Groundbreaking simulator package for the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific
A cutting-edge 360° Polaris ship's bridge simulator built on a full motion platform leads an extensive simulator delivery for the brand new campus of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific - MAAP at Kamaya Point, Mariveles, Bataan Philippines. This unique ship handling simulator configuration was developed by the world's leading martime simulation supplier, Kongsberg Maritime, and is the heart of a milestone delivery for the new MAAP facility that also includes part task and desktop simulators and integration with a Neptune engine room simulator.
Delivery
The full package for the new campus, which was delivered and installed prior to the official inauguration on 7th April 2009 consists: One full mission, class A Polaris ship's bridge simulator with 360° visual screen on a pneumatic electric motion platform, three part task, class B Polaris ship's bridge simulators with 120° visual screens, ten Polaris desktop simulators and three instructor systems as well as four Dynamic Positioning desktop simulators. Additionally, a sophisticated full mission Neptune engine room simulator with mimic panels and customised consoles has been integrated with the ship handling simulators. This enables full vessel simulation, where activity in the engine room affects the bridge via the Polaris simulators and the motion platform.
"This is a groundbreaking delivery, not only for the amount of simulators delivered, but also for the amount of technically advanced solutions, such as the motion platform and integration between the ship's bridge and engine room simulator," comments Mark Stuart Treen, Sales & Marketing Manager for simulation, Kongsberg Maritime. "The 360° full motion Polaris ship's bridge simulator is one of the most sophisticated of its kind in the world and at 50m2 it features one of, if not the largest simulated ship's bridge in the world."
To train competent Marine Officers & Engineers
Prior to the inauguration of the new campus, MAAP already housed a range of KONGSBERG ship's bridge and engine room simulators. The two organisations have enjoyed a close relationship for many years that has grown stronger with this latest successful delivery, which is one of the largest marine simulation packages ever installed. According to MAAP, the new training facility is specially designed to ensure the steady supply of competent Marine Officers and Maritime Engineers to exclusively man the expanding Japanese Merchant Marine fleet. The new campus will be in full operation by June 2009.
"The delivery and installation of the new simulators was one of the biggest and most complex projects I have ever handled as a Project Manager. But no matter how demanding the task was, KONGSBERG remained focused on the quality of service that they had all provided since the beginning," says Engr. Gerardo Ramon Galang, manager of the Management Information and Instructional Technology Department (MIITD) of MAAP. "The latest simulators at the new campus, especially the unique new 360° Polaris ship's bridge simulator, allow us to provide more realistic, even higher quality simulation training.
Not just a simulator supplier
"We consider Kongsberg as one of our partners in the development of our Maritime Education and Training process, not just a simulator supplier. The fact that they have been there for us since the birth of our institution back in 1999, providing tailor-made solutions right for our needs is very important to us," concludes Galang.
About MAAP
The Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific - MAAP was established on January 14, 1998 and today covers an 82 hectare site. The new campus consists of a fully equipped, self-sustained academic building in addition to a mess hall and a dormitory that can accommodate 1,000 midshipmen or cadets. The academic building houses in addition to the range of KONGSBERG simulators, 50 air-conditioned classrooms, an audio-visual room, library and study room, language laboratory, machine room with 25 lathe machines, drill presses, grinders, a welding ship, gas and plasma welding equipment.
