Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) “Far Scout” simulating anchor handling operation.

Simulating a tough reality

Norwegian offshore supply services provide jobs for thousands of seafarers at a time when the fleet under Norwegian flag is reduced year by year. To work the supply vessels operating in the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea and in many other part of the world is a tough and challenging job. No amount of onshore training can prepare seafarers adequately for the breakneck manoeuvring from the bridge of a supply vessel or working on a heaving cargo deck in heavy weather, but help is at hand.

Under the auspices of the Department of Nautical Science at Aalesund University College in Western Norway, working hand in hand with local industrial partners and national research institutions, an Offshore Simulator Centre is developed at the University College itself.

Despite solid campaigning and lobbying no government funding was obtained and without companies like Rolls-Royce Marine, Farstad Shipping and Marintek (in Trondheim) the college would not be able to put nautical students through their phases to prepare them for a life at sea.

	A view out in the offshore simulator at the Department of Nautical Studies and Aalesund University College in Norway. Students use the simulator to familiarize themselves with manoeuvring offshore vessels in all conditions. Seen her is the Farstad Shipping Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) “Far Scout” getting alongside the Ocean Rig deep water semi-submersible drilling rig “Eirik Raude”.

Productive co-operation
The University College and the companies established Offshore Simulator Centre in June last year to try out safe and effective maritime operations related to offshore activities, and a simulator is now operational in Aalesund. A training program was established in record time, adjusted to users requirements. The joint venture between the University College, private industry and Marintek will probably work infinitely better than a government sponsored system.

The benefit to the local industry is obvious. Farstad Shipping with a substantial fleet of offshore supply vessels has used simulators before to train personnel for work onboard the company’s vessels, but supported the joint venture to ensure even better training, particularly in anchor handling (see simulator illustration) and other demanding operations. Rolls-Royce Marine uses the simulator to train personnel to use their own equipment. By cooperating with users the equipment can be better adjusted and improved.

Aalesund University College now has the most modern maritime simulator in Norway and uses it to compliment its training of personnel for the offshore supply service industry.

Last year 100 people completed a course in dynamic positioning in co-operation with local supply ship owners. Marintek, which is Norway’s biggest research establishment in offshore operations, has developed several systems to simulate ship operations and subsea installations. All developments are in close co-operation with oil companies, supply operators and companies developing and producing vital equipment for the offshore industry.

Roll-Royce Marine is the most important in Norway in this segment of the maritime industry.

When Rolls-Royce Marine, Farstad Shipping and Aalesund University College came together in the summer of 2002 to coordinate their efforts to find technical solutions to overcome the challenges ahead they quickly found out that none of the manufacturers of simulators had off-the-shelf solutions to the problems at hand, at least not on the budget available.

A continuous development
Marintek got to work with the college technicians and developed unique, dedicated software to run the simulator, while at the same time allow for a continuous development.

It is, surely, no accident that this special expertise was developed in the region surrounding the Art nouveau style city of Aalesund. The region has the highest concentration of supply ship owners and marine equipment producers in Norway.
Therefore several “Centres of Expertise” are established, and the Aalesund University College is one of these with its special expertise in offshore simulation.
No oil or gas has been landed in the region. Instead they have benefitted from far-sighted entrepreneurs, who saw the opportunities offered to service the offshore industry.

//Petter Arentz