Mersey Maritime was pleased to attend the official opening of Liverpool John Moores University’s newly upgraded Ship Simulator Suite.
The £1 million investment includes three new full-mission bridge simulators, two 360-degree and one 180-degree, as well as an upgraded engine-room simulator.
The facilities provide marine pilots, shipmasters and officers with a realistic environment in which to practise ship handling, docking and emergency-response procedures without the associated risks.
The technology can recreate the appearance, performance and handling of individual vessels. This has already included the development of a virtual model of the Royal Daffodil, allowing crews to familiarise themselves with the new Mersey ferry before it enters service.
Alongside professional training, the simulators will support research into autonomous shipping, navigational systems, energy efficiency, decarbonisation and green corridors. They can also be used to recreate ports and waterways and assess how proposed changes could work safely in practice.
Professor Mark Power, Vice-Chancellor of LJMU, said: “LJMU has one of the UK’s longest-established histories of maritime training and education, and this new state-of-the-art facility will make a real difference to the preparation of pilots, captains and senior officers.”
Speaking at the opening of the simulators, Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “This is exactly the kind of place that I try to conjure up an image of when I’m talking to people about innovation-driven growth in our city region. It’s not innovation for its own sake, but innovation that solves problems, gives people new skills and helps businesses become more productive and competitive.
“The students who are training here today are going to become the well-paid engineers, operators and maritime leaders of tomorrow. We want them to leave this university with the skills that employees are looking for and with the opportunities to build successful careers right here in the Liverpool City Region.”
Ruth Wood, Chief Executive of Mersey Maritime, attended the opening and said: “This is a fantastic investment for the Liverpool City Region and a real example of what can be achieved when education, research and industry work closely together.
“LJMU’s new facilities will help businesses test new ideas, improve safety and explore more efficient and sustainable ways of working. Just as importantly, they will help ensure people entering the sector have the skills and experience our industry needs.
“Liverpool has a proud maritime history, but investment like this is about making sure we continue to lead the way in the future.”
The investment is another welcome boost for the Liverpool City Region’s maritime sector and the people and businesses driving its future.
To find out more about the Simulator, please contact Abdul Khalique – Simulation and Enterprise A.Khalique@ljmu.ac.uk
