(DUNKIRK, France) — Transas has installed the fifth simulator for high-level training for pilots who operate in the port of Dunkirk. The pilot station is now equipped with the latest generation of the Transas navigational simulator Navi-Trainer Professional 5000, whose capabilities allow steering any kind of ship in combination with any propulsion and steering system available on the market.
The compact simulator version was particularly adapted to the Dunkirk station's budget and training objectives. Vertical field of view was optimized by using two rows of big LED screens and a totally new console design. Fifteen 55-inch screens with 210 degrees of visualization give pilots an impression of a realistic situation. The center console can be turned 90 degrees on each side to re-create a perfect bridge wing viewing position when pilots need it. A big space was allocated to the instructor and debriefing area, where all the simulator data is available for intensive playback sequences: tracks and trends contours, radar video, 3D selective visual channels, bridge CCTV, audio and video recording.
The project initially started in 2008 with the development of the Dunkirk harbor and Calais ferry terminals. Small groups of pilots, trained by Transas, collected and sorted all the original data. More than 20,000 photos of each object, building and landmark were made in the environment of the port of Dunkirk and its surroundings. Each of the objects was precisely located by GPS in order to create the specific high-level day and night texturing simulation areas, based on information from the Dunkirk station electronic navigational charts. The Transas Model Wizard software suite was used for the area development as the pilot station invested in this latest tool version to maintain and upgrade their gaming area. The shots of the objects were incorporated into the software to obtain an accurate digital map of the port, so that the instructor can simulate any situation and create all types of weather conditions.
The simulation complex allows users to anticipate the changes in the port environment, model safe navigation and improve docking conditions depending on the vessel size, which has a recent tendency to increase. It also enables training on deep sea and coastal navigation, automatic radar plotting aids, electronic chart display and information systems, automatic identification systems, and on special operations like PPU, pilot boats, tugs, escort tugs, azipods and emergency maneuvers.
The official opening ceremony of the simulation complex was attended by various authorities and representatives of all major French pilot stations. Dunkirk pilot station comments: "This new training tool developed and delivered by Transas will allow pilots to anticipate ship-handling trainings in all weather conditions in our large industrial port area including lochs and new berthing places. We already modeled the implementation of the new LNG terminal even before it was built to accommodate under the best safety conditions the first LNG tanker call planned for the last quarter of 2015."
