Navy Unveils Newest Ship Navigation, Bridge Simulator

Chief Quartermaster Scott Ramsey and Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Cliff Monroe, both assigned to Afloat Training Group Middle Pacific (ATG MIDPAC), man the lee helm and helmsman positions of a bridge watch team during a Navigation, Seamanship and Shiphandling Trainer (NSST) simulation of an underway replenishment at ATG MIDPAC. NSST is a state-of-the-art bridge team trainer designed to replicate the environment found on the bridge of a Navy ship and utilizes life-like scenarios with visual simulations to train Navy bridge teams. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephanie Tigner, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific

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.”

Quartermaster 1st Class (SW) Jose Loya, assigned to Afloat Training Group, Pacific, said the training was very realistic. “If you know you are going to do an underway replenishment, you can come here, jump on the simulator and try to get the effect,” said Loya. “It’s going to benefit the Navy and all the ship handlers out there.”