Kongsberg Digital AS has cemented
its long-standing position as the pri-mary
supplier of simulation software
and hardware to the Australian Mari-time
College (AMC), with the recent
confirmation of a new Long-Term Sys-tem
Support Program (LTSSP).
Kongsberg Digital (KDI) Area Sales Man-ager
Paul Gilkison and AMC principal
Michael van Balen signed the agreement
– the third successive five-year contract
between the two parties. Mr van Balen
explains, the continuing relationship with
KDI provides stability in AMC’s training
methodology. “Simulation is an integral
part of our training,” he says. “It gives
us the capability to run any number of
scenarios in a repeatable fashion, which
not only benefits the students but also
enables us to learn in the teaching envi-ronment
as well.”
Mr Gilkison adds that the agreement dem-onstrates
Kongsberg Digital’s ongoing
commitment to meeting the diverse tech-nology
and support needs at the AMC.
“Our continuing engagement allows the
AMC to make sure that the product we
are delivering is actually going to address
the needs of the maritime community,” he
says.Mr Gilkison points out that software
is continually subject to improvements
over the life of the LTSSP. “This year, we
hope to be able to roll out the new K-Sim
Navigation platform for the AMC, which
will provide more offshore simulation sce-narios
as well as handling traditional ship
navigation training.”
Damien Freeman from the AMC’s Cen-tre
for Maritime Simulations says K-Sim
Navigation represents a groundbreak-ing
move into next-generation platform
functionality, including virtual reality
interactions (VRI). “VRI enables a stu-dent
PAGE 22 THE MARITIME SIMULATION NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2019
to be placed in simulation exercises
on the deck of a ship, in the engine room
or on the bridge, experiencing and inter-acting
with the simulated environment
as they would in the real world.“K-Sim
Navigation is based on a cutting-edge
technology platform and will enable more
realistic training scenarios and enhanced
user benefits for both instructors and
students. An advanced new physical
engine and state-of-the-art hydro-dynamic
modelling will allow vessels,
objects and equipment to behave and
interact as in real life. Mr Freeman adds
that K-Sim functionality will enable all
AMC simulators to be integrated seam-lessly
to enable common exercise for full
crew resource management training.
AMC’s Maritime Simulation Centre fea-tures
a full mission ship’s bridge simula-tor,
two 360° tug simulators, a full mis-sion
engine room simulator, an advanced
DP simulator, six basic DP simulators, six
ship operations cubicles and an 18-seat
electronic chart display laboratory. The
facilities bridge the gap between practice
and theory and are used for research into
port development, ship manoeuvring,
improving ship and port safety, training
seafarers and teaching undergraduates.
AUSTRALIA
AMC and KONGSBERG eye potential for
VR training with renewed support program
PRESS RELEASE
PHOTO: Kongsberg Digital and Australian Maritime College (AMC) have signed an agreement on
a further commitment of simulation support. Left, Paul Gilkison, Area Sales Manager, Kongsberg
Digital: right, Michael van Balen, Principal of AMC.