UK’s Port of Milford Haven has unveiled a new marine navigation simulator provided by Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) in order to ensure safe navigation.
Developed using MARIN’s Dolphin software, the new navigation suite will provide training and exercise.
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Equipped with a bridge simulator, tug or alternate vessel simulator, VTS suite, debriefing room, kitchen and breakout area among others, the facility offers pilot, captain and crew training, as well as scope for vessel manoeuvring trials.
It also allows incident investigations and provides awareness courses for leisure users, along with tug master training.
Port of Milford Haven deputy harbourmaster and pilotage operations manager Steve Hardcastle said: “This is going to be an important facility for us and, we believe, the industry too.
"We’ll use it for training our own pilots who are required to manoeuver some of the world’s largest vessels inside the deep, but relatively narrow channel of the Milford Haven Waterway.
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By GlobalData“The suite’s adaptability means that training scenarios can address both standard and extreme conditions but also allows training in emergency scenarios such as failure of a ship’s equipment and machinery.
"The facility will be promoted for use by others in the maritime industry.”
The simulator suite’s modular design helps in creating complex port-wide scenario.
The system can be modified to show the influence of all external effects such as wind, waves, tidal currents, shallow water, bank suction, ship-to-ship interaction, tug and berthing line forces, collision forces and others.
The water depth / draft dependent models provide complete fore, aft, port and starboard vision and manoeuvrability.
Various vessel programmes of the simulator have been designed to show corresponding seakeeping behaviour and controls.
Apart from offering connectivity throughout the suite, the system also provides access to employees who can help with exercises or perform simulations on behalf of others.
Image: Port of Milford Haven’s new marine navigation simulator. Photo: courtesy of Port of Milford Haven.
