PRODUCT NEWS
K-Sim GMDSS - from vision to reality
GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and
Safety System) simulators have been on
the market since the system itself took
effect in 1999, and KONGSBERG has
been at the forefront of GMDSS simula-tor
technology for decades. Accordingly,
the company finalised a decision in 2018
to produce a new GMDSS simulator that
would combine the most up-to-date
functionality with the user-friendliness
of the K-Sim Instructor interface that
has become such a familiar and popular
resource for our customers.
KONGSBERG’s procedure whenever
we develop new hardware or software
is to team up with users that have first-hand
knowledge of the product area. In
this instance, we are collaborating close-ly
with the Maritime Institute Willem
Barentsz (MIWB) trade school. Henk
Spanjer, a lecturer at the institute, has a
great deal of experience in topics related
to sea safety and survival, and his advice
has been an invaluable aid to decision-making
during the development stages
THE MARITIME SIMULATION NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2019 PAGE 13
of the new GMDSS simulator.
This is an important aspect, as we are
aiming considerably higher than merely
achieving the minimum standard. Mr.
Spanjer has an impressive breadth of
knowledge when it comes to SAR and
pedagogic requirements, so his input will
help to ensure that the final product will
be adapted to meet users’ needs. “Our
vision for the new simulator has been
very clear,” observes Product Advisor
Bjarne Wulff. “Most of the specification
work has already been completed, and
the programming is well under way. The
final product is still a little way off, but the
parts that are ready are highly encourag-ing.
We have implemented 3D technolo-gy
with mouse and/or finger interaction
on our student stations, while the EPIRB
is already done and looks amazing.”
The plan is to integrate all GMDSS re-quirements
in layers on the instructor
station. The instructor will then be able to
turn these layers on and off as appropri-ate,
according to the learning objectives
in each exercise. All radio systems will op-erate
realistically when it comes to user
settings such as frequencies, squelch
settings, gain and power, which is just
one area in which the new simulator will
surpass standard requirements. The new
Inmarsat I-4 satellite constellation will be
implemented, and the simulator system
will be ready for next-generation connec-tivity
when services become available.
“We are working systematically with
the GMDSS features,” Bjarne Wulff
adds, “and expect testing and final tun-ing
to take place next year.” The plan
is to offer the product to customers in
two formats, either as a K-Sim GMDSS
simulator or as an integrated part of a
K-Sim Navigation system: The K-Sim
GMDSS simulator classroom edition,
where there are typically one instruc-tor
and several student stations, can be
integrated with other K-Sim Navigation
trainers, e.g. ECDIS and radar. “I’m very
much looking forward to the product’s
official release,” Bjarne Wulff concludes,
“when the vision has become reality
and all the fantastic details and features
can be revealed.”
BY: ANNE VOITH, MARKETING MANAGER, KONGSBERG DIGITAL
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ILLUSTRATION: BigView display of the new sophisticated K-Sim Engine DEDF Cruise Ferry simulator model.