Geir Olav Otterlei News

In a show of prototypes, a pod of unmanned sailboats from around the world competes to cross “The Atlantic” test tank in Horten, Norway. Cross the real ocean, and the Sail Bots race similarly challenges scholarly robotic-vessel designers to North America for a bit of station-keeping, collision-avoidance and “cargo moves”. For all, the future seems bright — the first commercial runs of unmanned vessels are underway or scheduled worldwide. These earliest movers have the support of governments, Google and grateful clients.

Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has opened its new Dynamic Positioning (DP) and Automation & Control training centre in Ålesund, Norway. The simulation centre provides students with real-life training to become proficient with operating DP controls, without the risk of using real ships in close proximity to real offshore installations. The training centre, temporarily based at the Ålesund University college campus, will move into the Rolls-Royce Training Centre in Ålesund, once that facility is completed in 2011. Geir Olav Otterlei, Rolls-Royce Service Manager DP said: “As the number of vessels with dynamic positioning (DP) systems increases…