A participant from Australia said: ‘There are other centres much nearer Australia but the fine reputation of Lowestoft College is known throughout the world.’

The course is aimed at captains and mates and all four students work with support vessels of one kind or another. The DP unit manager, Captain David Bray, who ran the course, said: ‘DP is vital as it controls all the vessel’s movements and is particularly important in areas where ships are working in close contact with other structures.’

He has been running the unit for over 20 years and estimates he has helped train more than 3,800 students from all over the world.