Simwave Maritime Center of Excellence Opens Following Successful Site Acceptance Test

Simwave B.V. and Kongsberg Digital have successfully completed the Site Acceptance Test (SAT) of one of the largest, most advanced maritime simulation suites ever delivered. The successful SAT, which took place on Friday, 19th January, means that the brand new Simwave Maritime Center of Excellence in Barendrecht, Rotterdam is now fully operational.

As the sole simulation technology partner in the development of the unique Simwave facility, Kongsberg Digital delivered the full scope of work in accordance with the contract awarded in April 2017, which represented one of its most extensive deliveries to date. Following the SAT, all technical aspects of the delivery, a unique new floor projection system and a complete integrated engine room, are performing above expectations.

Simwave’s training facility covers more than 5000 m2 across two floors containing state-of-the-art KONGSBERG simulators, meeting rooms, offices and welfare facilities. The next step in the Simwave project is to develop a hotel facility on the top floor of the building for customers and trainees, enabling training to take place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; a key differentiator in Simwave’s unique approach to maritime training.

Simwave’s innovative and disruptive take on maritime training allows customers of any size to train in its integrated simulator park, either with their own instructors, Simwave instructors, or external instructors, all tailor-made to customers’ needs. The first training courses have already been successfully accomplished and the response to the Simwave service and the KONGSBERG simulators has been wholly positive.

“The first reactions from clients and participants have been overwhelming,” said Marcel Kind, Managing Director of Simwave. “We have a team of educational and maritime specialists from around the world on hand and this dream team, our partnership with Kongsberg Digital and our long-term vision on how to improve the learning experience in the maritime sector enables us to bring new customer benefits to the training value chain.”

Kongsberg Digital’s full simulator scope of supply for the Simwave facility (detailed in Notes for Editors) covers multiple full-mission and part-task simulators for ship’s bridge and engine room operations, all based on the latest simulator technology platforms. The contract also includes a five year Long Term System Support Program (LTSSP) which guarantees dedicated support and access to technology updates, in addition to a planned mid-life upgrade at the end of the LTSSP.

“The partnership between Kongsberg Digital and Simwave brings possibilities for further development and allows Simwave to meet its full potential as the training center of choice for the maritime industry,”said Tone-Merete Hansen, Senior Vice President, Maritime Simulation, Kongsberg Digital. “We are delighted to have completed installation of one of our largest integrated simulator deliveries ever in such a short timeframe due to dedicated and good cooperation between us and Simwave. We are looking forward to continuing our cooperation with Simwave in Rotterdam, and at new Simwave facilities planned for in the future.”

The Simwave on-site hotel in Rotterdam is planned be completed in Q2 2018 and the location of the second Simwave center of excellence is expected to be announced by the end of the year.

About Simwave

Simwave is a Netherlands-based company operating comprehensive maritime simulation training centers equipped with simulators based on world-leading simulation technology. Simwave operates globally and independently, and serves customers fully by running best-of-class facilities. It is a one-stop-shop for certified maritime training, pilot training, assessment and applied research.

Simwave offers a truly unique service to the shipping industry, called ‘Simulator as a service’. It is easy to book a simulator or several different interfaced simulators to train or assess your crew under your own private label. Simwave’s centers are open 24/7, and we employ the best experts in mathematical modelling, visual database development and training delivery. Combined with applied research capacity, we offer all maritime companies, offshore companies and port operators facilities where they can use their own ships in their specific port environments. Bring your own instructors or hire the capacity with Simwave – we take care of all the technical, operational, didactical and hospitality support. www.simwave.nl

About Kongsberg Digital

Kongsberg Digital is a provider of next-generation software and digital solutions to customers within maritime, oil and gas, and renewables and utilities. The company consists of more than 500 software experts with leading competence within the internet of things, smart data, artificial intelligence, maritime simulation, automation and autonomous operations. Kongsberg Digital is the group-wide center of digital expertise for KONGSBERG.

Since July 2016, Kongsberg Digital has become the parent organization for staff, products, and expertise of the former Kongsberg Oil & Gas Technologies organization and the maritime simulation department of Kongsberg Maritime. Kongsberg Digital is also the driving force behind the Kongsberg Information Management System (K-IMS), a future-looking open platform for vessel management and operation, offering full integration of sensors and systems for smart data and decision support. K-IMS is the bridge between offshore marine systems and onshore business enterprises. www.kongsberg.com/en/kongsberg-digital/