Maritime Simulation News

(bymnews.com)

Thursday, 24 August 2006
Association news:

Although simulators are used for a variety of purposes, a survey of members of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) reveals that their primary use is for training.

Simulation covers a wide range of activities, including emergency scenarios, but IMCA members’ primary use of simulators is for bridge/vessel simulation, DP and ROV purposes. One of the diving contractor questionnaire responses showed that in their case simulation was of a hyperbaric chamber for the benefit of medic training.

“The results of our interesting survey are published in ‘The Use and Requirements for Simulators in Training and Operations’ (IMCA C 009),” says Hugh Williams, Chief Executive of IMCA, which represents the interests of well over 300 marine contractors in 35 countries. “During 2003, IMCA’s Training, Certification & Personnel Competence (TCPC) Committee decided that a study on simulator usage would be beneficial and included it in its work programme for 2004. The resulting questionnaire comprised 30 questions covering both simulators themselves and related personnel issues.

“The questions covered: the use and functionality of simulator systems; realism of simulation; possible future use of simulators; the complex relationship between trained personnel, simulator training itself and actual operations; training methodologies, including class sizes; and respondents’ considerations of the future of simulator training.”

Twenty-three different members responded to the questionnaire during 2004 and 2005. A breakdown of responses by type of organisation showed that there were eight training providers, four subsea engineering contractors, including ROV operators; two diving contractors; two drilling contractors; three vessel operators, a geophysical survey contractor and a crane vessel operator. Two organisations provided two responses each to the questionnaire, from different business units operating in different geographical areas.

“We have analysed the responses received in full, and the key findings are summarised in our new publication,” explains Hugh Williams. “This includes how members currently use simulators, requirements in terms of equipment, realism and the experience of those conducting simulator training, how simulator training fits in to general requirements for training and experience and members’ views on future needs and simulator development.

“Simulator users expect that future equipment will be even more realistic through more sophisticated systems e.g. 3D, virtual reality and interactive devices. There is clearly scope for dialogue between users, training providers and simulator designers to optimise these developments which IMCA wants to take forward.

“Our TCPC committee believes simulators to be a key and growing part of many areas of our industry. IMCA is eager to promote dialogue across the industry on the topic for everyone’s benefit.”

Copies of IMCA C 009 are available for downloading from the IMCA members-only website with additional printed copies available to members priced at £5 each; and to non-members at £10.

(bymnews.com)

MECys (Transas Group distributor in Korea) has announced that they have been selected by Haeyoung Maritime Service Co. to supply Navi-Trainer 4000 Professional simulator in South Korea.

The system comprises: one main bridge with Radar/ARPA, Conning Display, NavAids, Navi-Sailor ECDIS, TGS-4000 and five channels of visualizations; and one backup bridge with Radar/ARPA, Conning Display, Navi-Sailor ECDIS and one channel of visualization.

MECys project manager Yongdae Kim and his team met with some initial challenges. “The customer had already planned this project with another navigational simulator manufacturer for almost 9 months. But the faultless performance of Navi-Trainer 4000 and the impressive references offered by Transas Group for their navigational simulators encouraged Haeyoung Maritime Service Co. that Transas is their perfect partner.”

Haeyoung Maritime Service Co. is a sister company of Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. (HMM), one of the largest fleet in the world, providing training to HMM crew members and managing the assessments of their fleet.

(bymnews.com)

Transas Scandinavia AB has recently emerged as the final winner in the tender process for the public procurement of a new Full Mission Ship Bridge Simulator. Issued by the Department of Shipping and Marine Technology at Gothenburg’s Chalmers University, the procurement was based on an invitation to tender which began in autumn 2005.

The simulator is intended for use by external customers (such as training of the ship’s bridge team, pilots and tug masters), as well as for investigation, research, design and master classes. The project was won under a heavily regulated tender process, which saw Transas compete with other top flight companies in the industry.

The simulator itself is able to simulate any type of vessel, including high speed vessels and tugs. The scope of supply includes both primary and secondary bridges including a built-in decision support system, a desktop bridge station and an interface to SSPA hydrodynamic ship models database.

As a Full Mission Ship Bridge Simulator, the system also meets the requirements of the standards of training and certification for Watch keeping (STCW’95) convention.

(fishupdate.com)

ABERDEEN Harbour Board is to upgrade its ship’s bridge simulator to reflect industry trends and to meet its own and third party requirements for future training.

Since the original simulator was installed at the Board’s Blaikies Quay facility in 2002 at a cost of £150,000, it has been used extensively in the training of Board pilots and other marine staff in port operations and emergency scenarios.

It is also being used increasingly on a commercial basis for training and assessing pilots from other ports and crews of offshore oil industry safety standby vessels.

The simulator is to be relocated to the Board’s new Marine Operations Centre at North Pier when operating software and some of the hardware will be upgraded.

The Board’s Operations Director & Harbour Master, Captain Ray Shaw, said: “The simulator is a valuable tool, and we expect to undertake more in-house training in the future. The enhanced equipment will make an increased contribution to operations and safety at the port, and also to marine activities undertaken by others.”

The improved graphics will give a far more realistic appearance to the display on a curved screen, while the addition of new, reversible vessel controls will allow ship models to be operated from both ends of the wheelhouse and will reflect the equipment installed on modern oil support vessels and tugs.

An additional smaller ship’s bridge is also to be added, allowing training to include the interaction between a large vessel and a tug or a standby vessel and her daughter craft.
The upgrade is costing around £150,000, with the contract for the work awarded to Transas Marine.