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 Liverpool John Moores University.

The POLARIS simulator provided by KMSS includes three fullyequipped and integrated ship bridges, three instructor control stations, 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 Maritime Center for a wide range of training courses, from the introduction 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 manager 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 weather conditions. He adds: "Providing pilotage training facilities maximizes the potential of the simulator where realistic and highlydetailed 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 realistic 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 accreditation from Det Norske Veritas for STCW95 training. Specific training 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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