Executing Maritime Simulator Training Under War Conditions

Training maritime professionals during a war is no easy task. Air raid sirens, incoming missile threats, and artillery fire frequently disrupt ongoing training scenarios. This is the daily reality at Odessa National Maritime University in Ukraine.

Despite these extreme conditions, the Morild Ship & Bridge Simulator System continues to provide uninterrupted, high-quality maritime training. Not only does the system deliver training without compromise in quality, but it is also fully portable—making it an ideal solution for a wide range of challenging environments. The university’s current situation is an extreme yet powerful testament to the system's versatility and effectiveness.

Exploring the Future of Maritime Technology: Highlights from IMU's Groundbreaking Webinar

The Indian Maritime University (IMU) in Chennai recently hosted a forward-thinking webinar that captured the attention of both students and industry professionals. This event spotlighted two revolutionary technologies set to transform the maritime industry: Virtual Reality (VR) simulators for ship and bridge operations and Digital Twins for port infrastructure.

A key moment of the webinar was the presentation by Olav-Rasmus Vorren, CEO of Morild Interaktiv, a global leader in maritime simulation technology. He demonstrated the capabilities of Morild Interaktiv's VR simulator systems, which are designed to train maritime professionals in critical areas like ship handling, bridge operations, and emergency protocols. These simulators offer an immersive 360-degree environment, allowing trainees to experience realistic scenarios, from navigating through challenging weather conditions to handling equipment failures, all in a risk-free setting.

In addition to VR simulators, Olav-Rasmus also introduced the concept of Digital Twins, a revolutionary technology that involves creating digital replicas of physical assets, such as ports and infrastructure. These Digital Twins allow maritime professionals and engineers to monitor, simulate, and optimize operations in real time. By offering detailed insights into the performance and maintenance needs of port infrastructure, Digital Twins have the potential to streamline operations, enhance safety, and reduce costs, making them a game-changer for the maritime industry.

The session, moderated by Dr. K. Sivasami, Head of the School of Marine Engineering at IMU, was enriched by active student participation. Their insightful questions highlighted the growing interest in these technologies and their potential to reshape maritime education and operations.

IMU's webinar was a significant step toward the future of maritime training, showcasing the university's commitment to integrating cutting-edge technologies into its curriculum. By fostering a culture of innovation and practical learning, IMU is preparing the next generation of maritime professionals to excel in a rapidly evolving industry.

Indian Maritime University continues to be a leader in maritime education, providing students with hands-on experience and exposure to the latest industry trends, ensuring they are well-equipped for the global shipping industry's future challenges.

Over 2,500 people participated from the Chennai, Kolkata, Navi Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Mumbai Port, and Kochi campuses of the Indian Maritime University, Chennai (IMU). The participants included the leadership team, faculty members, cadets, and staff.

Wilhelmsen Ship Management

We are thrilled to congratulate Wilhelmsen Ship Management on their successful implementation of the Morild Ship & Bridge simulator System at the International Training Center (IMTC). Working with their team has been a rewarding experience, and we eagerly anticipate further collaborations.

The video above, produced by Wilhelmsen Ship Management, features interviews with participants of the course, including their impressions and conclusions from using our system.

Pioneering Autonomous and Remote Ship Navigation

Above: Professor Lokukaluge Prasad Perera and his team at UiT setting up and testing onshore operation center

At Morild Interaktiv, we are thrilled to share our involvement in an exciting initiative at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, where groundbreaking research on autonomous and remote ship navigation is currently underway. This project, hosted at the onshore operation center (OOC), marks a significant stride towards integrating advanced maritime technologies with real-world applications.

The research program at UiT is focused on the simulation of autonomous and remote ship navigation. This innovative approach allows for the comprehensive testing of critical factors such as situational awareness, data collection, and collision avoidance. These elements are crucial for the safe operation of mixed environments where autonomous, manned, and remotely operated vessels interact.

Below are some design drawings of the remote navigation station, where Human-AI-Technology-Regulation interactions will happen. Actual operations on training remote vessel navigation will start in the 4th quarter of 2024, under “UiT Autonomous Ship Program”.

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Our New Office: A Space for Growth and Innovation

We are thrilled to announce that Morild Interaktiv has moved into a new office space! As we continue to grow and evolve, finding a home that can support our expanding team and foster our innovative spirit has been a top priority. Our new office isn’t just a space; it’s a statement of our commitment to providing the best possible environment for our employees and a solid foundation for the company’s future.

Using Morild simulator system in project planning

A new bridge is set to replace a ferry connection on the west coast of Norway. How will this affect maritime traffic in the area? Where should new navigation installations be placed? The seabed may also need to be deepened – but where and how much?

These are the questions the Norwegian Coastal Administration recently sought answers to with our simulator system. A range of competence fields participated in the test with real bridge and dredging projects, where typical vessels for the area were navigated through the area in the Morild Ship & Bridge VR simulator system.

Their conclusion: Visualization and simulation using the Morild simulator system on new projects is extremely useful and saves both time, rental, and travel costs for the Norwegian Coastal Administration, as everything is facilitated in our own offices due to the simulator system’s design.

Click here to read the original article published by Norwegian Coastal Administration.

Wilhelmsen Ship Management

Wilhelmsen Ship Management opens new VR simulator training facilities in Mumbai India using Morild Ship & Bridge simulator system. We are excited to continue our collaboration in increasing competence and safety in the maritime industry.

An increasing number of major international ship owners, governments and training institutions around the world are adapting the Morild Ship & Bridge simulator system, due to it’s realism, high accuracy, flexibility and cost effectiveness. To learn more about our simulator system click here.

The above images are from the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new VR training facilities by the CEO Carl Schou, in their training center in Mumbai India.

Kiel Pilots using Morild Ship & Bridge simulator system

Together with the Kiel Pilots in Germany (Lotsenbrüderschaft NOK II/ Kiel/ Lübeck/ Flensburg), we have successfully implemented VR training in their organization using our Morild Ship & Bridge simulator system. With a digital twin of their pilotage area they are now able to train in a dynamic, accurate and highly realistic environment. We would like to thank everyone involved in the project, and look forward to continuing our collaboration. The videos are produced and presented by the Kiel Pilots.

Check out this fantastic article on 'Marine-Pilots.com' highlighting how the Kiel Pilots are successfully introducing our Morild Ship & Bridge Simulator System in Germany! This website serves as a global network and community hub for pilots worldwide.

Next Generation Seafarer Training

The Norwegian Shipowner’s Association’s training center in Manilla Philippines: “Norwegian Training Center” (NTC) in Manila, Philippines, has made a significant stride in maritime education by incorporating the Morild Ship & Bridge simulator system. This advancement, particularly with the official opening of their VR training facilities in November 2023, marks a notable evolution in the way seafarers are trained.

The integration of virtual reality (VR) technology into their training regimen is a forward-thinking move. VR offers a highly immersive and interactive environment, allowing trainees to experience realistic ship operations and bridge management scenarios. This kind of hands-on, experiential learning can be more effective than traditional methods, as it enables seafarers to practice and hone their skills in a safe, controlled, yet realistic setting.

The ongoing collaboration between Morild Interaktiv and Norwegian Training Center (NTC) plays a crucial role in elevating maritime training standards while maintaining cost efficiency. This partnership is instrumental in enhancing the quality of maritime education, ensuring that seafarers are thoroughly prepared with the essential skills and knowledge required to tackle the complexities of contemporary seafaring. Such cooperative efforts are fundamental in driving innovation and excellence in the maritime industry.

Overall, the Norwegian Training Center's adoption of the Morild Ship & Bridge simulator system for seafarer training is an exemplary model of how innovative approaches can enhance the quality and effectiveness of maritime education. This initiative not only benefits the trainees but also contributes positively to the broader maritime industry by preparing a new generation of seafarers who are well-trained, competent, and ready to meet the demands of a dynamic and evolving sector.

Photos and video are provided courtesy of the Norwegian Training Center (NTC).

Revolutionizing maritime infrastructure planning with the Morild Simulator System

Photo: Norwegian Coastal Administration

Navigational infrastructure is critical for maritime safety and efficient shipping. In an industry-first move, the Norwegian Coastal Administration’s division for planning navigational infrastructure has turned to advanced simulation technologies. They are utilizing the Morild simulator system to plan, test, and ensure the quality of new maritime infrastructure projects.

This innovative system features a "digital twin" of the entire Norwegian coastline. For those unfamiliar with the term, a digital twin is a digital replica of a physical entity, allowing for real-time analysis and monitoring. In this case, the digital twin is generated dynamically from official datasets, providing an up-to-date, accurate, and realistic environment for planning and testing.

The use of the Morild simulator system represents a significant leap forward in maritime planning. It allows for much more robust testing scenarios, reducing risks and increasing the efficacy of new infrastructural projects.

For those interested in delving deeper into the technical details of this project, an article has been published on the Norwegian Coastal Administration’s website. You can read it here (Note: The article is in Norwegian).