Scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2019, it will be the largest marine simulation training centre in the UK. The contract with Wärtsilä, which was booked last month, also includes a five-year continuous service agreement.
“We are extremely proud to have been selected to provide the simulators for this very important training facility. The quality and flexibility of our solutions are the highest on the market, and have been developed to deliver the most realistic and valuable training possible for the marine officers of the future. The digital technology used aligns very closely with Wärtsilä’s Smart Marine initiatives, whereby high levels of digitalisation and connectivity are employed to deliver even greater efficiencies,” said Joonas Makkonen, Vice President, Voyage Solutions, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.
“The simulation centre will be a central pillar of our maritime education, training and research programme. We are very pleased to be able to call on the global experience and extensive industry knowhow of Wärtsilä in making this project a success,” said Syamantak Bhattacharya, Dean of Solent University’s Warsash School of Maritime, Science and Engineering.
The simulator complex will provide decision support, analysis, and training based on live data received from ships and ports. Wärtsilä will supply navigational bridges, engine room, liquid cargo handling, Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), and crane operation simulators.
Subsidiary Transas will provide the equipment technology. Transas was acquired by Wärtsilä in May, 2018. The company offers both land- and ship-based simulation systems that use digital twins of actual vessels covering all on board systems. Real data from the ship can also be used to replay on board operations for training purposes.
To date, more than 5,500 simulators have been delivered by Transas to some 1,300 customers in more than 90 countries.