Maritime Technology
Navigation Risk, Port Design & Training
Mills Navigation has extensive experience in using both desktop and Full Mission Bridge Simulators (FMBS). At the forefront of this technology are centres such as HR Wallingford in the UK, Kongsberg Maritime in Norway, MARIN in Holland, Force Technology in Singapore and SIPORT21 in Spain where Mills Navigation provides an ongoing programme of training.
The simulators we use are full bridge, real time manoeuvring simulators specifically designed for port and ship operations applications but can also be used for training and pilot familiarisation. They are reliable, flexible and cost effective design and evaluation tools that can be used for optimising harbour layouts, establishing operational strategy and training in safe manoeuvering procedures.
The systems are capable of fast time or real time simulations of vessel behaviour in a range of environmental conditions, making the simulators suitable for a wide range of design, assessment and training tasks including but not limited to:
Pre-feasibility and FEED studies, in the form of desk studies or simulation aided desk studies.
Optimisation of site specific terminal/port/harbour and approach channel designs.
Assessment of safety standards and procedures for shipping and port management operations.
Feasibility studies for new vessels using existing harbours/ports.
Effective training in manoeuvering procedures for Pilots, Tug Masters and ship’s Officers.
For pre-FEED, FEED and variations to existing facilities, the simulators are used to assess the safety of navigation with regards to routing for arrivals and departures, turning basins, channel widths and depths using dynamic tides/currents and bathymetry. Emergency scenarios can also be effectively used to aid response to tug issues, mechanical failures (engine/rudder/power management systems) as part of a training regime, and, to a certain extent, commercial viability can be assessed.
