Maritime Simulation News

(istresults.cordis.lu)

Human error causes most incidents and accidents in the marine sector. To improve the quality of training, and therefore safety, a flexible multimedia learning system has been developed that offers customised self-learning programmes.

Developed under the IST programme-funded SLIM-VRT project, the partners’ work brings together technology with maritime and pedagogical expertise.

“SLIM-VRT introduces personalised e-learning for the first time in the maritime sector,” says project manager Nikos Skarpetis. “It is better than existing computer-based training that takes place onboard because it allows users to select courses according to their needs, preferences and future plans.”

The SLIM-VRT project analysed trainee-employee profiles, such as skills, qualifications, training needs/styles and formal/informal career development in the shipping industry. It also studied emerging job requirements in today’s changing maritime environment. Using this information, project partners produced an innovative self-learning for work methodology based on individual user personalities and needs.

The project also developed the ‘Virtual Training Based on Real Experience’ paradigm, an innovative virtual reality tool (VRT) that acts as a powerful simulator enables students to examine real conditions at sea without moving to an expensive simulation site.

“Existing simulators cannot realistically simulate, in a user-centred way, emergency situations such as fires, accidents, sinking and near miss situations,” he explains.

The platform is based on a new framework for developing Intranet/Internet applications, consisting of a core system (execution environment) and a set of components each responsible for operating a different functionality. The system uses XML technology to present the requested data on a Web page. Another innovation is the support to authors provided through a tool that allows them to produce cost-effective educational material tailored to the users’ context.

The SLIM-VRT system was piloted using 55 users, including seafarers, shipping company employees, marine academy students and newcomers to the industry. Evaluation data were gathered using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Skarpetis says the results were “extremely positive” . Project partners are exploring ways to exploit the system within the maritime sector.

The innovative virtual reality educational tool (VRET) can be easily adapted to other learning environments because the platform is fully customisable, while both the self-learning methodology and sub-system can support education and training needs of different user groups.

(www.theroyalgazette.com)

Two Rock Passage into Hamilton and St. George’s Town Cut will have to be widened and dredged in the near future to accommodate modern mega-cruise ships, a coastal engineer has concluded.

And environmental impact studies will have to be done to determine the impact it would have on not only coral reefs, but also currents. Philip Smith, co-director of Smith Warner International Ltd, the largest Caribbean firm specialising in Coastal Engineering, Coastal Zone Management and Oceanography, was commissioned by Government in 2003 to do a comprehensive survey of Bermuda’s coastline.

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The initiative was announced earlier this year by Government to overhaul all of Bermuda’s ports — St. George’s, Marginal Wharf, St. David’s, Hamilton Harbour and at Ireland Island North. For this purpose, a high-tech computerised maritime database, including simulation software, is being used to determine possible alterations, before actually making them.

(www.news.gc.ca)

Holland College is expanding its Marine Training and Commercial Diving program offerings with support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

There are two projects that are part of this expansion; the first is the purchase of new equipment for both the Marine Training and Georgetown Centres. The Marine Training Centre will purchase an Advanced Tug Bridge Simulator, a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Cargo Handling Simulator as well as other control and simulator systems. With the addition of new diving equipment at the Georgetown Centre, the College will be able to offer new programs in commercial scuba and diver medic training.

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The new tug simulator will feature a Kongsberg Polaris Full Mission Bridge with 280 degrees of visuals. Three additional bridges will be significantly enhanced, allowing for advanced, dynamic ship-to-ship interaction and comprehensive training scenarios involving multiple tugboats and other vessels.

(www.defenselink.mil)

The Titan Corp. Unidyne Group, Norfolk, Va., is being awarded a $5,631,686 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to procure engineering and technical services for installation, testing and training of Total Ship Training Systems consisting of the following shipboard training systems: (1) AN/USQ-T46 Battle Force Tactical Training System; (2) AN/USQ-T47 Battle Force Electronic Warfare Trainer; (3) AN/USQ-T48 Trainer Simulator-Stimulator Systems; (4) Navigation Seamanship & Shiphandling Trainer; and (5) Damage Control Management Training System. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va. (40 percent); San Diego, Calif (35 percent); Pascagoula, Miss. (10 percent); Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (5 percent); Japan (5 percent); Mayport, Fla, (3 percent); Bremerton, Wash. (1 percent); and Bath, Maine (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2005. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

(www.sitnews.us)

Ketchikan, Alaska – The Southeast Alaska Pilots’ Association (SEAPA) has announced the delivery and installation of a new propulsion technology simulator at its headquarters in Ketchikan, Alaska. The new azipod simulator, the first of its kind in the U.S., was engineered by Electronic and Marine Research Industries (EMRI) in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Azimuthing podded drives, or azipods, is new marine propulsion technology where power and rotation are incorporated into one unit, thus ships with azipods are steered without a rudder. The pods incorporate built-in electric propeller motors attached to the vessel by a freely rotating steering gear. This enables 360 degrees of steering angle with controlled power output during maneuvering. The term “azipod” is an acronym incorporating azimuth (distance in angular degrees measured clockwise from a standard direction) and pod (a streamlined compartment).

Capt. Ted Kellogg, President of SEAPA said “In keeping with our mission of providing safe, secure pilotage in southeast waters, we’re training marine pilots on the newest, most up-do-date technology. We’re proud to be the first group in the US to have an EMRI simulator.”

The simulator will display two screens, one showing the vessel in a specific Transas© electronic chart display area and the other showing the vessel’s own data. The electronic chart display will be capable of displaying other vessel traffic via AIS (automatic identification system) and will present real time traffic situations for the operator. The simulator is interfaced with an instructor PC and LCD which forms the “control room “of the simulator. Vessel selection, wind, current, location, thrusters, generators, alarms and other initial data related to the exercise is input for the simulation exercise.

Kellogg said “For decades ships have been powered by the traditional propeller and rudder. Azipod propulsion is the future, and by installing this simulator, we’re going to be ready for it.” In Alaska, azipod propulsion technology is primarily utilized by the cruise industry by companies such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line. Azipod technology has seen increased applications in the tanker, ice breaking, and cargo vessel new builds in recent years. Still a growing and developing technology, further use and development of azipods is anticipated.

Link: Southeast Alaska Pilots’ Association
Link: Electronics & Marine Research Industries
Link: Transas

(www.mb.com.ph)

The whole-day seminar featured technical presentations, an open forum, and a visit to IDESS navigational simulator center which provided a demonstration of ENC in bridge simulator. IDESS is an independent organization which operates two navigational simulator centers, one in Brevik, Norway and the other in Subic Bay. It provides a diverse range of courses and programs to the maritime and offshore industries. The IDESS bridge simulator is the first facility in South East Asia with a 360-degree visualization.

(www.contracostatimes.com)

This year, the academy will start building a new simulation center to house a variety of high-tech ship and boat simulators, engine-room recreations, an oil tanker-loading simulator and a machine that will allow students to hone their crisis-management skills.

(www.nst.com)

THE Malaysian Maritime Academy at Kuala Linggi is now equipped with a RM8 million state-of-the-art ship-handling simulator.

The Russian-made machine, owned by Malaysia International Shipping Corporation Bhd, has been installed in a 15,000 sq feet building at the academy.

Academy chief executive officer M.A Ganesen said the simulator has four bridges – three with a field-of-view range of 120 degrees each, and one with a 270 degrees range.

(allafrica.com)

The Federal Government, he said, has procured from Norway items of simulator equipment worth more than N250 million and the National Maritime Academy has been directed to build a befitting jetty for the academy. To still enhance the number one status of the academy, the federal ministry of Transport has signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysian government for the training of the academy” cadets on the one year mandatory sea going vessel.