Maritime Simulation News

(bymnews.com)

Kongsberg Maritime will use the forthcoming ONS 2008 exhibition as a launch platform for expanding its activities in the world of offshore simulation. The company will unveil a focused strategy towards Maritime Offshore Simulation, which is dedicated to exploring, developing and fulfilling the simulation needs of the offshore industry.

As an innovator in the world of maritime simulation, Kongsberg Maritime is a major player in offshore simulation, delivering sophisticated training solutions for Dynamic Positioning, Anchor Handling, Liquid Cargo Handling, Tugging, Crisis Management and more recently Cranes, through the acquisition of world leading crane simulator developer GlobalSim.

The Maritime Offshore Simulation portfolio will offer a coherent simulation package to the company’s existing and potential offshore simulation customers. It will also further improve collaboration with Kongsberg Maritime customers, ensuring that simulator development moves in the direction required by the offshore industry, whilst providing further value by utilising core technology and knowledge across different simulator applications.

“We place real value on collaborating with our customers. The implementation of our Maritime Offshore Simulation strategy will enable us to concentrate solely on the often specialised training requirements of the offshore industry,” said Soren Einar Veierland, Business Manager, Maritime Offshore, Simulation, Kongsberg Maritime. “Feedback so far has been very positive and we’re looking forward to launching the new focused strategy at ONS 2008, the major global offshore exhibition.”

(bymnews.com)

Transas simulators have been installed in two Indonesian maritime education institutes; Merchant Marine School BP2IP Surabaya, and Rating School, Sorong, Papua. Both institutions are part of the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation’s Education Training Agency.

The configuration of the simulator in BP2IP Surabaya is a Full Mission Ship Handling Simulator with visualisation incorporating seven circular channels, integrated with GMDSS and 15 Trainee workstations. In the Rating School Sorong, a Full Mission Ship Handling Simulator with five circular channel visualisation is integrated with an Engine Room Simulator. Each are turnkey project solutions, said Aloys Sutarto, the Managing Director of PT MultiIntegra (Transas Group distributor in Indonesia), thus including in the contract the design, supply, installation, commissioning and training.

These projects maximise local knowledge, particularly regarding installation, civil work and the development of new Indonesian exercise areas. “The combined ability of Transas and PT MultiIntegra to add local value is a main reason why we were awarded the contracts”, said Mr. Sutarto.

Mr. Dedi Darmawan, Head of the Education Training Agency, commented: “This is not the first time that the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation’s Education Training Agency (ETA) has installed a navigation simulator in their institution to fulfil STCW’95. Various simulator products have been installed for some years, and although we have always been aware of the great reputation of Transas this is the first installation from the company.

By harnessing the Transas technology and services, we have experienced a good transfer of knowledge during installation and training. The most modern simulation technology ever installed in ETA has achieved more than we ever expected”.

(mgn.com)

PC Maritime has introduced v4.5 of the PC-based full mission simulator Virtual Engine Room (VER). It is the first ‘speaking’ engine room simulator in the world.

Virtual Engine Room has been substantially enhanced with the addition of synthesised speech. Checklist instructions and communications with the bridge are all spoken and fully integrated into the scenarios provided by the simulator. ‘Ask Chief’ – a unique artificial intelligence expert system, tells the user what should be done as a next step in engine room preparation or equipment malfunction.

VER 4.5 which is type approved and compliant with the STCW and ISM Codes, is used for ships’ engine room training. Based on a slow speed diesel engine, it is equipped with all controls and alarms found in a real engine room. Faults can be injected into the simulator, and student competence is measured accurately with built-in standardised assessment tests.

VER 4.5 is available in three different formats to suit training budgets. It can be supplied as software only, to run on a single PC with twin-screen support or on a network. For greater realism it can be supplied as part of a desktop console or now as a full-size engine room console.

One of a series of eight engine room training products from PC Maritime, VER is used by maritime training establishments worldwide, including recent installations in Japan, Brazil, Australia and India.

Upgrades from v4 to v4.5 are available free of charge to existing customers. Versions earlier than v4 can be upgraded at favourable rates.

The full specification of Virtual Engine Room 4.5 can be viewed at the PC Maritime website www.pcmaritime.co.uk/comm or by emailing commercial.sales@pcmaritime.co.uk.

(mediasyndicate.com)

LONDON, 30 April 2008 ““ Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Akimitsu Ashida) today announced plans to donate an advanced marine simulators ¹ to Oman Government for the International Maritime College Oman ². On April 24, the company invited Minister of National Economy and Deputy Chairman of the Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council in Oman, Ahmed Macki to a presentation ceremony at the Tokyo Head Office.

Oman has set a national policy to encourage development of the ocean shipping industry, and established the International Maritime College Oman in 2005 to provide seafarer training. The university accepts foreign students from neighboring countries as well as Omani students.

MOL believes this presentation will promote education and training for seafarers in Oman and from neighboring Arabic nations, and, by extension, contribute to the development of sustainable worldwide ocean shipping.

1. The marine simulators consist of four systems ““ ship handling, engine control, liquefied cargo handling, and container handling crane.
2. International Maritime College Oman was established jointly in April 2005 by Oman Government and the STC-Group in the Netherlands, a non-profit organization that operates maritime training facilities around the world to provide seafarer training. Current enrollment is about 400.

(ameinfo.com)

Dubai Maritime City (DMC), the world’s first purpose-built maritime centre and a member of the Dubai World Group of companies, announced the establishment of Dubai Maritime City Campus (DMCC), the world’s first-of-its-kind maritime educational campus that is being developed to strengthen the City’s reputation as a global powerhouse in the maritime sector.

DMC has also appointed Singaporean Captain Jaafar Sidin as the Director of DMCC.

Set for completion in 2010, DMCC will accommodate over 1,300 students and will offer both short-term courses as well as degrees in various fields of maritime science through several world-renowned universities and maritime institutes. The complex will include state-of-the-art educational facilities that will be created for the universities and institutes that join the Campus. Also integrated into the facility are a two-story library, 500-room accommodation complex, convention centre for seminars and conferences, swimming pools and mechanical equipment for training purposes, as well as various simulators such as bridge simulator, anchor handling simulator and dynamic position simulator.

‘Dubai Maritime City has been established not just to cater to the requirements of the maritime sector, but also to add even more value to the whole maritime community by offering a full range of support infrastructure and amenities that enable easy integration and interaction among maritime businesses and services,’ stated Captain Jaafar.

‘As such, Dubai Maritime City Campus has been incorporated into the maritime centre’s master plan specifically to support the maritime centre’s manpower, educational, training and research requirements, which are vital elements to its long-term sustainability. Through this Campus, we are opening a huge window of opportunity to expand the region’s pool of specialists and professionals in various areas related to the maritime sector,’ added Captain Jaafar.

With a lengthy career in the academic world of maritime, Captain Jaafar brings tremendous experience and expertise to this role. As a Chief Officer and a Master of merchant ships during his sailing days, he also has practitioner experience in the shipping business and marine commercial practices in bills of ladings, charter parties, marine insurance, cargo operations, navigational safety and ship and cargo surveys. Prior to joining DMC, he held the position of Deputy Director at the Singapore Maritime Academy from 1995 to 2003 and as Section Head and Manager Business Development from 2003 to 2007.

On his part, Abdulla Al Hayyas, Operations Manager of DMCC, highlighted the strong interest DMCC is getting from international universities and institutions: ‘Dubai Maritime City is currently in talks with a number of international universities and institutions that specialise in maritime education on setting up within DMCC to help establish the Campus as a global academic hub for education, training and research in the maritime sector.’

Meanwhile, DMCC’s identity was also unveiled by Dubai Maritime City. The new look builds on Dubai Maritime City’s seven waves highlighting the Campus’ uniqueness and appeal within the global maritime industry. The DMCC logo reflects the world’s seven seas, seven continents and the seven districts of Dubai Maritime City.

Dubai Maritime City is currently undergoing the third and final phase of construction, which primarily involves infrastructure development. Aside from the DMCC, the other distinct districts of Dubai Maritime City are the Harbour Offices, Harbour Residences, Maritime Centre, Marina District and the Industrial Quarter managed by Dubai Drydocks.

(thaindian.com)

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), April 16 (IANS) The Indian Navy has procured an indigenously developed state-of-art ship handling simulator to train the crew to be deployed on different types of ships, an official statement said Wednesday. Vice Admiral Raman Prem Suthan, who is also the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Naval Command, inaugurated the simulator at the Maritime Warfare Centre here.

“Major harbours and different types of ships, currently deployed with the Indian Navy, have been replicated in the simulator. The crew can also be trained to manoeuvre their ships in close proximity of each other as is often required during naval operations at sea,” he said in the press release.

“The simulator will be used to train naval Officers of the executive branch in the complex procedures of entering and leaving different harbours in the country.”

The equipment is indigenously developed and installed by New Delhi-based Applied Research International.

The simulator is one in a series of multiple simulators being procured by the Indian Navy for imparting realistic training whilst cutting costs through the use of high-end technology.

(bymnews.com)

Transas Europe has passed the Site Acceptance Test for a new Full Mission Engine Room Simulator located at the VDAB (Vlaamse Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling en Beroepsopleiding, i.e. Flemish Public Employment Service) in Zeebrugge, Belgium.

The maritime branch of the VDAB assists employees and jobseekers contacting potential employers, and offers dedicated training for them to meet the various demands of the maritime industry. This training is also conducted using simulation systems.

In August 2007, Radio Holland Belgium N.V. (as the prime contractor) and Transas Europe GmbH (as the simulator system integrator) were awarded the contract for a new full mission Engine Room Simulator. The system is based on the latest Transas software, ERS 4000 version 7.3.

The simulator consists of a central instructor room, a full mission ERS configuration spread over three rooms (Engine Control Room (ECR), Engine Room (ER) and Emergency Generator room (EGR)). There is also a separate classroom with a second instructor workplace and 6 trainee workplaces.

The Full Mission Set and classroom work independently and are equipped with the same ship models (new revised version of Tanker LCC and trawler ship model).

For various reasons, the simulator is a unique installation: the central instructor room comprises huge windows that enable the instructor personnel to observe trainee activity in all surrounding rooms (ER, ECR, EGR and class); the ER is equipped with a huge video wall consisting of four reverse projection screens in line, each with a diameter of 70”. The video wall is visible from the instructor room, ER and ECR and can be used to provide system overviews or to assist in monitoring trainee activity. All simulator system screens and mimics can be selected and displayed on the four cubicles, selected from either the instructor workplace or a local station in the ER via Ethernet control; additional features add to the realism of the simulator, for example an alarm light column and smoke generator in the ER, the ability to automatically turn off all lights (black ship) during exercises, and CCTV observation of the different rooms.

he delivery of the simulator is split into two major parts. The first delivery was made in December 2007, with SAT completed in week 2 in 2008. This part comprises all above components and features.

The second part will be done in 2008: as the simulator is not only intended to train jobseekers but will also be used intensively by customers from the maritime dredging industry to train their staff. One of the client’s main criteria was to have a dredging ship model developed and implemented into the simulator. Particularly for the full mission part of the simulator, this model will comprise both: the additional mechanical, electrical and auxiliary components that are typically required for dredging purposes (e.g. dredge pumps and gland system) and the implementation of an IMC (Integrated Control and Monitoring System) that enables the instructor to act as the dredge master on the bridge, operating the virtual dredging gear (e.g. starting/stopping dredging, discharging etc.) with the help of appropriate process and diagnostic pages on the screen. These actions and the ability to introduce faults will influence the Engine Room equipment and thus influence the work/training of the engineers.

To gather the necessary expertise for the dredging environment, Radio Holland and Transas co-operated with a specialist company. This decision was one of the reasons why Transas was awarded the contract. After the delivery and SAT of the ‘standard’ simulator components, the development element of the ship model and the corresponding IMC system is now the project focus and will also be delivered in 2008.

(bymnews.com)

Kongsberg Maritime Simulation & Training and Maersk Supply Service, a leading player in the support vessel industry have entered into an agreement to further develop the existing cooperation in simulator development between the two companies.

The focus of the agreement will be the development of a unique anchor handling simulator, which will utilise the technology and experience the two companies have gained over ten years of collaboration in the field of marine simulation.

“The anchor handling simulator software must be developed to meet some very specific needs so by extending our co-operation agreement we can be sure that our requirements for a flexible and scalable solution are met, in what is a very sophisticated simulation product,” comments Albertus Zwiers, Director Technical Vessel Operations, Maersk Supply Service.

The anchor handling simulator’s first installation is expected Q4 2008. Once in place, it will provide Maersk Supply Service with a unique tool to develop its anchor handling training program and will strengthen the company’s position as a leading supplier of anchor handling training and vessel operations.

“For Kongsberg Maritime this represents an important step to broaden our product portfolio within offshore applications. Complexity is increasing and the market needs applications that reduce ship and crew downtime to a minimum whilst improving safety at the same time,” says Lars Erik Hilsen CEO Kongsberg Simulation

Founded in 1967, Maersk Supply Service is a recognised leader in the offshore support vessels sector and its 50+ strong fleet includes combined anchor handling tug/supply, platform supply and craned construction vessels. The company’s stated focus on high performance, innovation, reliability, quality and safety reflects its choice of Kongsberg Maritime as its preferred partner for the development of new anchor handling simulation tools.

(nebusiness.co.uk)

SOUTH Tyneside College is set to launch a revolutionary piece of training software for the cruise ship industry.

The college has teamed up with marine electronics giant Kongsberg Maritime to develop new software which, for the first time, allows both engineers and bridge staff to be trained together in live realistic exercises.

It will help cruise companies receive tangible financial benefits from insurance savings.

Chris Thompson, head of marine simulation at South Tyneside College, said: “This new software will revolutionise operational training for the cruise industry.

“Although training programmes already exist for bridge and engine room cruise vessels separately, there really is no substitute for training exercises which simulate a real-life situation in real time with the entire ship’s staff working together.”