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Getting best value from the virtual world
being trained together.
In practice most of the larger termi-
nal operators and/or operator organisa-
tions use simulator training together with
The boom in port throughput and de-
velopment over the last decade combined
High-end simulators are still in demand
company’s David Zhu says as well as help- hands-on equipment time. Some, such as
ing train new operators from scratch it the US West Coast Pacific Maritime As-
with the drop in the price of high-pow-
despite the wide range of less expensive
has proved a useful tool for improving the sociation, have also purchased dedicated
ered computers led to the commerciali- efficiency of experienced operators while training equipment recently.
sation of crane simulator systems. Al-
alternatives on the market
reducing training costs and the risks of Another simulator manufacturer is
though the larger or “full scale” crane training on actual equipment. GlobalSim of Utah, which is now part of
simulators with an operator console He estimates the payback period on Norway’s Konsberg Maritime Company.
mounted on a motion platform are a sig- the cost of the simulator as “roughly seven Alan Green, Globalsim’s director of sales
nificant investment (ca.US$500,000), years depending on men trained during and marketing, says terminal operators
more and more port operators have the the period.” DPCM trained 148 opera- need to consider that simulators can give
scale to justify this level of investment. tors during its 2007-08 financial year. trainees and experienced operators ex-
It is accepted that a simulator provides One driver of simulator demand in posure to events and conditions that can-
a safe, effective way to train new and ex- recent years is that ports simply could not not, or preferably should not, be repli-
perienced operators without taking up ac- find the equipment time to train opera- cated on actual equipment.
tual equipment time and all the global tors as volumes boomed. In the current
terminal operators incorporate simulation environment that pressure has eased Talent spotting
systems in training programmes. somewhat, but Lamothe says this does not This includes E-stops, collisions, snag
undermine the case for simulators. event, twistlock failures and wind events.
Suite of options Simulator training is far safer than us- Furthermore, simulators help trainers
Demand encouraged a number of com- ing actual equipment, especially where identify whether potential operators have
panies to develop simulator applications novice drivers are being trained. It is also the necessary hand-eye coordination at
for port equipment and there are now more efficient to deliver a structured the selection process stage.
systems on the market ranging from small training programme with a simulator sys- GlobalSim notched an important ref-
“desktop” units, through mid-size systems
Transnet Port Terminals, which has been introducing giant new Liebherr cranes (such as these at
tem in a class room type environment, erence this January when it delivered its
with some crane controls (particularly for
Port Elizabeth) and Kalmar RTGs, is an important customer for GlobalSim
especially where multiple operators are first simulator for the Chinese market, to
reach stackers) to full scale systems with costs across the customer base and what existing customers.” To date, however,
full field of view projection and motion they charge for customised products. there appears to be no demand for simu-
This picture shows the tandem functionality in the simulator for DP World developed by MPRI
simulation actuators. While there are “low cost” options on lating some of the various other tandem
Utah-based MPRI, which is a sub- the market purporting to simulate all concepts that split the headblock of a sin-
sidiary of L3, claims to be the leader in crane operating scenarios, Lamothe says gle hoist crane to provide twin 40 con-
full-scale simulation systems for the port there is no escaping that “you get what tainer handling.
market with 43 units in service, roughly you pay for.” MPRI has declined to bid In total MPRI has simulated 12 crane
four times its nearest competitor. MPRI on some tenders where the range of re- types, including RTGs and ships cranes,
customers include the major port train- quirements would push development cost and it is now working on a harbour mo-
ing facilities in the US and several Chi- of a quality simulation well past what the bile crane module. MPRI has also car-
nese training authorities. customer really wanted to pay for. ried out market research on a reach stacker
MPRI product manager Dan simulator, but Lamothe says its customers
Lamothe says while the falling cost of Twin 40 capability have higher R&D priorities.
computer power has brought high-end Increasingly customers want simulators to One MPRI customer is Dalian Port
technology once reserved for flight simu- include twin 40ft crane functionality and Container Terminal Co (DPCM), which
lators to the port market, developing MPRI offers a Tandem option. The simu- was formed in 2004 as a JV between the
crane-specific functionality is still labour- lated system is ZPMC’s dual hoist con- Port of Dalian Authority, PSA Interna-
intensive and expensive. cept where the operator controls two tional, Cosco and APM Terminals and
Operators often have specific require- arms that move from one headblock to operates four berths in Dayo Bay. DPCM’s
ments for the equipment, terminal con- engage a ball joint on the other and link simulator has three visual channels and a
ditions and scenarios they want simulated. the two hoist systems. full cab with a six degrees of freedom
Simulator manufacturers are in the same “The Tandem feature is our newest motion system and modules for STS,
position as terminal operating system deliverable and is one of the most advance RTG and level luffing cranes.
(TOS) software suppliers in that they have features we offer,” said Lamothe. “We have The simulator is an integral part of
to balance how they spread development had this feature delivered to several of our DPCM’s training programme and the
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ABB AB
Crane Systems
SE-72159 Vasteras Sweden
Phone: +46 21 32 50 00
Fax: +46 21 34 02 90
E-mail: cranes.sales@se.abb.com
Internet: www.abb.com/cranes
© Copyright 2009 ABB
March 2009 29
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