Kongsberg simulators to aid with Arctic emergency ops training

Kongsberg Digital and Nord University in Norway have established a new partnership in an attempt to increase maritime safety and prepare for emergency operations in the Arctic regions.

Kongsberg said on Thursday that the cooperation will be based on developing a common technical platform based on Kongsberg simulators.

The company won the tenders issued by Maritime Campus North and will provide upgrades and extensions of the simulator capacity at Nord University, Bodin, and Lofoten Maritime Vocational Schools.

The partnership, according to the company, has been established to strengthen education, training, and innovative research within Arctic maritime safety and security.

The objective is to increase safety and contribute to increased competence on maritime SAR and oil spill response operations in the northern regions. The target groups are government and industry search and rescue (SAR) organizations, oil spill response organizations, ship owners and the oil and gas industry.

At Lofoten Vocational School, an oil spill preparedness simulator will be installed. Kongsberg will upgrade the fast craft vessel bridge at Bodin Vocational School with new hardware and visual system in addition to delivering an aft bridge simulator with integrated Dynamic Positioning simulator for DP2 training.

At Nord University, Kongsberg will deliver four new part task ship’s bridge simulators with visual scenes, which will be central in crisis management education and training.

The simulator systems at all three training institutions will be integrated and used to form joint nautical and emergency management training across geographical locations, providing a unique platform for international cooperation in this field.

Odd Jarl Borch, a professor at Nord University, said: “It is important that the education and training institutions can interact to strengthen emergency education and maximize the use of advanced simulator systems.

“The expansion of new simulator capabilities in the region meets the demand for advanced training for government institutions, ship owners, oil & gas companies, and other organizations operating, exploring and developing Polar waters. Of special importance is the growing interest from the cruise and petroleum industry for the Arctic regions and the implementation of the Polar code. The Nord University is now initiating a new circumpolar education and research network on Arctic Safety and Security including twenty universities under the University of the Arctic umbrella.”

Paal Aamaas, Senior Vice President of Maritime Simulation at Kongsberg Digital, said: “We are proud to take part in this important nautical and emergency management competence project for the northern areas.

“Our advanced simulator platforms installed at these three training institutions establish a world-leading, collaborative solution for improving safety and SAR and oil spill response competence by reaching a number of government and industry groups.”