Lord West opens new ship handling centre
Tuesday 21 June 2011
Warsash Maritime Academy – part of Southampton Solent University – officially launched its new manned model Ship Handling centre at Timsbury Lake today (21 June).
The University’s Chancellor, The Admiral The Right Honourable Lord West of Spithead opened the new £2.7 million centre during a special ceremony on Tuesday, 21 June.
As well as inviting representatives from the maritime industry to take a closer look at the new facility, the centre opened its gates to members of the public on Wednesday 22 June. Staff gave talks, guided walks and boat trips to more than 350 local residents who had made the trip to see the lake and the manned models in action.
The new Ship Handling Centre is a major investment to ensure the continued development of the University’s highly specialised maritime training facilities.
Southampton Solent University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Van Gore, said:
“The opening of the University's new world-class ship handling training centre will bring benefits to the international shipping industry and the regional economy.
“It forms part of a cluster of maritime related investment and new facilities in Southampton and the Solent region.
"And I am delighted that we have been able to do this in a sensitive way that respects and enhances the natural environment.”
Warsash Maritime Academy’s original internationally-renowned manned model shiphandling centre – one of only five in the world - was moved from its 10-acre Marchwood site to Timsbury, near Romsey, after it was identified as an ideal site for WMA’s first class training for the international shipping industry.
Bringing 21st century maritime training to Timsbury Lake marks the beginning of a new chapter in Timsbury’s history. The 9th century lake has, over the years, been a source of fish for the monks of Winchester, of water to drive a medieval water mill and the haunt of carp anglers.
Over the last year, work has been carried out on the lake to allow for ship models to navigate berths, basins and channels to recreate a variety of port scenarios, canal transits and berthing operations for officers and pilots to practice ship handling skills. It will allow complex maritime manoeuvres to be practised in complete safety, making it a key training tool for the shipping industry.
Safeguarding the ecology of the lake and its woodland surroundings has been a major element of the project so that, as well as providing world leading maritime training, Timsbury lake will also continue to be a haven for wildlife and a local natural asset.
Herons, buzzards, great crested grebes and wild geese are just some of the wildlife regularly seen by staff and pilots as they navigate the scale model vessels around the lake.
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