The simulator will feature the latest versions of Wärtsilä’s Navi-Trainer professional and Techsim simulation software, as well as the latest Navi Sailor and NACOS Platinum bridge systems
The South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) and the Finnish Joint Authority of Education of Kotka-Hamina Region (Ekami) have ordered from Wärtsilä its latest simulator technology for Finland’s new maritime training centre. The simulator, booked by the company in November, will be delivered in August 2024 and installed in Xamk’s new campus in Kotka, where Ekami’s maritime training will also occur.
The system will feature the latest versions of Wärtsilä’s Navi-Trainer professional and Techsim simulation software, as well as the latest Navi Sailor and NACOS Platinum bridge systems. These include multi-pilot workstations for Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), radar and conning applications. The training centre will have two large and three medium-sized full-mission navigational bridges with 360-degree visualisation. They include digital chart tables and a separate bridge wing console operated in virtual reality. The centre will implement two engine room simulators with two fully loaded control rooms for technical training. The simulators have touchscreen technology, making swapping between engine room models easy.
Olli-Pekka Brunila, Director of Education at South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, said: “This new learning environment provides students with a unique opportunity to develop their practical skills and prepare for demanding maritime tasks. We are fortunate to have Wärtsilä’s highly advanced simulator technology as the basis for this training. Many critical operations cannot be safely practiced on an actual vessel, so in addition to acquiring technical skills, a versatile and realistically functioning simulation environment will significantly enhance the safety of vessels.”
The “simulator system will be one of the largest and most advanced in Europe. It will enable students to obtain the most realistic level of operational experience possible in an educational environment.” commented Ola Lundqvist, Product Sales Manager, Voyage Services at Wärtsilä.
In addition to the various system features, several instructor and debriefing rooms will be capable of working with any part of the simulator. There will also be a dedicated command centre for vessel traffic service, oil spill response, search and rescue, terminal cargo office, and more training applications.
According to Hannu Mäntymaa, Vice President for Voyage Services, Wärtsilä and Managing Director of Wärtsilä Finland, “With decarbonisation as a core focus for the industry, maritime organisations are looking for unique end-to-end solutions which enable them to optimise their vessel and port operations. This new maritime training centre from Xamk and Ekami will play an integral role in unlocking synergies here. After all, if organisations are going to benefit from future fuel engines, for example, crews must be highly competent, operate with the highest levels of safety and have access to continuous training programmes.”
Xamk is a long-standing customer of Wärtsilä, having had another company’s training simulators in use for more than 20 years.
