Page 8. MAINE COASTAL NEWS January 2012 Waterfront News M A I N E M A R I T I M E A C A D E M Y N E W S


MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY’S STATE- OF-THE-ART NAVIGATION SIMULATOR CONTINUES TRADITION OF TEACHING EXCELLENCE


CASTINE – Maine Maritime Academy’s newest state-of-the art navigation and shiphandling simulator is taking the college’s long-standing tradition of teaching excellence to the next level, that according to the college’s Marine Transportation Depart- ment chair, Captain Andy Chase. Installed this summer, the new Transas Navi-Trainer Professional 5000 (NTPRO 5000) is the Academy’s third generation of the sophisti- cated, high-tech tool for educating seafaring officers.


The system debuted at the beginning of the 2011-2012 academic year and is fully inte- grated in marine transportation academic programming all levels of licensure. Accord- ing to Chase, the system is receiving high reviews from faculty and student users. “With advances in simulation technology, our previous system had reached the end of its life-cycle,” said Chase. “While our previ- ous system created a realistic depth of field through the use of overhead projection, it was unable to simulate full darkness. Our new system is not limited in this way and allows us


to provide critical nighttime and fog sce- narios that demonstrate a student’s ability to react to confusing light configurations or determine where they are without land refer- ences. It’s just a natural leap forward that will continue to ensure that our graduates are trained at the highest possible level.” The new Transas Navi Trainer improves upon the college’s previous system in addi- tional ways, including enhanced graphic rep- resentation of real port approaches and har- bors, and an increase from one to two main bridge centers. This expansion was enabled by the conversion from projection to the use of 12 segmented screens illuminated by 55- inch flat screen LED television monitors. The use of screens reduces the overall space requirement for the equipment, increases the horizontal field of view from 280-degrees to 360-degrees, and offers rotational viewing capabilities and virtual access to bridge wing, bow, and stern views to create more realistic student experiences.


The fully equipped bridge consoles in- clude the latest electronic plotting and radar devices, facilitating a special feature of the new system. The system allows for the inte- gration of a newly-installed, campus-based Electronic Chart Display Information System


GIFFY FULL ON BOATBUILDERS Continued from Page 7.


get a big dory and put mast in it and row up to the bridge and blow three blast on a mouth horn. The whole gang would have to come out, get on the block and tackle and haul that bridge open. He would go up to his mill, stop for about five minutes, and then he would come back down, blow three more blasts and they would open the bridge and he would go back out. I guess it was a horror show.” “Sonny like to play practical jokes,” said Full “One of them almost cost him his life. You see that was Hodgdon Brothers and there were three brothers that owned and ran the place. One of the brothers had a short temper


and he probably didn’t tolerate young Sonny too well. One day when he was out to lunch, Sonny gets the bright idea…his uncle had been getting out planks, and he had this long joiner plane there, nice wooden handmade plane. Sonny backed the blade out and put a wood chip down in there and screwed it to the bench. The other thing Sonny had done, he cut off two nail heads and left them laying on each end of the plane. His uncle came back to work and went to pick up his plane and it didn’t move. He looked down, saw these two big nail heads and he exploded. They said he had an adze or something and Sonny was running up the street.” (To be Continued Next Issue)


JOHANSON BOATWORKS Full Service Yacht Yard


(ECDIS), a USCG requirement for graduates. The lab also provides for ongoing radar cer- tification, and Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA). The ECDIS lab consists of 14 stu- dent stations, each consisting of 3 flat screen monitors and a chart table. The integration of the two systems enables instructor develop- ment of multi-staged exercises, beginning with chartwork and proceeding to watchkeeping.


According to Chase, possibly the most significant feature of the new system is the inclusion of controls for Dynamic Position- ing (DP) located on the tugboat command and control console in the new main bridge. The DP controls will enable new instructional programming that was unavailable on previ- ous systems. Current DP course develop- ment is underway and will enable on-site instruction, assuring certification for suc- cessful completion by The Nautical Institute, the leading internationally-recognized agency in the field.


DP training will equip Maine Maritime Academy students with skills to operate some of the most technologically-advanced vessel positioning systems in the world. De- veloped to enable precise maneuverability for offshore oil rigs, DP utilizes multiple thrusters to effectively “hover” at sea with advanced accuracy and consistency. The technology has rapidly expanded its reach to include offshore support vessels for rig an- chor handling, large passenger vessels, and private yachts, and is a highly desirable ship handling system of the future. “We couldn’t be more pleased to bring this academic pro- gramming capability to our students,” said Chase. “It’s at the forefront of future shiphandling and will likely become the stan- dard.” Chase added that the course is being developed by an MMA alumnus, Captain Jim Booth, ’96, a highly-regarded expert in DP training and international requirements for certification. “In this niche industry, it’s not unusual to see an MMA graduate at the top of his or her field. There is constant evolution in ship systems and training, and being solid in their fundamentals, our graduates are typi- cally talented in embracing new seafaring technology.”


MMA ETIQUETTE PROGRAM SEEKS COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS MMA’s campus-based etiquette pro- gram, “Dining-In,” is seeking community volunteers to serve as table hosts and host- esses at upcoming semi-formal dinners on


campus. The program, a long-standing pro- gram at the college, provides a real-life recep- tion and dining experience for students in preparation for future business and profes- sional social events.


“We believe that understanding how to behave and react during a social function is critical to the upward mobility of our gradu- ates,’ said Capt. Jeff Loustaunau, vice presi- dent for enrollment management at MMA. “While a tradition of the Regiment of Mid- shipmen, this program is a required personal development program for all students regard- less of major or program focus prior to gradu- ation.” He explained that the program empha- sizes the importance of the overall impression that a graduate presents, providing a way for the college to ensure that everyone knows the basics when heading out into the profes- sional world. “Our community is a tremen- dous resource and so we hope that they will help us polish the etiquette skills of our students,” he added.


Etiquette instruction is provided to stu- dents prior to the event, and students are expected to respond properly to a written invitation to dine, dress appropriately, and conduct themselves at the function as if they were attending a corporate dinner or recep- tion. The evening begins with a reception for 32 students and their hosts and hostesses. The reception includes a formal receiving line, hors d’oeuvres, and conversation. A semi-formal, sit-down meal with plate service follows the reception. The dinner will place volunteer host and hostesses at tables with small groups of students. Throughout the 4- course dinner, students will be expected to demonstrate proper use of tableware and utensils, generate table discussion, appro- priately communicate with service staff, and extend courtesies to the host and hostess, as well as to fellow diners. Student guests are expected to formally thank their hosts in writing following the event.


Those interested in serving as “Dining In” hosts or hostess are asked to contact Rhonda Varney in the Maine Maritime Acad- emy Conferences Department, rhonda.varney@mma.edu, 326-2256.


Maine Coastal News is now entirely online:


www.mainescoast.com


Rockland, Maine • 207-596-7060 info@jboatworks.com • jboatworks.com


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