Looking at the practical training for operators of future ships we are confronted with a wide range of sub-systems which may at some future date be grouped in a central ‘operations control’ point. The array shown in Fig. I is by no means exhaustive. The selection, education and training of personnel for the conduct of international shipping is of world importance and the United Kingdom has a wealth of experience which is respected by other maritime and would-be maritime nations. In this paper it is only possible to take a narrow and rather short-term view of requirements within the present manning and training structure.