World Class Smartship Simulator

One of the world’s most sophisticated shipping simulators is being used by Australia’s leading maritime pilotage company, Australian Reef Pilots (ARP), to enhance its state-of-the-art combination/suite of safety and training initiatives.

ARP uses the Smartship Australia (Smartship) facility in Brisbane to give its pilots a realistic experience on the bridge of a ship in a vast array of shipping scenarios.  

Smartship provides a world-class training environment and cutting-edge maritime simulation services to deliver strong safety outcomes and operational efficiencies for ARP. Smartship is a navigational and maritime centre of excellence operated as an arm of the Queensland Government Department of Transport and Main Roads. 

Smartship’s services are critical for the ongoing safety of Queensland’s maritime industry and underpin the efficiency of Queensland’s ports network and export growth.  

ARP CEO Simon Meyjes said he thoroughly endorsed the facility which complimented ARP’s commitment to the highest possible standards of training.

“Smartship is one of the world’s most advanced maritime simulators and is the perfect training tool for our pilots who navigate in some of the world’s most challenging waters; the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait,” said Mr Meyjes.

“Smartship is the perfect partner to our wide range of world’s best practice systems such as the Australian start-up ‘VoyageBank’ initiative, a state-of-the-art innovation which tracks and plots piloted ships’ movements in real time, at sea and shore side.” 

This state of the art navigational aid is used in conjunction with a Central Management System under which all pilots are equipped with a Portable Pilot Unit (PPU), a computer tablet which provides a ‘black box’ type record of every decision made by the pilot and every movement of the ship.

The PPUs are touch-screen units which operate German company SevenCs Orca G2 pilotage software. This precise navigation device, uses Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure, is customised by Seven Cs (a German electronic mapping company) which has incorporated approved Electronic Chart Display Information System (ECDIS) charting to suit the unique challenges of pilotage on the Reef.

ARP headquarters in Brisbane, Queensland can track the passage of ships on a large monitor, observing the pilotage from start to finish and noting any events outside normal parameters. 

Smartship’s simulators and training programs are adaptable to all navigational scenarios worldwide and can provide simulations for any ship in any port around the globe, this makes Smartship a highly valuable resource to upgrade skills and enhance safety for shipping everywhere.

The Smartship simulator was designed to overcome some of the most challenging waterways here in Australia and this strong focus on demanding passages and waterways makes Smartship a leader in terms of international excellence in maritime simulations and training.

Smartship Simulators

The centre has two full mission bridges, a tug simulator and two part task bridges. All bridges have a full suite of ship controls and communications equipment and are equipped with integrated navigation system NACOS 5th generation, manufactured by SAM Electronics. Simulators use a combination of high resolution projectors and LCD displays to deliver a realistic representation of port and ship models and weather events. 

Full Mission Bridge 1: The primary full mission bridge (FMB) simulator is 16 metres in diameter and 5 metres high with 360° field of view including connected bridge wings.

FMB 2: The secondary full mission bridge simulator is 12 metres in diameter with 240° field of view.
TUG simulator: The tug simulator has 360° field of view and the ability to simulate all tug propulsion systems, including rotor configuration.

Part Task Bridges 1 & 2: The 2 part task bridges simulators have 120° field of view.

The simulators can be operated independently or integrated in any arrangement depending on training needs including:   

•         ship manoeuvrability

•         ports and fairways

•         environmental factors such as wind, current, tide, rain, fog and day/night conditions

•         equipment malfunctions

•         top quality high-definition visuals.

•         Simulator software and hardware are provided in conjunction with FORCE Technology,  (http://www.forcetechnology.com/en/Header/News/NewsArchive/2010/December/