Transas signs contract for Full Mission Bridge Simulator in Germany

July 2008 – Flensburg, Germany. Transas Europe is pleased to announce the contract for another major ship handling simulator project in Germany. Further to a successful European tender process, Transas was awarded the contract for a Full Mission Bridge Simulator at the German University Of Applied Sciences in Flensburg in mid May 2008.

Located on the border with Denmark, the university was founded in 1886 and offers a wide range of economic and technical courses for approximately 3000 students. The new bridge simulator is a key element of an exciting new degree programme for Maritime Transport, Navigation and Logistics which was recently established at the campus. The simulator enables a wide range of basic and advanced nautical training for students and professional mariners.

The university already operates a small Transas simulator with two bridges, each fitted with a visualisation system of 60° horizontal field of view (HFoV). For the growing number of students and the expanding training requirements, this equipment was no longer sufficient. Nevertheless it will remain in operation as an additional training tool alongside the new simulator.

For the current project, Transas’ scope of delivery comprises the latest release of Navi-Trainer 4000 Professional software (version 4.62) and hardware for four ship bridges which are supervised by two instructor stations. The realistic consoles of the main bridge include a complete set of dedicated ship controls (e.g. real POD drives, machine telegraphs, analogue gyro rep eaters etc.) and professional displays for all important bridge functions (Conning, Radar/ARPA, ECDIS, GMDSS/communication). The bridge cabin mock-up with angled windows, plus the professional 3D projection system with 270° HFoV add to the realism of the setup and exceed the DNV (Det Norske Veritas) requirements for class A simulators.

Three smaller “Part Task Bridges” will enable multi-bridge sessions and more complex scenarios with several bridge teams. These bridges will have a similar console layout, but with a smaller set of dedicated hardware controls, a visualisation system of 120° each and no bridge mock-up. They fulfil DNV class B requirements for bridge simulators.

Preparation, execution and debriefing of all exercises (single or multi-bridge in common or separate scenarios) is carried out at the two instructor stations. These comprise additional functions as a VTS operator workplace, two workplaces with a free adjustable 3D real time view on any location of the virtual 3D gaming areas (e.g. for monitoring collision evasion behaviour of the trainees) and equipment to monitor the Radar, Conning and ECDIS displays on all bridges in real time.

All GMDSS/communication (ship-ship / ship-shore) is supported by Transas’ fully synchronised software solution TGS 4100 (Transas GMDSS Simulator) that is supplied on every station and controlled from the instructor stations.

Training courses will familiarise the future instructor and maintenance personnel with all applications and options that the simulator provides.

The time frame for delivery, installation and commissioning of the simulator is relatively short, and the system is due to be operational by mid September 2008.