Maritime Simulators

STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Convention requires that simulators, when used for mandatory simulator-based training and/or when used as a mean to demonstrate competence (assessment), shall be approved by the relevant maritime administration.

Maritime simulators can be used to train the full maritime environment. Simulators fidelity can vary from a 360-degrees full motion simulator to a desktop workstation. In the education of Deck Officers Bridge, Simulators to train skills according to the STCW Convention (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) are required. Advanced Ship operations like maneuvering in ports, with tug assistance, close to platforms including communication with other ships and land stations can be trained on a Bridge Simulator.

Other applications for the Bridge Simulators are Dynamic Positioning training, for Offshore or Cruise operations, approved by the Nautical Institute. Also increasingly often sea ice and ship over icing is simulated. Marine simulators can also be used for ship modeling as well harbor and fairways design. The quality of the hydrodynamic description for ships and offshore structures are of most importance in these advanced operations.

Engine room and cargo handling simulators can be connected to modern bridge simulators to execute complex training. Several types of simulation stations can be joined in massive operations to conduct Safety training where communication between land stations, platforms and vessels is the main focus.

Some applications of Maritime Simulators are:

  • Bridge simulators, training;
  • Navigation and Bridge Team Management.
  • Navigation Systems; Radar and ARPA, ECDIS and AIS.
  • GMDSS simulator;
  • Communication training.
  • Engine room simulator.
  • Crane simulators.
  • Dynamic positioning simulators.
  • Cargo handling simulators.
  • Offshore Vessel and anchor handling simulators.
  • VTS – Vessel traffic services simulators.

The largest manufacturers today are Kongsberg http://www.km.kongsberg.com and Transas http://www.transas.com.