Escort Towage and Pilotage
UK's First Escort Tug Simulator
Lairdside Maritime Centre is proud to announce the launch of the UK's First Escort Tug Simulator.
The UK's first full active escort tug simulator is to be installed on Merseyside. The PolarisTM System, produced in Norway by Kongsberg Maritime Ship Systems AS, allows tug captains to learn how to escort large ships in completely safe, simulated environment.
The new training facility is an enhancement of the 360° ship's bridge simulator at Birkenhead based Lairdside Maritime Centre, part of Liverpool John Moores University. THe only one of its kind in th UK, it is expected bo be fully in service by November.
The £50,000 project has been jointly funded by Shell UK Ltd, Svitzer Marine and Wirral Waterfront, an initiative funded by the North West Development Agency. It will see the introduction of a 120° full mission ship's bridge simulator fitted with Z-drive controllers and detailed tug models, which will link to two further brdige simulators. This will allow complete communication and interaction between the tug, pilot and ship teams and will enable tug captains to reharse active escort towage and berthing of oil tankers in total safety.
Enhanced simulator training enables the centre to further develop its bridge team management training by creating a completely realistic experience for the tug captain, the port control centre and the ship's mster and pilot. The addition of the tug bridge offers simultaneous training of ship/pilot and tug personnel complete with ship/tug human interaction /team work factors. In particular this will make escort towing training, including emergency response manoeuvres, available in the UK for the first time. Up to now this particular aspect of simulator training has only been available in The Netherlands.
Initially the simulator tug model will be a twin azimuth stern drive tug with towing winch forward and bollard pull of 120 tonnes. Dimensions of the tug are 42.7m by 12.5m, with a draft of 4.9m. Eventually, the centre will develop new models of differing powers and sizes.
In the simulator bridge the tug thruster controls will be located to port and starboard of the manoeuvring console where they can be comfortably operated simultaneously by the tug master, using left and right hands respectivley, and with similar manipulation as used on the real tug. Therefore the techniques learned / practices in the simulator are directly transferable to the real tug.
George Franklin, Marine Manager at Shell's Stanlow refinery, says: "The new upgraed facility will not only provide an important training and competence development tool for the key players involved in the safe passage of tankers bound for Shell's Tranmere Oil Terminal, but will also contribute towards enhanced risk management on the Mersey River".
Svitzer Marine Limited, a member of the AP Moller Group of companies, is another of the key funders in this project. Managing Director Stuart McNiven says: "Safety is paramount in the Svitzer Marine organisation and any Project which enhances safety of marine operation is deserving of our support. We are proud to support this initiative in one of our key ports".
Shell UK Ltd has provided £25,000 of funding, and Wirral Waterfront and Svitzer Marine have each contributed £12,500 towards the project.
Reproduced, with permission from the September / October 2003 edition of International Tug & Salvage.
