A state-of-the-art facility which could play a critical role in the global offshore renewable energy sectors has been installed at the University of Plymouth.
The Maritime Simulation Laboratory brings together a network of high-tech components that can be used to run a series of maritime scenarios in real time.
At its heart is a Kongsberg K-Sim Dynamic Positioning simulator, which will initially be used to simulate, test and optimise marine operations throughout the lifecycle of floating offshore wind (FLOW) installations.
It will create a space where offshore wind project teams can verify, test and optimise installation and maintenance projects.
It is also envisaged the simulator will have applications across the marine and maritime sector, in fields including craft design, marine autonomy, clean maritime, and maritime infrastructure.
The new facility can accurately model any maritime geographical area in the world, including terrain data, tides and currents and a wide range of environmental conditions, such as wind, sea state, precipitation and ice.
It will allow trained technicians to create new craft that appear realistic and exhibit accurate hydrodynamic and aerodynamic functionality. It can also be programmed so that maritime objects – including buoys, cables, anchors and docks – can interact with the simulated environment and with each other.
High levels of visibility and integration mean it can evidence numerical models, enabling staff to see the strains and loads being placed on simulated objects by different weather and sea states.
The new simulator will also link to the research and development taking place in the COAST Laboratory, providing academics and industry with a virtual environment in which to test their innovations before they are deployed in its wave tanks.