University's maritime simulation centre shortlisted for two awards

Solent University’s maritime simulation suite, has been shortlisted in two categories at the South East LABC Building Excellence Awards.

Officially opened in May 2019, the new centre has been shortlisted in the ‘Best Change of Use of an Existing Building’ and ‘Best Public Service or Educational Building’ categories.

The former IT suite at the University’s East Park Terrace campus was transformed into the UK’s largest and Europe’s most sophisticated maritime simulation suite. It was officially opened by Sir Michael Bibby Bt., DL, President of the UK Chamber of Shipping, on 21 May 2019.

The new facility houses the latest equipment and software from Wärtsilä including: eight full mission bridge simulators; over 50-part task simulators; a full mission engineering room simulator; high voltage simulators; liquid cargo simulators; on-and off-shore crane simulators; GMDSS radio communications and VTS suites; DP simulators; and four multi-purpose desktop simulation classrooms.

This state-of-the-art centre also offers the opportunity for several new specialist training courses, such as dynamic positioning, vessel traffic management and ice navigation.

Everything is networked for joint exercises between bridge and engine compartments, or ship and shore. The simulation centre also features hundreds of ship models, which are used by cadets and maritime professionals.

Designed with the future in mind, the new centre also features a ‘Virtual Shipyard’, to test ships which are in the process of being designed, or to create digital twins of existing ships. This allows officers to train in a virtual environment that mirrors their own workplace, further enhancing the experience.

The ‘Virtual Shipyard’ is also available for the undergraduate and postgraduate degree students on the University’s yacht design and production courses. Students l not only benefit from testing their designs in Solent’s own 60m towing tank but also in a virtually unlimited set of environmental parameters.

The centre also plays a pivotal role in the University’s maritime research - from Sea Traffic Management to the machine execution of COLREGS, and further studies looking at navigational safety and the human-machine interface and operations.

The winners of the coveted awards will be announced on the 8 September 2020.

Maritime Simulation Suite Facilities

Our new world-class simulation centre enables seafarers to train on the very latest specialist facilities using the most advanced Wärtsilä technology:

• 8 full-mission navigational bridges
• Full mission engine room simulator
• Over 50 part task simulators
• Full-mission Dynamic Positioning (DP) simulator and 6 DP stations
• 4 multi-purpose desktop simulation classrooms
• 2 Electronic Chart Display Information System (ECDIS) suites
• On-shore and off-shore crane simulators
• Liquid cargo operations simulators (LICOS)
• High Voltage (HV) simulators
• GMDSS radio communications suites
• Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) suites
• 4 debriefing classrooms, with replay capability for effective debriefs
• All simulators and classrooms interconnected with 35,000m of data cable for joint exercises
• Virtual Shipyard to build digital twins of existing ships or ships under design/construction