Kongsberg Maritime, a world leading supplier of maritime simulation systems has introduced a next generation monitoring, assessment and configuration tool for its Neptune Engine Room and Cargo Handling simulators. The Neptune Instructor System has been designed to enhance the quality of simulation training by providing complete, user-friendly control of student exercises.
The Neptune Instructor System enables the instructor to develop bespoke exercise modules for individuals, teams or a combination of both from any PC running the application. Using an advanced but intuitive suite of tools, instructor created exercise modules may comprise any of the following components: Initial Condition – describes all the variables at the start of the exercise; Triggers – a combination of events that initiate an Action, e-Coach message or Assessment; Actions – derived from Input Variables and Malfunctions, which can be initiated instantaneously, or preprogrammed as part of the exercise; E-Coach Messages – built in, bespoke and automatic student mentoring and performance feedback system; Student Station Configuration – define what information is accessible and visible to students; Assessment – monitor and assess alarms, and any of 6,000 variables in the simulation models.
A key aspect of the Neptune Instructor System is its integrated recording and playback functionality. Recording of all activity during the simulation excercise takes place automatically and review/debriefing can include the replay of parts of, or the entire exercise in order to focus on specific learning objectives.
Kongsberg Maritime’s simulation developers have also introduced an innovative new ‘resume’ functionality, which enables an exercise to be stopped and started at will. If a student begins to have problems or fails in a particular operation, the instructor can pause the simulation to give guidance or advice, and then resume the exercise. The instructor can also go back to any earlier point in time, and restart from there.
“The Neptune Instructor System offers highly intuitive operation and flexible installation options,” comments Mark Treen, Sales & Marketing Manager, Kongsberg Maritime Simulation. “Its modular design enables training institutes to add components as and when necessary, choosing between initial options of Standalone, Neptune Basic and Neptune Pro.”
The Neptune Instructor system was developed in close co-operation with the Norwegian Maritime Directorate, Det Norsk Veritas and experienced simulation instructors from all over the world. It can be integrated into any existing Kongsberg Maritime Windows-based Engine Room or Cargo Handling installations ensuring that Kongsberg Maritime’s customers are provided with a straightforward upgrade path.
Kongsberg Maritime opens new training facility in Bekkajordet
Kongsberg Maritime opened the doors to its new training facility at its Bekkajordet, Horten, Norway site on August 30th 2007. The facility features two new classrooms and one specialised training room, which have been established to meet demand for customer and employee training as sales continue to increase in all of the company’s product divisions.
Executive Vice President, Ole Gunnar Hvamb performed the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new facility, which joins Kongsberg Maritime’s extensive world wide training network with centres at Aberdeen – UK, Busan – South Korea, Houston – USA, Kongsberg – Norway, Manilla – Philippines, Macae – Brazil, Singapore and the UAE. The company provides in-depth training courses on a wide range of disciplines from Automation, DP and Navigation systems to process simulation, survey equipment and marine data management.
“It is vital that we provide training for our customers’ employees to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the sophisticated solutions that we supply. We are dedicated to making our training available to all who need it and this new facility at Bekkajordet will help us to meet the high demand for product training that we are currently experiencing due to the excellent performance of our products in the market,” comments Hvamb.
Like all Kongsberg Maritime training centres, the new Bekkajordet facility consists of modern comfortable classrooms equipped with the same computers and consoles found onboard. Extensive computer simulation provides a realistic training environment ensuring that the students become familiar with system operation and the handling of emergencies.
“We are constantly looking to improve and expand our training facilities to ensure we provide the best service possible,” said Anne Toril kasin, Product Training Manager, Offshore and Marine, Kongsberg Maritime. “More classrooms and upgraded facilities at Bekkajordet are just a part of our continuing dedication to ensuring that our customers can harness the operational safety and efficiency that our products provide.”
New MITAGS maritime simulation training center welcomes guests
Glen Paine, Executive Director of the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS), the Pacific Maritime Institute (PMI), and the Conference Center at the Maritime Institute (CCMIT), recently welcomed hundreds of guests for the Grand Opening of MITAGS’ Simulation Training Center at their Linthicum, Maryland campus, USA.
MITAGS is a world renowned maritime training and simulation center that has been offering high quality programs to both military and commercial mariners for well over thirty years. Today, over one hundred courses are available for merchant mariners from around the globe, with MITAGS being one of the few schools in the United States that provides all of the STCW-95 training courses that are necessary to advance from Ordinary Seaman to Unlimited Master. MITAGS also offers specialized expertise for a wide range of research and development projects within the maritime industry.
The Grand Opening was an important milestone for MITAGS and included the renewal, upgrade, and enhancement of the Institute’s onsite simulation facilities, which were all carefully implemented over a twelve month period. The implementation process itself included extensive research in the following subject areas: Available technologies; Vendor support capabilities; Overall quality.
During the event, Walter Megonigal, MITAGS’ Director of Training, stated: “MITAGS has created a national asset, which in the view of MITAGS, is made up of the latest technological tools to ensure mariners receive the highest level of training available in the world today. Furthermore, within the next twelve to eighteen months, MITAGS’ challenge will be to connect the simulation structure here in Linthicum, Maryland to that of our affiliate school, the Pacific Maritime Institute, which is located in Seattle, Washington. When the connection is complete, the Institute will have created a true, nationwide Maritime Simulation Training Center that will provide a full spectrum of integrated training to the maritime community.”
MITAGS’ Simulation Training Center upgrade expanded the facility to include the following: Two Full-Mission Shiphandling Simulators (SHS # 1 and SHS # 2); Two Bridge Tug Simulators (SHS # 3 and SHS # 4); Six Part-Task Simulators (AWN).
One Full-Mission Vessel Traffic Services Simulator (VTS).
All of the simulators operate with the Navi-Trainer Professional 4000 (NT-PRO 4000) platform and share common technological capabilities with an unrivalled level of flexibility.
The Transas Full-Mission Shiphandling Simulator is housed within a 360° curved projection screen that measures eighty feet in diameter and thirty feet in height. It includes an innovative, flexible bridge design and a series of enhanced Instructor capabilities. The dedicated Tug Simulator utilizes a 300° horizontal field of view and an unprecedented 42° vertical field of view. The six part-task bridges, and a second smaller Tug Simulator, offer 120° of visuals and are located in the fully upgraded All Weather Navigation (AWN) trainer. A Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) training suite and a twelve bridge ECDIS trainer, complete the current navigational simulator enhancements, which, along with all of the simulator bridges, can be operated in almost any combination for interactive exercises.
MITAGS also utilizes numerous Transas simulation development tools, such as Model Wizard and Virtual Shipyard, for the visual database and hydrodynamic modeling. These tools are vital for research, engineering, and development projects and represent a portion of the growing demand for simulation studies within the maritime community.
Neil Bennett, Vice President of Transas USA, stated: “MITAGS is a dynamic organization that expects the very best and will always be pushing technological advances in simulation to meet the objectives of their customers. Therefore, the Transas organization has risen to meet the challenges laid before us by MITAGS, which have ultimately made our product better, our capabilities wider, and at the same time, has given MITAGS the tools and support they need to reach their objectives. Transas looks forward to a continued partnership with MITAGS, supporting them as we do all our customers, to always be able to say ‘yes, we can do that’.”
INTERTANKO and Warsash Coorperate
(mgn.com)
INTERTANKO says it has agree a mutual cooperation with the UK’s Warsash Maritime Academy on the Tanker Officer Training Standards (TOTS) project.
In a statement the tanker owners’ association says: “Intertanko’s Human Element in Shipping Committee (HEiSC) is striving for the widest possible recognition of the crucial human element aspects of running ships. It is working with the Association’s Vetting Committee on the Tanker Officer Training Standards (TOTS) project which is planned to be ready by the end of this year.
Intertanko says that TOTS is about setting verifiable standards for ships’ officers. It says it has recognised the problems in complying with some of the existing officer matrix systems, particularly those concerning time in rank. It has therefore embarked upon Tanker Officer Training Standards (TOTS) aimed at assisting members with compliance.
Warsash has agreed to use its knowledge and resources in the development of this project, and in particular in the process of verification of the simulator aspects of TOTS. It pioneered the use of bridge, engine and cargo control room simulators for higher level training, and its manned model ship handling training facility is the only one in the United Kingdom – and one of very few in the world.
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Rolls-Royce highlights role of simulators
Simulators are playing an increasingly important role in Rolls-Royce activities, said the company in a statement issued yesterday, to the benefit of offshore vessel customers and operators. Simulators for training crews can be located ashore or on the vessel itself.
The primary land-based training simulator in which Rolls-Royce plays a key role is the Offshore Simulator Centre in Ã…lesund, Norway, where complete offshore operations such as anchorhandling can be simulated under full size bridge conditions, with a realistic view through the ‘bridge windows’, using real controls.
Difficult operations can be tried out in the simulator, including equipment failure, ensuring that there is a minimum of risk when the operation is carried out at sea. New crews can also be trained in ship handling skills, and given confidence that they understand what may happen and have the skills and knowledge needed to respond safely and correctly.
The Offshore Simulator Centre (OSC) company was established in July 2004 to serve the international maritime community with new opportunities for improvement and innovation through simulation. It is jointly owned by Rolls-Royce Marine AS, Farstad Shipping ASA, Norwegian Marine Technology Research Institute (Marintek) and Ã…lesund University College.
By putting together the competence of a major international operator of modern offshore supply vessels, a global leader in marine propulsion, engineering and hydrodynamic expertise, the leading Norwegian research institute in marine technology and a major institution for higher maritime education in Norway, the Centre has a solid basis for its work. Regular courses are run in Ã…lesund covering basic and advanced anchorhandling and PSV operation.
This simulator expertise can also be transferred to other locations. For example, Groupe Bourbon has teamed up with the OSC to develop two anchorhandling simulators to help train crews for its vessels.
The Group is radically expanding its offshore fleet and expects to employ some 4,000 seagoing staff by 2010. Its aim is to provide standardised training as working conditions across the fleet become more similar. Courses in dynamic positioning are already being offered at Bourbon’s training centres in Marseilles, France, and Manila, Philippines, and the anchor-handling training will complement the existing activity at these locations.
Rolls-Royce has also developed compact simulator systems to be carried on board vessels and used by the crewmembers for improving their skills and for practicing operations before carrying them out in real life.
A simulator of this type used with the Safer Deck solution developed by Rolls-Royce was first installed on the anchorhandler Olympic Octopus last year and by the end of 2007 will be on board at least 20 ships.
In this simulator, a PC holds the software and displays the deck operations on a 32in screen. Input comes from the same type of hand-held control stick system as is used on deck. The screen image of the deck realistically reproduces the movements of the cranes, manipulators and other equipment in response to control stick movements.
The compactness of the simulator means that it can be located informally and used in the same way as a video game, enabling crew members to hone their skills whenever they like.
Navy Unveils Newest Ship Navigation, Bridge Simulator
SAN DIEGO (NNS) — Naval Base San Diego hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil its newest navigation, seamanship and ship handling trainer (NSST) on June 11.
NSST is a state-of-the art bridge simulator used to train ship crews in navigation and ship handling using virtual technology.
The NSST program was launched to improve training efficiency and effectiveness and to reduce training costs. The program updates the Navy’s current navigation, seamanship and ship handling training systems and provides high fidelity, user-friendly navigation training in all fleet concentration areas and on board Navy warships.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be here to do this ribbon cutting,” said Commander, Naval Surface Forces Vice Adm. Terrance T. Etnyre. “I firmly believe this is going to have a dramatic impact on the ability to train our officers and bridge crews to navigate and perform ship handling.”
The NSST system has already been established in Everett, Wash., Pearl Harbor, Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan.
“These simulators are designed essentially to create a virtual maritime environment identical to conditions you would experience at sea in a real ship,” said Garland Hardy, a sub-contractor assigned to provide NSST training. “That allows us to provide realistic training to the Navy for all aspects of navigation, ship handling and seamanship. We can teach people how to respond to dangerous situations and potentially catastrophic scenarios in an environment that is completely safe.”
M.E.B.A. and Armada Companies, LLC – Skaugen Petro Trans Form Offshore Terminal Lightering Partnership
CMES recently installed a cutting-edge Bridge Simulation System built by TRANSAS that allows students to simultaneously control ten simulated ships at once, utilizing any of 56 different types of vessels in over 20 different ports. The LNG cargo simulation program allows students to dock, load and discharge LNG vessels and even encompasses the terminal-side operations of an LNG facility. It also accommodates upgrades to adapt to ever-evolving Coast Guard and International Maritime Organization training and testing requirements.
Ship handling simulator commissioned
Kochi, May 16: A new state-of-the-art ship handling simulator, designed and manufactured indigenously, was commissioned at the navigation school here today.
The simulator which incorporates a ship’s bridge, radar displays, electronic chart display system, various shipboard navigation and propulsion systems and an interactive instructor console was formally commissioned by Vice-Admiral J S Bedi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, here. It has been designed and manufactured M/s Applied Research International, New Delhi.
The simulator will enable trainees to practice the art of ship handling in different scenarios and environmental conditions in open sea, within harbours and in restricted sea areas.
The heart of the ship handling simulator is the computer generated visual images which changes dynamically in response to instructor generated inputs, a naval press release said today.
The computer could be programmed with the characteristics of the different types of naval ships which would ensure that the movements of ships correspond closely to those of actual naval warships, the release said.
The facility would be used to train specialist navigators, foreign student officers, junior officers undergoing basic training and ship’s teams in the art of ship handling and navigation.
It would further enhance the stature of the Indian navy and the navigational school as a provider of high quality professional training not only to Indian navy personnel but also to personnel from the Indian Coast Guard, friendly foreign navies and maritime security agencies, it said.
Link: ARI
Bourbon invests in training
Besides ordering 110 vessels for its offshore services fleet, Paris-based Bourbon is in the process of doubling its workforce. It will recruit over 4,000 seamen by 2010, half of them officers.
That creates a training challenge.
Two simulators, one in France and the other in the Philippines, will be used by Bourbon to train captains, chief engineers and bridge officers in all maneuvers and exercises.
The simulators have been developed by Bourbon in collaboration with the Offshore Simulator Center in Aalesund, Norway,
Featuring a recreation of a real bridge and realistic visual supports, this simulator can reproduce an almost real situation on both visual and sensory levels.
The simulator systems allow “full mission” training, where crew members on deck and operators may engage in the simulation in addition to the navigators and other bridge crew such as winch operators.
Bourbon is using this technology and developing special training programs in anchor handling operations on tug supply vessels (AHTS).
The two simulators will facilitate standardized training programs worldwide for all Bourbon crews in a context in which the fleet is increasingly standardized thanks to a newbuilding expansion featuring long series of identical vessels.