Kongsberg to support RAN Bridge Simulator Expansion

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is expanding its maritime simulator facility at HMAS Watson, Sydney with the addition of new KONGSBERG ship-handling and navigation simulators and the integration of a new visual display system for its existing bridge simulator. The expansion has been established under the current support contract between KONGSBERG and RAN, in order to provide capacity to meet current and increasing demands for training.

Kongsberg Digital, the new KONGSBERG Group division dedicated to delivering next generation software and digital solutions, including maritime simulators, will deliver a new stand-alone Full Mission ship’s bridge simulator, and a Part Mission bridge simulator based on its established and proven K-Sim Polaris simulator platform. Both systems will have the same functionality as the RAN’s existing bridge simulators at HMAS Watson allowing for cost-effective and straightforward integration into high quality training programmes for Australian Navy personnel.

In parallel to the delivery of new bridge simulators, KONGSBERG will also adapt the existing full mission bridge simulator – which is being relocated within the HMAS Watson facility – using new visual display technology. The simulator will be upgraded from a projector based system to the same LED screens that the RAN’s new Polaris simulators will use to deliver highly realistic visual scenes.

“KONGSBERG’s selection for the HMAS Watson expansion is based on its ability to meet the RAN’s training needs with advanced bridge simulator technology,” said Lieutenant Commander Ben Wellfare, RAN Officer-in-Charge Bridge Training Faculty. “Kongsberg Digital’s commitment to the stability and capabilities of the K-Sim Polaris simulator platform provides the confidence for us to ensure we can continue providing high quality simulator training to a growing number of individual and team training commitments.”

The K-Sim Polaris simulator platform has been developed over 20 years and is recognised as one of the most advanced maritime bridge simulators available today. Kongsberg Digital continues to support and deliver K-Sim Polaris in parallel to its new bridge simulator technology, K-Sim Navigation. K-Sim Polaris and K-Sim Navigation together with KONSBERG’s other K-Sim products, are installed at more than 700 maritime training centres and colleges worldwide.

“K-Sim Polaris simulators are extremely reliable and have proven to meet the RAN’s exacting requirements over many years of use,” said Tone-Merete Hansen, Global Sales Manager, Kongsberg Digital. “This delivery will meet the immediate demand of an increased number of trainees in HMAS Watson, and will enable RAN to make the most out of its investment in simulator models, databases and development of Naval functionality for the Polaris simulator platform.”