(POLAND – MARCH 28, 2008) – The official opening of a brand new ECDIS classroom simulator at the Szczecin Maritime Academy took place on March 28, 2008. The school has enriched their training environment with a new Transas NTPro 4000 Virtual Bridge Simulator. The host of the opening ceremony was Institute of Marine Navigation represented by PhD Janusz Uriasz. The dedication was attended by the Rector of the Maritime Academy, Prof. Bolesław Kuźniewski PhD, and by Transas representative Mr. Dirk Halfpap, Vice Rectors Prof. Janusz Grabian PhD and Zbigniew Szozda PhD, and Master Mariner Wojciech Ślączka PhD.
The new simulator was started by Prof. Bolesław Kuźniewski PhD. Although the existing simulator was extended to provide eight user stations, the final version of the NTPro 4000 Virtual Bridge Simulator now consists of 16 user and two instructor stations. Each user station is equipped with full 3D view (360° visualisation), one of four selectable radar (Nucleus 4000, Furuno, BridgeMaster, BridgeMaster Pro), and a steering console designed individually for every vessel. The ECDIS console with Navi Sailor 3000i is equipped with ENC, ARCS and Transas charts.
The exercise areas cover the most frequently visited ports and waterways, and the simulator itself allows the user to select from dozens of ship models.
Main functions:
– ENC, ARCS, Transas chart handling
– Four radar simulation
– Full 3D view
– Bridge and deck equipment simulation
– ARPA simulation
– Tug assistance control function
– Berthing/unberthing function
– Anchor handling
– SAR planning
– Emergency situation simulation
– Automatic assessment module across two classrooms.
One of the main functionalities of a simulator is the ECDIS training. “ECDIS is an electronic navigation system working in real time, which integrates different position systems and other navigational equipment with electronic charts. These types of simulator are able to provide a wide range of educational courses. The main aim of such courses is to increase the safety at sea through a proper educational process covering ECDIS usage,” says Andrzej Bąk Ph.D. Chief Mate and Head of the Marine Navigation Institute (part of Szczecin Maritime Academy). “In order to achieve satisfactory results, we need to give officers the correct knowledge accurately supported by hardware and software. It creates an understanding of the rules and interdependence in ECDIS systems.”
