-FLEX Basic Training bridges that gap, helping marine engineers understand the system from the inside out — from hardware connections to digital control and simulator-based troubleshooting.

Hands-on training on the Mobile Flex Simulator includes:

🔹Hardware & Connectivity
Working directly with FCM-20 modules, verifying connections, and understanding how the physical condition of cables and units affects overall system performance.

🔹Digital Control
Using WECS9520 and FlexView interfaces to monitor key engine parameters in real time and understand how the system responds.

🔹Troubleshooting Scenarios
Working through simulated system failures, tracing alarms from the monitor to the root cause, and restoring normal system operation.

The training builds a deeper understanding of RT-flex logic and gives marine engineers the confidence to make fast, accurate decisions in the engine room. ⚙️

Learn more and book your WARTSILA RT-FLEX Basic Training at Novikontas: https://tinyurl.com/54rcwxcx

[email protected] | www.novikontas.org

SIRE 2.0. 📋 Inspectors look for clear safety logic — not just tidy paperwork.
Our Advanced Tanker courses prepare crews to answer confidently during deck inspections and interviews.

Get vetting-ready with Novikontas.

Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/4esbcbs3
[email protected] | www.novikontas.org

What makes people stay and grow in maritime? ⚓

This question was at the heart of the Maritime People & Culture Conference, organised by Spinnaker, where our COO Aleksejs Bogdanecs represented Novikontas Academy.

The conference brought together maritime leaders, HR and crewing professionals, educators, and seafarers to discuss the people side of shipping — from AI in maritime HR and mental health at sea to leadership, talent development, and retention. 🌍

“The message that resonated most was simple but fundamental: attracting talent is no longer the industry’s greatest challenge — retaining it is. That requires trust, psychological safety, and genuine investment in people’s growth. This is the key takeaway we are bringing back — and one we intend to carry forward in everything we do.”

— Aleksejs Bogdanecs, COO, Novikontas Academy.

[email protected] | www.novikontas.org

A ship’s natural motion can make solid cargo behave like a dangerous liquid.

As a vessel navigates, continuous wave impacts and engine vibrations physically compact the solid bulk cargo. This compaction shrinks the space between solid particles, causing the pressure of trapped water to increase rapidly.

Once the water pressure becomes too high, it reduces friction between the particles, causing the cargo to lose its structural strength and liquefy.

Understanding and preventing these chain reactions saves lives.

That is why Novikontas is introducing its newest available course: Safe Handling and Transport of Solid Bulk Cargoes.

Reflecting the latest RISQ revisions, this training helps seafarers and shore-based personnel safely assess consignments, navigate the IMSBC Code, follow safe loading and carriage practices, and prevent catastrophic incidents involving liquefaction of solid bulk cargo.

The course also includes practical exercises, case study tasks, and LoadPlus simulator exercises to support real operational decision-making.

Click the link below to explore more and register your crew today! 🔗 https://novikontas.org/training/digital_delivery/bulk_cargoes

Blackouts don’t wait. 🚨
Engine room casualties can escalate fast when communication breaks down.
Beat the alarm and take control in our Full Mission Engine Room Simulator.

Book your spot now!

Explore our Engineer Department Courses here: https://bit.ly/3T85o6m
[email protected] | www.novikontas.org

Rebranding the Latvian maritime sector is not about changing its essence. It is about showing its value in a language today’s generation understands. ⚓

That was one of the key ideas behind the panel discussion “𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮̄𝗿𝘀 𝟮.𝟬: 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿”, where Māris Cīrulis represented Novikontas and joined a discussion on how Latvia’s maritime sector and maritime education can become more visible, relevant, and attractive to the next generation. 🗣️

Latvia still has what many countries are looking for — highly qualified seafarers, strong maritime education, experienced instructors, and solid technical and training infrastructure.
But the question is: are we showing this clearly enough to young people, parents, schools, and society? 👥

The maritime sector is not only about history, ships, and tradition.
It is also about technology, global careers, safety, logistics, innovation, international mobility, and real professional opportunities. 🚢

To make that visible, the sector needs more than occasional communication. It needs active engagement - through schools, public initiatives, competitions, campaigns, and stronger cooperation with state institutions in maritime transport and education, so that maritime studies and career opportunities remain accessible, relevant, and competitive compared to other fields. 🧭

The challenge of attracting students is real, especially amid demographic change. But Latvia’s maritime education has strong cards to play: professional instructors, modern facilities, and practical learning environments that support high-quality education, attract international students, and continue to prepare highly qualified specialists for shipping companies.

Recognisable and future-oriented projects - from the transformation of Riga Passenger Port to LVR Fleet initiatives, LMT 5G technologies, and other innovation-driven developments - can help show that maritime is not a sector of the past. It is part of Latvia’s future infrastructure, economy, and international presence. ⚙️

We do not need to abandon maritime history, but we cannot keep presenting the sector as if time has stopped. 🔄

The image of Latvian maritime must evolve.
More modern. More visible. More understandable to young people. More connected to real career opportunities. 🌊

Novikontas was glad to contribute to this discussion through Māris Cīrulis and to be part of a wider conversation on how Latvian maritime education and careers should be presented today. 🤝

Thank you to all participants — Ilze Stangaine from LSC, Edijs Štāls from RTU Latvian Maritime Academy, and Elīna Dimza from RTU Liepāja Maritime College — for such an engaging and valuable discussion.