http://www.workboat.com/Online-Features/2013/Bouchard-to-fund-simulation-center-at-SUNY-Maritime/
Sounds like a pretty good thing for the school. I wonder where they will build it. What do y’all think about this?
I wonder if they have a simulator to allow a tug to shorten up and flop alongside, make up on the hip and then push a barge sideways to the dock?
anybody experience one?
We kind of half assed it in the old sim at Maine once. The guy running the sim could make up some lines, it was hokey but gave some people a better idea than they would have had otherwise. Of course we had an actual tug and barge to do it on as well.
[QUOTE=c.captain;119568]I wonder if they have a simulator to allow a tug to shorten up and flop alongside, make up on the hip and then push a barge sideways to the dock?
anybody experience one?[/QUOTE]
Not to dredge up a sore subject but KP has simulators capable of that. The unrealistic part of it is the breaking strength of the lines, the physics of pinning a tug against the hull of a ship, and you get some blurring and inconsistencies in the graphics and response.
Marine Trans could always take out that ex USCG 65ft tug they have down at the waterfront. Not sure what the bollard pull is on that.
Seattle PMI has one like this
I think it will help kids with visualizing the evolutions in real time so they can get their minds around the communications and when/where to look out for things… But in the end it’s a cartoon video game and impossible to truly replicate much of the physical pressures in real life… Like environment, wind, current, strain of the lines, steel alongside, matching motions, closing speeds, and natural awareness.
But it is a great step in the right direction for all those issues and gives the manager the ability to manipulate effects to drive home points to the cadets and employees.
SUNY is lucky to have snagged these guys as alumni.
I think they should have the office personnel sit through a few sessions in a properly run management simulator. Maybe they would learn something. They should make Morty run through it twice!
[QUOTE=rshrew;119600]Seattle PMI has one like this[/QUOTE]
Interesting. I wonder what it is like and how realistic it is? That would be a very complicated maneuver to try to model in a simulator especially the wind action on a loaded container barge.
They can give out all the simulators, scholarships or whatever they desire but until the office changes Bouchard will continue to be what it is.
We sent guys through it and it helps but is not the real deal. I believe they have a second room where the mate can be to mimic the side view of a barge so he can call the landing for the captain.
If Doug Pine is still on here he could better say I’m sure.