Director Captain Wichai Rammaroeng said the centre, run by Bang Na-based Chemstar Bangkok Nautical School, was the sixth in the world along with Britian, America, France, Poland, and Australia.

During the launch, a demonstration was held on how to navigate a manned model ship, a scaled-down replica of cargo ship to teach students how to navigate around deep sea trenches signified by buoyage in the lake.

Marine Department chief Sorasak Saensombat, who presided over the event, said the centre would provide ship navigation practice as well as theory learning and a simulator training program.

He said the centre would contribute to the country’s merchant marine development and the government agency, which aims to raise the standard and competitiveness of Thai seafarers, would provide support.

Wichai said there were several ways to practice navigation. The best way was to navigate a real cargo ship, followed by manned model ship handling and navigation practice via a simulator training program.

Out of the world’s 1.7 million seafarers, about 20,000 are Thais who work on Thai and foreign ships.