Manoeuvring simulation on the bridge for predicting motion of real ships and as training tool in ship handling simulators

International sea transport has growing rapidly dur-ing the period of the last decade. Ships became larg-er and wider and its container capacity is still in-creasing to 12.000 TEU and even more. To navigat

MODELING HYPERBARIC CHAMBER ENVIRONMENT AND CONTROL SYSTEM

Deep water activities are essential for many industrial fields, for instance in repairing and installation of underwater cables, pipes and constructions, marine salvage and rescue opera- tions. In some cases, these activities must be performed in deep water and hence require special equipment and prepared and experienced personnel. In some critical situations, re- motely controlled vehicles (ROVs) can't be used and a human diver intervention is required. In the last case, divers are required to perform work at high depths, which could be as low as 300m below the water surface. Usually, this is the limit depth for commercial diving and when operations must be carried out even deeper, ROVs remain only possibility to perform them. In the past, the safety regulations were less strict and numerous operations on depth of 300-350 meters of seawater were conducted. However, in the beginning of the 90s gov- ernments and companies started to impose limits on depths of operation; for instance, in Norway maximum operational depth for saturation divers is limited to 180 meters of sea- water (Imbert et al., 2019). Obviously, harsh environmental conditions impose various limitations on performed activi- ties; indeed, low temperature, poor visibility and high pressure make it difficult not only to operate at depth, but even to achieve the point of intervention. One of the main problems is related to elevated pressure, which rises for about 1 bar for each 10 meters of water depth and could achieve up to 20-25 bars at required depth, while pressure inside divers\u2019 atmospheric diving suites must be nearly the same. Considering this, there are several evident limitations. First is related to the fact that at high atmospheric pressure oxy- gen becomes poisonous for human body and special breath gas mixtures are required to avoid health issues. The second one is maximum pressure variation rate which would not cause damage for the human body; indeed, fast compression or decompression could easily cause severe damages and even death of divers. Furthermore, surveys found that circa 1/3 of divers experience headache during decompression which usually last for at least several hours and up to several days (Imbert et al., 2019). The same study indicates that majority of the divers experience fatigue after saturation and it lasts on average more than 4 days before return to normal. Obviously, risk of accidents increases with high number of compression- decompression cycles. To address these issues, in commercial deep water diving the common practice is to perform pressurization only one time before the start of the work activity which typically lasts 20-30 days and consequent depressurization after its end. Hence, divers are living for several weeks in isolated pressurized environments, typically placed on board of a Dive Support Vessel (DSV), usually barge or a ship, and go up and down to the workplace using submersible decompression chamber also known as the bell. While long-term work shifts provide numerous advantages, there is still necessity to perform life support supervision of the plant, the bell and the diving suits, which require presence of well qualified personnel. Currently, most of training activities are performed on empty plant during idle time, but obviously this approach is low efficient and costly, as well as accom- panied by the risk to broke equipment. To address such issues, this research project proposes utilization of simulator of plant and its life support system, devoted to train future Life-Support Supervisors (LSS), taking into account gas dynamics, human behaviour and physiology as well as various aspect of opera- tion of saturation diving plants

The use of maritime simulation for training

This thesis is a study of the growth in maritime simulation in general and its use as a training aid with specific reference to the need for shiphandling simulator programs in Iran. The history of the development of radar and shiphandling simulators is examined and the development of maritime simulators in different countries is outlined. The simulator training programs of three different institutes are looked at as representing different training systems in the world. A training program at the cadet level for the Nautical College of Chabahar is proposed which will cover the four years of the B.Sc program. A series of courses at master, mate and pilot level have been established with the view that maximum advantage can be taken during the times that simulators are not in use for the cadets. The present limitations imposed by the use of simulators are explored and the consequent restrictions on simulator training are discussed. An evaluation of shiphandling simulators and the factors effecting the validity of simulator training is commented upon. Conclusions are drawn and recommendations made with the view to maximizing the benefits to be gained from the use of simulators for skill acquisition and enhanced experience in the maritime world

Emergency management competence needs: Education and training for key emergency management personnel in a maritime Arctic environment MARPART2-(MAN), Project Report 2

This report focuses on competence demands among key management personnel responsible for maritime emergency response. The report has a special focus on competence challenges related to operations in an Arctic environment

Navigation in the Arctic. How can simulator training be used for assessment and reduction of risk?

Over the recent years, the ship traffic in the polar areas has increased. There is reason to believe that this traffic, and especially the cruise traffic, will increase further as the ice retracts towards the poles. There is also reason to believe that with the continued focus and exposure of the Polar Region, the cruise tourism to the region will grow.The increased presence in the polar areas will create positive repercussions for several actors, both on sea and land. There will however also be negative consequences associated with the growing presence in the polar areas. Vessels will be operating with long distance to other vessels and land infrastructures. These vessels will also be operating in climate and conditions that will put extra pressure on both vessel and crew. These challenges need to be solved in order for the ship industry to operate safely in the Polar Region. The thesis is focused on navigation in the Arctic, and especially how the use of simulator exercises can be used for assessment and reduction of risk. The first part of the thesis is related to study of literature as a method for collecting theory and background information for the thesis. The theoretical basis is then used for performing a preliminary hazard analysis for navigation in the Arctic. Based on the results from the analysis it is described how simulator training can be used as a risk-reducing measure for operation in the Arctic. It is also described for which hazards simulator training is an effective measure and for which hazards other techniques will be more useful

Assessing the effectiveness of direct gesture interaction for a safety critical maritime application

Multi-touch interaction, in particular multi-touch gesture interaction, is widely believed to give a more natural interaction style. We investigated the utility of multi-touch interaction in the safety critical domain of maritime dynamic positioning (DP) vessels. We conducted initial paper prototyping with domain experts to gain an insight into natural gestures; we then conducted observational studies aboard a DP vessel during operational duties and two rounds of formal evaluation of prototypes - the second on a motion platform ship simulator. Despite following a careful user-centred design process, the final results show that traditional touch-screen button and menu interaction was quicker and less erroneous than gestures. Furthermore, the moving environment accentuated this difference and we observed initial use problems and handedness asymmetries on some multi-touch gestures. On the positive side, our results showed that users were able to suspend gestural interaction more naturally, thus improving situational awareness

The use of a shiphandling simulator to complement practical training at the Saudi Border Guard Naval Institute [SBGNI]

The dissertation introduces the use of a shiphandling simulator to complement the theoretical training of students at the Saudi Border Guard Naval Institute. A review of the requirements of the 1995 STCW Convention in regard to the use of simulators for training and assessment and the implementation of a quality standard system is undertaken. The training of students and also of experienced mariners is a task for which simulators have become an increasingly valuable tool. The use of simulators for training purposes is especially important for MET institutions in which the practical training of students on board training ships is decreasing and in those areas in which the use of real vessels for training shows a risk to the mariner, to the vessel, to property and to the environment. The background to the development and use of simulators is considered at length and the possibility of having simulators for both training and assessment of performance at the Institute is discussed. One of the conclusions is that trainees at the Institute can be trained in manoeuvring conditions that would take many years to encounter in real life, and that due to the modernisation of the fleet, the experienced mariner can benefit from this type of training when required to transfer to ships of different size, type, propulsion, manoeuvring systems and modem navigational equipment The dissertation concludes that a change is appropriate, if the SBGNI wants to modernise the programs and curriculum and that the actual theoretical training does not guarantee the ability to perform. This would be the role of simulation, to produce practical situations so that trainees could gain experience under controlled and repeatable conditions