Shipping Minister takes virtual ferry ‘cross the Mersey
University unveils upgraded ship and tug simulators following £190,000 investment
Shipping Minister Stephen Ladyman (pictured above) took the helm of the UK's only full mission ship bridge simulator with a 360-degree visual projection system when he visited LJMU's Lairdside Maritime Centre on Wednesday 23 May 2007.
"Merseyside's maritime sector is booming and as a result my colleague Gillian Merran recently approved the proposed Seaforth River Terminal. This will bring significant economic and social benefits not only to Merseyside but also to the wider North West region," said Dr Ladyman. "Liverpool John Moores University's training facilities at the Lairdside Maritime Centre mean that mariners can practise real life scenarios in total safety. This is an outstanding example of how universities, such as Liverpool John Moores, can harness their expertise for the benefit of industry and the wider community."
During his visit, Dr Ladyman will also find out more about LJMU's plans to bring Deck cadet training back to Merseyside plus its ambitions to establish a national centre of excellence to support the maritime, offshore and transport industries.
Professor Michael Brown, LJMU's Vice Chancellor, added: "LJMU is delighted to welcome Dr Ladyman to the Lairdside Maritime Centre. We have over 100 years' experience of providing education to professional seafarers around the world, and our courses and facilities, such as the Lairdside Maritime Centre, have an international reputation for innovation. By continuing to work closely with the maritime and transport industries, I believe that LJMU can remain firmly at the helm of advances that are shaping these sectors in the twenty first century."
The Lairdside Maritime Centre's 360-degree ship simulator resembles a film set, with its high tech lighting rigs and replica 'bridge' centre-stage. But once everything is activated it's like you've entered a virtual world, so realistic that if the weather turns nasty, you can begin to feel a little queasy.
LJMU's simulator training is so unique that mariners travel from all over Europe and beyond to use the facilities, navigating the potentially treacherous waters of the Mersey Estuary and other ports around the world.
Phil Russ, Director of Lairdside Maritime Centre, said: "Thanks to the highly detailed all-round views of locks and quaysides, it's easy to forget that it's just a simulation. We can adapt the ship simulator to reflect the manoeuvrability and power of different ships, such as passenger ferries, container ships and tankers - exactly the type of ships that regularly travel up and down the Mersey."
Thanks to the recent investment of £190,000 a new projection system has been installed providing enhanced graphic detail and significantly brighter images greatly improving what was already a very realistic training environment.
Furthermore, thanks to the financial support of Shell and Svitzer, LJMU has also installed bridge simulators for the most common tug boats used on the River Mersey.
All three simulators can be configured to operate within one training scenario. For example, one bridge may be configured as a tanker, with the other two bridges configured as tugs. This allows everyone to train together and work through a series of 'what-if' scenarios in total safety.
Phil Russ continued: "We know that simulation can't replace real experience but well planned and presented exercises can prepare the professional mariner for those once in a lifetime hazardous experiences."
The importance of such training becomes apparent when you consider that Shell's Tranmere Oil Terminal, on the south bank of the Mersey, handles up to 11 million tonnes of crude oil a year for the company's Stanlow Oil Refinery.
Ken Rivers, General Manager, Shell UK Oil Products, explained: "Safety is paramount for Shell and the Lairdside Maritime Centre's ship simulators enable our personnel to complete joint pilot and tug master training in a highly realistic but totally risk free environment. This gives us real peace of mind that our marine operations are conducted to a highly professional standard."
Pictures:
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Top - Dr Stephen Ladyman, Shipping Minister, pictured in LJMU's bridge simulator with a 360-degree visual projection system
- Bottom: Professor Michael Brown, LJMU's Vice Chancellor, Dr Stephen Ladyman, Shipping Minister, Phil Russ, Director of LJMU's Lairdside Maritime Centre and Ken Rivers, General Manager, Shell UK Oil Products.
