Navigators and pilots can train on all three of the region's major rivers - without leaving dry land.

South Tyneside College, the UK's National Nautical Centre of Excellence, has completed geographical databases for navigating the Tyne, Wear and Tees.

The databases are designed by an in-house team of marine professionals and developers, and run on the college's Norcontrol Bridge Simulators.

The Marine Simulation Department provides training for marine professionals worldwide, using the college's specially designed courses with single or multi-bridge simulations.

Exercises also include real-time VTS, radar, cargo handling and diesel engine operations.

The first regional client was Tees and Hartlepool Port Authority, which commissioned training databases for its harbour facilities.

This became a long-term relationship, with pilots from Tees and Hartlepool regularly attending to assist with simulator training.

The Port of Tyne has also commissioned a database for its pilot training programme.

This has proved invaluable for the river's commercial rebirth, playing a role in navigating floating oil production storage and offload units, which provide much of the work for yards such as Amec and McNulty Offshore.

The college has now completed simulations for all three of the region's major ports, with the hand-over of a database for the River Wear. This represents a central plank in Sunderland's drive to maintain a competitive port facility.

Chris Thompson, head of the marine simulation department and a former ship's master, said: "The great strength of simulation is that it gives us an opportunity to explore 'what if?' scenarios, to experiment and evaluate risk in a safe environment.

"South Tyneside College is very proud of its roots in the North. It is good to think that a simulation facility such as this one, used around the world, can play a crucial role in the UK marine industry."