Maritime Simulation News

(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.