Simulator Software News

The University College of Southeast Norway (USN) has contracted Kongsberg Digital to deliver a major upgrade of its maritime simulator park. The contract, signed on March 16, 2017, includes five new K-Sim ship’s bridge simulators to be delivered during Autumn 2017 in addition to a Long Term Simulator Support Programme (LTSSP), which provides dedicated support services in addition to updates to the latest KONGSBERG simulator software developments. The contract will result in an upgrade to the existing simulator park…

Specialist liquefied natural gas (LNG) training and simulation provider GTT Training has been awarded a contract by Teekay Shipping to supply the G-Sim LNG simulator software into its training centers in Glasgow, Manila and Bahrain. The contract includes the development of a ME-GI propulsion configuration based on the Teekay LNG carriers that have recently entered into service. This new configuration will be in addition to the 16 LNG vessel configurations already available within the G-Sim simulator software. Used to provide hands-on, real-time training in the processes and procedures that must be followed to undertake and complete any type of LNG cargo related operation…

GTT Training, subsidiary of Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), has announced that it has received a contract to supply its G-Sim LNG simulator software to L-3 DPA Inc. and Chevron. The contract involves the development of a new LNG Carrier model based specifically of the new LNG vessels owned and operated by Chevron. The G-Sim software will also interface with the Engine Room simulation equipment being provided to Chevron by L-3 DPA. Used to provide hands-on, real-time training in the processes and procedures that must be followed to undertake and complete any type of LNG cargo related operation, G-Sim provides full simulation of all the systems on a vessel that are involved in the management and handling of the LNG cargo and maintaining the vessel in a safe condition.

The Commonwealth of Australia (CoA), Department of Defence has contracted Kongsberg Maritime to develop and deliver a new K-Sim Engine simulator model to the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Cerberus training facility located south of Melbourne, Australia. The new model will run on the existing KONGSBERG K-Sim Engine desktop simulator delivered to HMAS Cerberus in 2013, which is maintained under a Long Term System Support Program (LTSSP) agreement signed in 2015. The customized simulator…

In a anticipation of the growing need for deck officers and masters experienced in operating in ice covered waters and as evidenced by the relatively rapid increase in vessel traffic in areas of the Arctic Ocean due to the receding ice coverage, the Alaska’s Institute of Technology (AVTEC) in Seward, Alaska has developed a comprehensive course of instruction in Ice Navigation. This two week course is directed toward masters and mates without or with minimal experience in ice covered waters. The course of instruction is a combination of classroom lectures, case studies and simulation exercises, operating various vessel models in a myriad of ice conditions. The AVTEC Ice Navigation course of instruction is U.S.

Cambridge Pixel unveils SPx Simulator to test and validate complex primary radar display applications. The sophisticated SPx Simulator software builds on Cambridge Pixel’s established SPx radar processing library to provide a flexible tool for system developers allowing multi-radar simulations or scenarios to be constructed including terrain effects, primary radar targets, secondary targets (AIS, IFF, ADS-B) and navigation data. The output of the simulator is a network stream of one or more primary videos in either SPx or Asterix formats, along with synchronised AIS tracks, primary tracks and NMEA 0183 navigation data. SPx Simulator is aimed at developers of military and commercial radar display applications including Command and Control (C2) systems…

ECDIS Ltd unveil Vstep Nautis Full Mission Bridge Simulator primarily for Bridge Team training but fitted with 4 ECDIS systems. UK based ECDIS training and consultancy company ECDIS Ltd unveiled the simulator at the opening of the facility by MP George Hollingbery in Southampton. The Bridge Simulator is to accompany the six smaller NAUTIS simulators already used for visual channels during the IMO 1.27 Model ECDIS Course. VSTEP are world renowned for their simulator software and have the capability of integrating their system with most ECDIS manufactures using standard NMEA strings as found onboard any vessel. The Bridge Simulator has been setup with two Radars and four ECDIS systems including OSI, Kelvin Hughes, JRC and Transas which are all full integrated.

UK based ECDIS training and consultancy company ECDIS Ltd unveiled a VSTEP NAUTIS full mission bridge simulator with a 315° viewing capability. It is to primarily be used for Bridge Team training but has been fitted with 4 different ECDIS systems all integrated with the NAUTIS software. The Simulator was opened last month by MP George Hollingbery in Southampton. The Bridge Simulator is to accompany the six smaller NAUTIS simulators already used for visual channels during the IMO 1.27 Model ECDIS Course.

L-3 MPRI announced the release of Version 5.0 of its Liquid Cargo Handling Simulator (LCHS) software called Safe Cargo. This release incorporates significant improvements to the performance, instructor features and configuration options currently available in the software suite. The release is fully compliant with the latest Windows operating systems and incorporates a new network communications infrastructure that improves the speed and stability of the simulator as well as system diagnostics and recovery. The configuration wizard allows an instructor to quickly define the required simulator configuration for the training exercise, selecting from multiple ship types, and assigning the student stations to be operated independently or in groups.

Kongsberg Maritime AS, Simulation & Training has made an agreement with the Research Council of Norway to form a user-directed research program called SIMAR - Simulation of Demanding Maritime Operations - which is aimed at improving simulation training by enhancing focus on human factors. The main goal of the research project is to obtain new and improved knowledge of human factors in a learning environment based on simulated complex maritime operations, in order to develop a new generation of research based, maritime simulators for demanding and risky operations, e.g.

Kongsberg Maritime Simulation & Training and Maersk Supply Service 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 use the technology and experience the two companies have gained over 10 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," said Albertus Zwiers, Director Technical Vessel Operations, Maersk Supply Service.

Computer Sciences Corporation has received a task order from the Navy Program Executive Officer for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) to develop shiphandling simulators and provide enhanced instructional support. The task order, which has one base year and four one-year options, has an estimated value to CSC exceeding $27 million if all options are exercised. Under the new award, CSC will provide both shore- and sea-based trainers to help naval officers improve their mariner skills under the Navy's Navigation, Seamanship and Shiphandling (NSS) program. CSC's Shiphandling Simulator software has been used to provide land-based training to the U.S. Navy for more than 15 years.

SECMAT NT has introduced industry-specific training simulator software dedicated to shore-based personnel, such as Coastal Station Operators, Coast Guards and Rescuers. In order to familiarize shore-based personnel to safety procedures, this PC-based simulator software, which has already been proven by the Canadian Coast Guard, specially handles GMDSS DSC procedures i.e. distress alert, distress call, urgency and safety announcements, routine and business calls. Also, it handles the management of radio resources and different kinds of alarms. It is compliant with all latest IMO and ITU recommendations (M.493, M.541, M.689 and M.1082).

Kongsberg Maritime Ship Systems (KMSS) has been awarded a contract to supply a Full Mission Ship Handling Simulator to the Novorossiysk Shipping Company's Russian facilities. The new simulator, which will utilize the most innovative KMSS simulator software packages, will include a user friendly KMSS Instructor Control, Monitoring and Debriefing facilities as well as a main visual bridge, a secondary bridge trio, software development station and a four-station PC Desktop Cargo Handling Simulator. To enhance the bridge's real-time simulation, the main bridge will have an effective KMSS style layout, while emphasizing the use of real hardware panels instead of screen based software controls.

Kongsberg Maritime Simulation concluded a $1 million refit of the largest simulated navigation bridge in the world at the end of 2006. The simulator is located at the Center For Marine Simulation (CMS) at Memorial University in St.John's, Newfoundland. The original Kongsberg Maritime simulator was delivered in 1992. The full mission system consists of a full size bridge, weighting 4 tons, mounted on a moving platform (built by CAE for use on the Boeing 747-400 aircraft simulators) actuated in all six degrees of the freedom of motion by hydraulic rams. The platform is surrounded by a 7 meter high projection screen with a 360 degree horizontal view.

Marine industry operations will grow and develop with highly trained workers as a result of the expansion and upgrade of the Full Mission Ship Simulator operated by the Texas Maritime Academy. The improvements were made possible by a $250,000 grant to Texas A&M University at Galveston by Houston Endowment Inc., a philanthropy endowed by Mr. and Mrs. Jesse H. Jones. Mike Kemp, vice president and CEO of the campus, said this funding will significantly assist the university in complying with operational standards and technological requirements established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). The Texas Maritime Academy is one of only six in the United States and the only one on the Gulf coast.

Marine industry operations will grow and develop with highly trained workers as a result of the expansion and upgrade of the Full Mission Ship Simulator used by the Texas Maritime Academy. The improvements were made possible by a $250,000 grant to Texas A&M University at Galveston by Houston Endowment Inc., a philanthropy endowed by Mr. And Mrs. Jesse H. Jones. Mike Kemp, vice president and CEO of the campus, said this funding will significantly assist the university in complying with operational standards and technological requirements established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). The Texas Maritime Academy is one of only six in the U.S. and the only one on the Gulf Coast.