DP Courses Start in March

The new AMC Dynamic Positioning Unit has been established and, subject to a pending accreditation visit by the UK based Nautical Institute, the first Basic Operators course (fully booked) will be held 9 – 13 March, 2009.

Limited places are still available on the second course to be held 16 – 20 March.

The first Advanced (Simulator) course will be held 30 March – 3 April, and limited places are available on this course.

The course schedule for the remainder of 2009 is under development and further details are available from C.Wilson@amc.edu.au

Instructors are certified DP Operators who are also current serving DP Operators. They have a state of the art DP training facility to work from, based around the latest Kongsberg K-POS dual redundant system.

AMC DP Instructor Matt Barney explaining the K-POS dual
redundant system to AMC Principal, Malek Pourzanjani.

VTS Development

VTS Operator courses were held last year, with AMSA certifying that the courses complied with IALA standard V103/1. The courses were provided for VTS operators from a number of Australian ports, as well as a specifically tailored course for a group of Indonesian trainees who had very little VTS background experience.

The courses were very successful, and have led to increased demand for more courses in 2009. This increased demand has resulted in AMC Search committing to investing in a dedicated VTS operations simulator.

The new VTS facility will expand the role of AMC Search’s Transas NTPRO 4000 marine simulator to incorporate VTS operator stations with Radar, AIS, and 4 VHF frequencies with which to communicate with ships and other stakeholders in the “outside world”.

Designed by one of the world’s leading VTS Instructors, Mr Bob Shaw, the new facility will have synchronized playback capability enabling visual observation of vessel traffic movement while reviewing voice communications between VTS operators and the vessel traffic in their area.

Bluefin Charter for Basker – Manta Oil Field

Neptune Geomatics chartered AMC’s training vessel Bluefin for around 3 weeks in December, 2008 for Hydrographic survey work on behalf of Roc Oil Company Ltd.

The Basker-Manta oil field is located in the north-eastern offshore Gippsland Basin, and was commissioned in December, 2006 by Anzon Australia which became a subsidiary of Roc Oil in September, 2008. Field production is conducted by the FPSO Crystal Ocean using a Dynamic Positioning system with triple redundancy. Bluefin’s Master, Chris Lambert, and his crew had a close-up view of Crystal Ocean during the charter:

FPSO Crystal Ocean

The charter was successful with excellent cooperation and team spirit between survey crew and vessel crew, and all survey objectives achieved. Bad weather and a temporary technical hitch meant that Bluefin needed to call into Port Welshpool at short notice, and this procedure was greatly assisted by the Gippsland Port Authority for which AMC is most grateful. Thanks to Chris Lambert and his body of very able seamen, and to Neptune Geomatics and Roc Oil for their confidence in Bluefin to get the job done for them.

IMS Upgrade

AMC’S multi-million dollar upgrade of its Integrated Marine Simulator (IMS) is in full swing. The upgrade requires major building works to house the new simulator with its additional tug/second bridge console, and bridge simulator with expanded fields of view, and to incorporate improved client amenities including a state of the art simulation exercises review room. These building works are close to completion, the tug/second bridge simulator has been installed, and installation and commissioning of the main bridge and six ship operator cubicles is about to commence. Manager, Ian Rodrigues and his team are overseeing the work while at the same time busily converting ship and area models from the old simulator to the new system.

The new simulator is scheduled to be in full operation by mid May.