Page 52: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 2001)

Training & keeping tasks, collision avoidance, communications, at-sea, deep-water maneuvering and other training that does not require highly refined ship models. These systems will typically employ simple 3 degree of free- dom ship models, with little, if any, differences between the fidelity of the ownship models and the fidelity of the target ship models in the simulation.

These simple models display motions that rotate about the center of gravity, tipping center or turning center, but they do not display transverse motions rep- resenting physical displacement of the vessel's center of gravity. Essentially, these simple models can wob- ble the ship over one point, but they cannot slide the ship laterally away from a position, or bob it up and down as in a squat simulation. Simple three degree of freedom modeling is typically used in CBT simulators as well.

Limited Task Simulator in Maritime Training

The NRC Category 3 Limited Task trainer is a simu- lator designed to support training objectives for specif- ic tasks and competencies, associated with equipment and limited underway operations that do not require a visual scene (blind bridge). The Category 3 simulator is used for radar, Automated Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA), Electronic Chart Display Information System (ECDIS), Automated Information Systems (AIS), Ves- sel Traffic Systems (VTS) and chartwork/pilotage training. The key differences between the Category 3

Limited Task simulator and the Category 4 Special

Task simulation system are that the Category 3 system provides separate interaction between ownships, limit- ed bridge settings and realistic equipment, interactive maritime based communications between vessels and physical separation between bridges, along with guid- ed instruction from a simulation trained instructor.

Category 3 simulators can employ simplistic modeling for the vessels and environment and use simulated bridge equipment rather than real hardware. The objective of the Category 3 system is to provide a lim- ited underway setting, so that program objectives may be practiced and assessed within an appropriate con- text of realism. If the same objectives are assessed using the Category 4, Special Task systems, or CBT trainers, the objectives lose operational context and the resultant training and assessments can become con- trived, computational routines, rather than maritime proficiency training.

The Role of the Category 4 Special Task Trainer

The evolution of higher fidelity, well crafted Com-

MITAGS is well equipped to handle any marine training and edu- cation need. puter Based Training (CBT) tools is providing an opportunity to augment the assets used in support of training objectives. CBT training aids are NRC catego- rized as class IV Special Task simulators, capable of simulating specific instruments or limited navigation scenarios. CBT trainers are excellent tools for isolat- ing specific narrow tasks, within narrow contexts for illustrating parameters and situations, which may be overlooked in a more dynamic environment. In this capacity, the CBT training aid excels, and it should be embraced as such. It would be an error to replace the

Limited and Full Mission simulation task objectives with CBT, due to the lack of fidelity inherent in these devices. Recently, manufacturers of CBT equipment have volunteered that their equipment may be a suit- able replacement for FMSS simulation in the area of shiphandling training. Shiphandling requires funda- mental control of the complex, finite, lateral ship motions and interactions between vessel and topologi- cal features. Shiphandling is a blend of science and art, and shiphandling proficiency can only be developed through applying maneuvering methods using a real ship or a simulated environment that best approaches the behavior and setting of a real ship. The appropri- ate simulator for shiphandling training is a Category 1

Full Mission system (FMSS). Part-task understanding and limited, focused shiphandling competencies may be practiced on a CBT trainer, but proficiency will not

KMSS Supplies Unit To

Lairdside Maritime Center

The only Full Mission simulator with a 360-degree visual bridge in the U.K. was constructed and installed by Kongsberg Maritime

Ship Simulation (KMSS) at the Lairdside Maritime Center at Liv- erpool John Moores University.

The POLARIS simulator provided by KMSS includes three fully- equipped and integrated ship bridges, three instructor control sta- tions, and GMDSS and VTS control stations. KMSS's powerful

POLARIS software manages the simulation environment and allows different sea and weather conditions to be set to produce an extremely realistic training environment.

Lairdside Maritime Center provides training in ship-handling for ship owners and operators as well as port authorities.

The simulator installed by KMSS is being used by Lairdside Mar- itime Center for a wide range of training courses, from the intro- duction and practice of basic ship-handling to training in specific ship types including passenger vessels, container ships and offshore support craft. "A modern KMSS simulator has enormous potential and can be used for as many scenarios and maritime training purposes as the mind can imagine," said Lairdside Maritime Center simulator man- ager Joe Butler. The KMSS simulator is readily configurable for specific ship types using ship modeling software, and bridge panels and units can be repositioned or replaced for specific ship type training. "The 360-degree visual display has a variety of uses, particularly in pilotage exercises and training where visual references for ship positioning and maneuvering are essential," explains Butler. In tug control training the KMSS simulator enables difficult docking and undocking maneuvers to be tested and practiced in limiting weath- er conditions. He adds: "Providing pilotage training facilities max- imizes the potential of the simulator where realistic and highly- detailed all-round views of locks and quaysides is essential using specialist 3D generating hardware."

Bridge-wing navigation can also be practiced thanks to specialist

KMSS software that is used in addition to the all-round view to recreate key visual references such as ship-to-ship distance lines.

This enables navigators to practice precise maneuvers in very real- istic and testing conditions such as during replenishment at sea or when working in close proximity with other vessels. "With the new generation of simulators, ship handling and tug maneuvering training has become as realistic as possible," says

Butler. "Theory gets put into practice and the chosen response can be compared and contrasted with the actions of others during our comprehensive debrief sessions."

The KMSS simulator at Lairdside Maritime Center has accredita- tion from Det Norske Veritas for STCW95 training. Specific train- ing courses are also approved to Flag State standard, which in the case of Lairdside Maritime Center is the UK MCA (Maritime and

Coastguard Agency).

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