Panama's model for success as pilots use tiny ships to practise

There may be impressive computer simulations available to train pilots, but the Panama Canal authorities have come up with another method: model ships on a model canal.

The canal authority has created an $8m training centre with miniature battery-powered ships, built to scale. It’s an expensive training method, with the models costing some $500,000 each, and a week-long training session costs about $10,000. The authority plans to train about 250 pilots, according to the WSJ.