Maritime Simulation News

(thaindian.com)

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), April 16 (IANS) The Indian Navy has procured an indigenously developed state-of-art ship handling simulator to train the crew to be deployed on different types of ships, an official statement said Wednesday. Vice Admiral Raman Prem Suthan, who is also the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Naval Command, inaugurated the simulator at the Maritime Warfare Centre here.

“Major harbours and different types of ships, currently deployed with the Indian Navy, have been replicated in the simulator. The crew can also be trained to manoeuvre their ships in close proximity of each other as is often required during naval operations at sea,” he said in the press release.

“The simulator will be used to train naval Officers of the executive branch in the complex procedures of entering and leaving different harbours in the country.”

The equipment is indigenously developed and installed by New Delhi-based Applied Research International.

The simulator is one in a series of multiple simulators being procured by the Indian Navy for imparting realistic training whilst cutting costs through the use of high-end technology.

(bymnews.com)

Transas Europe has passed the Site Acceptance Test for a new Full Mission Engine Room Simulator located at the VDAB (Vlaamse Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling en Beroepsopleiding, i.e. Flemish Public Employment Service) in Zeebrugge, Belgium.

The maritime branch of the VDAB assists employees and jobseekers contacting potential employers, and offers dedicated training for them to meet the various demands of the maritime industry. This training is also conducted using simulation systems.

In August 2007, Radio Holland Belgium N.V. (as the prime contractor) and Transas Europe GmbH (as the simulator system integrator) were awarded the contract for a new full mission Engine Room Simulator. The system is based on the latest Transas software, ERS 4000 version 7.3.

The simulator consists of a central instructor room, a full mission ERS configuration spread over three rooms (Engine Control Room (ECR), Engine Room (ER) and Emergency Generator room (EGR)). There is also a separate classroom with a second instructor workplace and 6 trainee workplaces.

The Full Mission Set and classroom work independently and are equipped with the same ship models (new revised version of Tanker LCC and trawler ship model).

For various reasons, the simulator is a unique installation: the central instructor room comprises huge windows that enable the instructor personnel to observe trainee activity in all surrounding rooms (ER, ECR, EGR and class); the ER is equipped with a huge video wall consisting of four reverse projection screens in line, each with a diameter of 70”. The video wall is visible from the instructor room, ER and ECR and can be used to provide system overviews or to assist in monitoring trainee activity. All simulator system screens and mimics can be selected and displayed on the four cubicles, selected from either the instructor workplace or a local station in the ER via Ethernet control; additional features add to the realism of the simulator, for example an alarm light column and smoke generator in the ER, the ability to automatically turn off all lights (black ship) during exercises, and CCTV observation of the different rooms.

he delivery of the simulator is split into two major parts. The first delivery was made in December 2007, with SAT completed in week 2 in 2008. This part comprises all above components and features.

The second part will be done in 2008: as the simulator is not only intended to train jobseekers but will also be used intensively by customers from the maritime dredging industry to train their staff. One of the client’s main criteria was to have a dredging ship model developed and implemented into the simulator. Particularly for the full mission part of the simulator, this model will comprise both: the additional mechanical, electrical and auxiliary components that are typically required for dredging purposes (e.g. dredge pumps and gland system) and the implementation of an IMC (Integrated Control and Monitoring System) that enables the instructor to act as the dredge master on the bridge, operating the virtual dredging gear (e.g. starting/stopping dredging, discharging etc.) with the help of appropriate process and diagnostic pages on the screen. These actions and the ability to introduce faults will influence the Engine Room equipment and thus influence the work/training of the engineers.

To gather the necessary expertise for the dredging environment, Radio Holland and Transas co-operated with a specialist company. This decision was one of the reasons why Transas was awarded the contract. After the delivery and SAT of the ‘standard’ simulator components, the development element of the ship model and the corresponding IMC system is now the project focus and will also be delivered in 2008.

(bymnews.com)

Kongsberg Maritime Simulation & Training and Maersk Supply Service, a leading player in the support vessel industry have entered into an agreement to further develop the existing cooperation in simulator development between the two companies.

The focus of the agreement will be the development of a unique anchor handling simulator, which will utilise the technology and experience the two companies have gained over ten years of collaboration in the field of marine simulation.

“The anchor handling simulator software must be developed to meet some very specific needs so by extending our co-operation agreement we can be sure that our requirements for a flexible and scalable solution are met, in what is a very sophisticated simulation product,” comments Albertus Zwiers, Director Technical Vessel Operations, Maersk Supply Service.

The anchor handling simulator’s first installation is expected Q4 2008. Once in place, it will provide Maersk Supply Service with a unique tool to develop its anchor handling training program and will strengthen the company’s position as a leading supplier of anchor handling training and vessel operations.

“For Kongsberg Maritime this represents an important step to broaden our product portfolio within offshore applications. Complexity is increasing and the market needs applications that reduce ship and crew downtime to a minimum whilst improving safety at the same time,” says Lars Erik Hilsen CEO Kongsberg Simulation

Founded in 1967, Maersk Supply Service is a recognised leader in the offshore support vessels sector and its 50+ strong fleet includes combined anchor handling tug/supply, platform supply and craned construction vessels. The company’s stated focus on high performance, innovation, reliability, quality and safety reflects its choice of Kongsberg Maritime as its preferred partner for the development of new anchor handling simulation tools.

(nebusiness.co.uk)

SOUTH Tyneside College is set to launch a revolutionary piece of training software for the cruise ship industry.

The college has teamed up with marine electronics giant Kongsberg Maritime to develop new software which, for the first time, allows both engineers and bridge staff to be trained together in live realistic exercises.

It will help cruise companies receive tangible financial benefits from insurance savings.

Chris Thompson, head of marine simulation at South Tyneside College, said: “This new software will revolutionise operational training for the cruise industry.

“Although training programmes already exist for bridge and engine room cruise vessels separately, there really is no substitute for training exercises which simulate a real-life situation in real time with the entire ship’s staff working together.”

(bymnews.com)

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.

(bymnews.com)

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.”

(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.