Innovations in Simulation technology
The User Conferences also cover in-sight
into new technology projects
that improve maritime training, and
this year was no exception. Steven C.
Mallam, Ass. Professor from the De-partment
of Maritime Operations at
the University of South-Eastern Nor-way,
presented the ongoing research
project, called InnoTraining, which is
investigating the use of Virtual Reality
headsets for maritime simulation train-ing.
This research program is develop-ing
and testing new Kongsberg Digital’s
VR simulator prototypes for navigation
and marine engineering education.
InnoTraining is investigating train-ing
effectiveness, skills retention and
automated performance assessment
techniques, such as eye-tracking, of
this promising technology. Since the
research project is still in progress and
will be completed in 2021, we look for-ward
to presenting the final results in a
future conference.
Simulation used for predicting the
behaviour of autonomous vessels
Simulation is a vital part of the digital
twin concept used for vessel prototyp-ing,
operational verification, prediction,
analysis and the training of operators.
As autonomous vessel projects have
started to permeate the maritime in-dustry,
the request for operational
verification of the vessel as well as
training of onshore operators has be-come
a new way of using the simula-tors.
KONGSBERG is in the forefront
when it comes to autonomy studies.
An-Magritt Tinlund Ryste, Project
Manager in Kongsberg Maritime, gave
a most interesting presentation about
several autonomy projects, including
the benefits, challenges and the need
for thorough simulation testing and
training.
“You can imagine that the autonomous
vessels we are actually looking to de-velop
are quite expensive assets. Taking
any kind of risk with them is unaccep-table
and is not going to happen. That
is why we need to train extensively us-ing
the simulators to make sure that the
technology and products we are taking
forward are safe enough to be used on
these types of ships,” An-Magritt ex-plains.
“In the simulator you have bet-ter
control of what the input is and the
expected output, and if that differenti-ates
you can always go in and see what
happened in that space, almost like a
black box.”
Requirements for improved safety, ef-ficiency
and sustainbility drives the au-tonomy
projects. However, It’s not like
autonomy is all or nothing, An-Magritt
concludes. “There are so many facets
in between. All ships will not be autono-mous
in the future and not necessarily
unmanned either,”
Back to the 50s
One of the highlights during the
conference was the cocktail & dinner
party on the Wednesday evening,
which had a 50s theme in line with
the glorious days of the SS Rotterdam.
Delegates were encouraged to dress
up as captains, chiefs, other crew
members or passengers. Although
there were many excellent candidates
for the coolest attire awards, four lucky
winners really stood out and went on to
receive the prestigious prize.
The Simulation User Conference 2020
“We are pleased that so many found
time in their busy work schedule to
meet, network and contribute their
knowledge towards building a strong
simulation community,“ comments Sen-ior
VP Sales, Tone-Merete Hansen.
“In 2020, Kongsberg Digital plan to have
one Global User Conference, which will
be located in Singapore. We are very
much looking forward to bringing the
community together again and to con-tinue
PAGE 8 THE MARITIME SIMULATION NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2019
exploring new training methods,
innovations and opportunities together
with the members.”
Dates for the User Conference in Sin-gapore
will soon be released. Please log
into K-Sim Connect to receive further
information. n
PHOTOS: Main photo: the winners of the coolest award attire, from left Veerle Van Driessche, Dirk Reedijk, Helga Van Noten and Miguel Ferguson.
Pictured left are several members of Kongsberg Digital’s sales and business team, from left: Svein Holmboe, Erik Hovland, Lars Klemmetsby, Clayton
Burry and Owen Brine. Photo to the bottom left: Tone-Merete Hansen used the opportunity during the dinner to thank Simwave for its good work
in co-hosting the event, from left: Tone-Merete Hansen, Senior Vice Presidenc, KDI, Cinthya Lopes, Instructor, Simwave and Marcel Kind, Managing
Director, Simwave. (Note: the pink colur in some of the photos is because og the lightning in the room during the award ceremony.)