Simulators are playing an increasingly important role in Rolls-Royce activities, said the company in a statement issued yesterday, to the benefit of offshore vessel customers and operators. Simulators for training crews can be located ashore or on the vessel itself.
The primary land-based training simulator in which Rolls-Royce plays a key role is the Offshore Simulator Centre in Ã…lesund, Norway, where complete offshore operations such as anchorhandling can be simulated under full size bridge conditions, with a realistic view through the ‘bridge windows’, using real controls.
Difficult operations can be tried out in the simulator, including equipment failure, ensuring that there is a minimum of risk when the operation is carried out at sea. New crews can also be trained in ship handling skills, and given confidence that they understand what may happen and have the skills and knowledge needed to respond safely and correctly.
The Offshore Simulator Centre (OSC) company was established in July 2004 to serve the international maritime community with new opportunities for improvement and innovation through simulation. It is jointly owned by Rolls-Royce Marine AS, Farstad Shipping ASA, Norwegian Marine Technology Research Institute (Marintek) and Ã…lesund University College.
By putting together the competence of a major international operator of modern offshore supply vessels, a global leader in marine propulsion, engineering and hydrodynamic expertise, the leading Norwegian research institute in marine technology and a major institution for higher maritime education in Norway, the Centre has a solid basis for its work. Regular courses are run in Ã…lesund covering basic and advanced anchorhandling and PSV operation.
This simulator expertise can also be transferred to other locations. For example, Groupe Bourbon has teamed up with the OSC to develop two anchorhandling simulators to help train crews for its vessels.
The Group is radically expanding its offshore fleet and expects to employ some 4,000 seagoing staff by 2010. Its aim is to provide standardised training as working conditions across the fleet become more similar. Courses in dynamic positioning are already being offered at Bourbon’s training centres in Marseilles, France, and Manila, Philippines, and the anchor-handling training will complement the existing activity at these locations.
Rolls-Royce has also developed compact simulator systems to be carried on board vessels and used by the crewmembers for improving their skills and for practicing operations before carrying them out in real life.
A simulator of this type used with the Safer Deck solution developed by Rolls-Royce was first installed on the anchorhandler Olympic Octopus last year and by the end of 2007 will be on board at least 20 ships.
In this simulator, a PC holds the software and displays the deck operations on a 32in screen. Input comes from the same type of hand-held control stick system as is used on deck. The screen image of the deck realistically reproduces the movements of the cranes, manipulators and other equipment in response to control stick movements.
The compactness of the simulator means that it can be located informally and used in the same way as a video game, enabling crew members to hone their skills whenever they like.
Navy Unveils Newest Ship Navigation, Bridge Simulator
SAN DIEGO (NNS) — Naval Base San Diego hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil its newest navigation, seamanship and ship handling trainer (NSST) on June 11.
NSST is a state-of-the art bridge simulator used to train ship crews in navigation and ship handling using virtual technology.
The NSST program was launched to improve training efficiency and effectiveness and to reduce training costs. The program updates the Navy’s current navigation, seamanship and ship handling training systems and provides high fidelity, user-friendly navigation training in all fleet concentration areas and on board Navy warships.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be here to do this ribbon cutting,” said Commander, Naval Surface Forces Vice Adm. Terrance T. Etnyre. “I firmly believe this is going to have a dramatic impact on the ability to train our officers and bridge crews to navigate and perform ship handling.”
The NSST system has already been established in Everett, Wash., Pearl Harbor, Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan.
“These simulators are designed essentially to create a virtual maritime environment identical to conditions you would experience at sea in a real ship,” said Garland Hardy, a sub-contractor assigned to provide NSST training. “That allows us to provide realistic training to the Navy for all aspects of navigation, ship handling and seamanship. We can teach people how to respond to dangerous situations and potentially catastrophic scenarios in an environment that is completely safe.”
M.E.B.A. and Armada Companies, LLC – Skaugen Petro Trans Form Offshore Terminal Lightering Partnership
CMES recently installed a cutting-edge Bridge Simulation System built by TRANSAS that allows students to simultaneously control ten simulated ships at once, utilizing any of 56 different types of vessels in over 20 different ports. The LNG cargo simulation program allows students to dock, load and discharge LNG vessels and even encompasses the terminal-side operations of an LNG facility. It also accommodates upgrades to adapt to ever-evolving Coast Guard and International Maritime Organization training and testing requirements.
Ship handling simulator commissioned
Kochi, May 16: A new state-of-the-art ship handling simulator, designed and manufactured indigenously, was commissioned at the navigation school here today.
The simulator which incorporates a ship’s bridge, radar displays, electronic chart display system, various shipboard navigation and propulsion systems and an interactive instructor console was formally commissioned by Vice-Admiral J S Bedi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, here. It has been designed and manufactured M/s Applied Research International, New Delhi.
The simulator will enable trainees to practice the art of ship handling in different scenarios and environmental conditions in open sea, within harbours and in restricted sea areas.
The heart of the ship handling simulator is the computer generated visual images which changes dynamically in response to instructor generated inputs, a naval press release said today.
The computer could be programmed with the characteristics of the different types of naval ships which would ensure that the movements of ships correspond closely to those of actual naval warships, the release said.
The facility would be used to train specialist navigators, foreign student officers, junior officers undergoing basic training and ship’s teams in the art of ship handling and navigation.
It would further enhance the stature of the Indian navy and the navigational school as a provider of high quality professional training not only to Indian navy personnel but also to personnel from the Indian Coast Guard, friendly foreign navies and maritime security agencies, it said.
Link: ARI
Bourbon invests in training
Besides ordering 110 vessels for its offshore services fleet, Paris-based Bourbon is in the process of doubling its workforce. It will recruit over 4,000 seamen by 2010, half of them officers.
That creates a training challenge.
Two simulators, one in France and the other in the Philippines, will be used by Bourbon to train captains, chief engineers and bridge officers in all maneuvers and exercises.
The simulators have been developed by Bourbon in collaboration with the Offshore Simulator Center in Aalesund, Norway,
Featuring a recreation of a real bridge and realistic visual supports, this simulator can reproduce an almost real situation on both visual and sensory levels.
The simulator systems allow “full mission” training, where crew members on deck and operators may engage in the simulation in addition to the navigators and other bridge crew such as winch operators.
Bourbon is using this technology and developing special training programs in anchor handling operations on tug supply vessels (AHTS).
The two simulators will facilitate standardized training programs worldwide for all Bourbon crews in a context in which the fleet is increasingly standardized thanks to a newbuilding expansion featuring long series of identical vessels.
Barco unleashes simulation solutions for 21st century
For those who are interested in cutting-edge night training, Barco will demonstrate the realistic stimulated night vision capabilities of the BarcoReality SIM 5plus. Also with the SIM 5plus, Barco will exhibit a multi-channel, high-fidelity maritime application on the curved-wall Reality Center to immerse users in the simulated environment; Barco’s portable xRACU multi-system control tool will operate, calibrate, and configure the system. Finally, Barco will give live demonstrations of SimCAD, Barco’s proprietary design tool which efficiently models visual display parameters and customer requirements. Demonstrations will run throughout the week.
Link: Barco
RP’s 1st maritime research center to rise in Zambales
San Narciso, Zambales (12 September) — The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) campus will soon raise the country’s first maritime research center intended for Filipino midshipmen, students, researchers, even professional in seafaring industry, Rear Admiral Fidel Dinoso announced.
This project will be in close cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which will be tapped as one of the conduits to gather books and other reference materials for the library, and later converted into maritime rearch center.
Feliciano Salonga, SBMA Chairman, escorted shipping industrialist Bienvenido Lim who brought along with him volumes of maritime books which will be stored at the PMMA library.
At present PMMA is undertaking modernization program like setting world-class simulator building to house the Full Mission Bridge, Engine and Cargo Handling Simulators. All of these simulators passed the highest quality of international seafaring standards. (PIA Zambales)
UK. International Marine Contractors Association members survey on simulator use
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.
South Korea. Transas secures another contract for Navi-Trainer Professional 4000 simulators
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.
Transas wins tender for Gothenburg Chalmers University’s Full Mission Ship Bridge Simulator
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.