Three Transas training simulators have been unveiled at the Wallem Maritime Training Centre in Odessa, Ukraine.
The bridge simulator (Transas NT-PRO 5000 5.25), engine room simulator (Transas Techsim 5000 8.3) and liquid cargo handling simulator (Transas LCHS 5000), will be used to train officers across a variety of vessels.
Captain Fared Khan, Wallem’s fleet personnel director, spoke at the launch about how seafarers will benefit from the simulators through development of their maritime knowledge and skills.
“Nothing is better than hands on training when evaluating capability for making ships safer for everyone onboard,” he said.
“The state-of-the-art Transas simulators will assist us to not only refine the officers’ skills leading to operational excellence onboard, but also to train our sea staff in how best to respond to different non-routine, challenging and critical situations at sea and in port.”
“Integrating previous incidents and lessons learnt will ensure the same mistakes are never repeated in the fleet.”
Wallem Ship management operates eight training centres around the world, with Odessa currently offering 18 different courses to improve skills and safety. According to Wallem Europe crew manager Wiebke Schuett, hundreds of seafarer will benefit from the new simulators.
“The Wallem Maritime Training Centres in Odessa trains not only Ukrainian officers, but also officers from other Eastern European countries including Russia, Romania, Serbia and Croatia,” she said.
“We currently have about 250 officers from the region on board Wallem-managed vessels, and a pool of 700 officers.”
SUNY Maritime is now home to a new state-of-the-art tug and barge simulator, thanks to funding from the Bouchard Transportation Company, Inc. (via marinelog.com)
The Bouchard Transportation Company, Inc. and the State University of New York Maritime College (SUNY Maritime) today held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the official opening of the Bouchard Tug & Barge Simulation Center.
The Bouchard Tug & Barge Simulation Center is a state-of-the-art training facility, incorporating the latest in Kongsberg’s Polaris Bridge Simulation technology. It utilizes an industry-inspired bridge console arrangement, with the latest hydrodynamic ship models and exercise areas.
SUNY Maritime College and the Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. are committed to educating future mariners; the young people who will lead the industry in the years to come. Working together, these two entities also are committed to training mariners currently working in the tug and barge industry, in order to keep them abreast of new topics and procedures.
MOL Marine Consulting (MOLMC) has announced an upgrade to one of its two owned simulators.
The bridge simulator has been equipped with a Dynamic Positioning System (DPS), as well as an enlarged screen that replicates the field of vision from the bridge.
With offshore at the core of MOL’s strategy, DPS is an essential tool when dealing with the transport and storage of crude oil and LNG. The company says the upgrades will allow it to “simulate any situation and provide practical training in that situation.”
MOL has also announced the merger of MOL Marine Consulting, Ltd. (MOLMC) and MOL Cable Ship Ltd., effective from today.
The new company will be called MOL Marine Co.,Ltd., and continue the work of its two constituents.
Transas Marine Pacific has successfully completed the upgrade of a simulator complex for Western Shipping Pte. Ltd. training center.
The simulator class was upgraded to the latest version of the Transas navigational simulator NTPRO 5000 to fully support ECDIS training as per STCW 2010. In addition, a new full mission shiphandling simulator Class A was installed for advanced training capabilities. The Transas Full Mission Bridge Simulator is equipped with standard 8.4″ panel touchscreen computers which can run various maneuvering controls and display layouts on a single panel according to the type of simulated ship model. Switching between models in runtime is also possible and will enhance the training experience for a wide range of basic and advanced training of professional mariners. Search and rescue functionality will ensure training in compliance with the IAMSAR requirements, while tug and mooring functionalities will provide excellent tools for both ship assistant training tasks and professional training in tug and barge operations.
The Full Mission Bridge Simulator is deemed as a stepping stone to the total ship concept implementation and further integration to a full mission engine room and cargo handling simulators. Western Shipping provides marine transportation of chemicals and petroleum products to the energy market globally. The Company manages a modern fleet of tankers and provides crew management and training services to a fleet of bulk carriers.
As a member of IMEC (Internatinal Maritime Employers Council), Western shipping is committed to total welfare of seafarers including high level of Training. IMTT (International Maritime Training Trust) is a partner of Western Shipping in developing a modern training centre based in Manila in partnership with Transas.
The Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna purchased a 360° Class A Full Mission Bridge simulator and an Incident Management Simulator for training of its Naval and Merchant marine students.
The simulators were officially opened by the IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu and the Dutch Ambassador in Bulgaria Tom van Oorschot during a ceremony at the academy on September 14. The ceremony was attended by high ranking officials from the Bulgarian and Romanian Navy, as well as the Bulgarian Maritime Administration and was concluded with the official acceptance of the simulators by the Naval Academy Commandant, Captain Boyan Mednikarov.
The NAUTIS DNV Class A Full Mission Bridge (FMB) Simulator and the RescueSim incident Management Simulator were delivered and installed at the Naval Academy in Varna by VSTEP and its Bulgarian partner NavySim.
The NAUTIS Full Mission Bridge simulator has a complete 360° surround horizontal field of view and is compliant with the Class A DNV Standards for Certification No. 2.14 for Maritime Simulator Systems and IMO model courses 1.22 and 1.32. At the request of the Naval Academy, VSTEP has also added advanced oil spill recovery and onboard fire training to the simulator.
The RescueSim Incident Management Simulator will be used to train and prepare for any thinkable incident, both on and offshore. It has specialized modules focusing on training for Shipboard incidents, port incidents, industrial incidents as well as offshore incidents. The port of Varna was custom made in full 3D and implemented into the RescueSim simulator.
VSTEP Director, Pjotr van Schothorst, “It is an honor to have our VSTEP simulators become part of the rich tradition of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy. To have Bulgaria’s finest maritime students use our simulators to become better mariners makes us very proud. Throughout the project, it has been a real pleasure working with the Naval Academy and we look forward to continue this strong relationship in the future.”
The Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy is the oldest technical school in Bulgaria. With its illustrious history and traditions in training sea specialists, it is one of the symbols of Varna and Bulgaria in the world maritime community. At present, the Academy trains specialists for both Navy and merchant marine in all areas of maritime life.
Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) has just announced VBS IG, which leverages gaming technology to create a new class of image generator, ready for the simulation industry. BISim will showcase VBS IG for the first time at I/ITSEC 2014 in Orlando, Florida.
I/ITSEC is the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), which promotes cooperation among the Armed Services, Industry, Academia and various Government agencies in pursuit of improved training and education programs.
The U.S. Army enlisted BISim’s expertise in upgrading its legacy image generator to a high-fidelity, game-based image generation solution for its Close Combat Tactical Trainer (CCTT) system.
The U.S. Army trains crews for a host of armored vehicles and mechanized units on the Close Combat Tactical Trainer, a computer-driven, manned module simulator. These simulators replicate vehicle interiors in close combat units, such as the M1 Abrams Tank, the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle, the Humvee and others.
Following two years of development and testing, VBS IG will be ready as an image generator for CCTT training and will be available as a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) product in early 2015.
“By leveraging triple-A game quality effects, VBS IG has the potential to enable new applications for the simulation industry,” said Pete Morrison, BISim’s Co-CEO. “VBS IG is more than a desktop simulation solution. It also can function as a cost-effective IG solution for traditional part task and full mission simulators.”
Using the CIGI standard, VBS IG will be suitable for ground, rotary, fixed-wing, and maritime simulations. BISim has optimized the VBS3 engine, originally based off a commercially successful game engine, to ensure higher frame rates when rendering scenes with long view distances and large numbers of moving entities. VBS IG also supports massive terrains, weather, sensor simulation, and shared content with VBS3.
VBS IG is a capable and cost-effective solution for the defense industry’s training and simulation needs. The VBS IG will be launched at I/ITSEC in Orlando 1 ““ 4 December, 2014. For more information go to www.bisimulations.com
Ocean Rig UDW Inc., a major international offshore drilling contractor, has chosen Kongsberg Maritime to supply an extensive offshore and navigation simulator package for a brand new training centre. With a sophisticated integrated simulator suite, enabling specific operations and vessel team training, Ocean Rig’s new facility, is shaping up to become one of the world’s most advanced offshore training centres.
Ocean Rig owns and operates two ultra-deepwater semisubmersible drilling rigs and nine ultra-deepwater drillships (including three newbuilds for delivery 2014-2016). All of these vessels operate with key technology from KONGSBERG, including Dynamic Positioning, Thruster Control, Integrated Control and Automation, Safety/Fire & Gas and Riser Management systems. Four of the drillships have Integrated Navigation solution from Kongsberg.
The new training centre, comprises two full mission bridge simulators. The K-Sim Offshore simulator is to be equipped like a drillship based on Ocean Rig’s Samsung 96k/Enhanced Saipem 10000 design. In addition, it will be integrated with K-Sim engine room simulator model DE66 drillship and K-Pos Dynamic positioning system including DP3 backup operation and riser management. The other full mission simulator is designed as a DNV Class A navigation bridge.
Two separate classrooms will also feature K-Sim ECDIS trainers, K-Pos DP Class C and K-Chief 700 crew trainers for drillship. The K-Sim engine simulator will feature DE-66 drillship and MC 90Vmodels. It will be used in a desktop configuration and on Kongsberg Maritime’s advanced, touchscreen BigView interactive mimic system. All simulators can provide task specific training, or operate as part of an integrated system to provide full vessel training.
“Ocean Rig identified a need for internal crew training and wanted to advance the development of its new centre fast,” comments Sølvi Opthun, Area Sales Manager, Kongsberg Maritime Simulation. “With Kongsberg Maritime, they found a partner that could provide the most advanced and integrated simulator technology, in addition to important learning services such as courseware and training for the instructors. The fact that Kongsberg Maritime systems are already in use on Ocean Rig vessels also provided the company with the confidence that we understand its business.”
Buffalo Computer Graphics (BCG) Inc. announced the addition of another emulation product to its family of Radar Simulators.
BCG has completed an emulation of the VisionMaster FT radar ““ our PCVM. PCVM utilizes the same simulation engine as the rest of BCG’s products, which results in a powerful training tool used to familiarize a student with the use of the VisionMaster radar for ship navigation and collision avoidance training. The radar image incorporates realistic simulation of landmass, moving targets, precipitation returns, sea clutter and other effects seen on a real radar. The software features include full ARPA functionality, radar video controls, dual EBL & VRM, multiple presentation modes, graphics capabilities, AIS functionality and range scaling. For ARPA support, PCVM provides target acquisition and tracking, leading vectors and history trails, as well as trial maneuvers.
Some features incorporated into PCVM allow it the ability to couple with the VisionMaster ECDIS to offer a more realistic Integrated Navigation System Training Solution. Also, BCG has integrated the Conning Window, Docking Window, several situational awareness windows, and the Man Overboard Alarm Panel functionality to mirror the operation of the real unit.
Danaos Corporation purchased a NAUTIS DNV Class A FMB Simulator and Instructor Station for training of its fleet members. The simulator will be delivered and installed by VSTEP at Danaos Shipping Co Ltd. Headquarters in Piraeus, Greece.
The simulator purchased by Danaos Corporation included a NAUTIS DNV Class A FMB simulator with 240° horizontal field of view and an Instructor Station. It will be used to train navigation and maneuvering with the container vessels of the Danaos fleet. For this purpose, new container vessels were developed and added to the simulator in addition to the existing container vessels in the simulator ship library.
Joost van Ree, VSTEP Sales Director: “We are glad that one of the largest containership owners in the world has joined the VSTEP simulator family. Our FMB simulator allows Danaos personnel to train effectively using the cutting edge of maritime simulation in line with the high performance standard the shipping company is known for.”
Danaos Corporation is an international owner of containerships, chartering vessels to many of the world’s largest liner companies. With a fleet of 54 containerships, Danaos is among the largest containership charter owners in the world based on total TEU capacity. Danaos is one of the largest U.S. listed containership companies based on fleet size. Danaos is today domiciled in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, with operations conducted out of Greece.
VSTEP will deliver the Class A simulator at Danaos HQ in Piraeus in Q3 2014 and will provide simulator operator training for selected Danaos staff.
The Mexican Navy selected VSTEP to supply a Class A NAUTIS Full Mission Bridge (FMB) Simulator and 24 NAUTIS desktop trainer stations for the Naval Academy in Veracruz. The simulators will be installed at the new simulator training wing of the Heroica Escuela Naval Militar set to open in Q4 2014.
The Heroica Escuela Naval Militar is the school where future officers are trained for the General Corps of the Mexican Navy. In line with the expansion of the school’s training facilities, a new simulator wing is currently under construction. The Mexican Navy selected VSTEP as prime simulator provider for its new facility.
VSTEP and its Mexican partner Edutelsa will deliver and install a NAUTIS DNV Class A Full Mission Bridge Simulator and two classrooms of NAUTIS Desktop Trainers for a total of 24 desktop stations. The Full Mission Bridge simulators have a 240° horizontal field of view and are fully compliant with the Class A DNV Standards for Certification No. 2.14 for Maritime Simulator Systems and IMO model courses 1.22 and 1.32.
The simulators will use the NAUTIS Naval Task Force software module, which is specifically designed to meet the training requirements of navies and coast guards and includes tactical communications, amphibious landing, replenishment at sea and Anti-Piracy Training. VSTEP has also developed and integrated different Mexican naval bases for implementation into the simulators.
VSTEP Director, Pjotr van Schothorst, said, “We are proud to be selected as the prime simulator supplier for the Mexican Navy. Our NAUTIS Simulators with Naval Task Force module will provide naval students and personnel with a very effective training tool for naval operations. We look forward to delivery and installation of the simulator classrooms for the new simulator wing in Veracruz and will maintain a strong relationship with the Mexican Navy for future projects.”
Earlier this year, VSTEP won a contract to provide simulators to all the FIDENA schools in Mexico. This Mexican Navy contract strengthens the company’s position as a key provider of maritime simulator solutions in the region.
