MARITIME HUBS Q


95%


Real physics reacting in real time is a powerful design tool, and now 95% of our simulations are for prototyping, with just 5% for training


Like a captured moon, the bridge simulator dominates several floors of the campus. Smaller versions are also scattered through the facility


based in Sandefjord and ranked as the world’s ninth largest paint manufacturer, we were told that global customers are looking to Norway to build ice class ships of the highest quality. “The Sunnmøre cluster has traditions established over centuries,


along with a vast amount of local competence and an indomitable belief in finding solutions,” said a Jotun spokesperson. “The clusters all work together in Norway – they are proud of what they do, and proud of their neighbours’ achievements.” Jotun left us with an interesting observation. “Have you noticed that


the bow shape of many Norwegian deep-sea vessels has the same outward curve as the original Viking longships?” Indeed, they have, suggesting that great ideas can sometimes


come full circle.


Offshore Simulator Centre (OSC) What they do: OSC manufactures both the hardware and software for the creation of ultra-realistic maritime simulators for training and prototyping operations. Rolls-Royce Marine has recently taken a 25% stake in the company. What’s new? OSC has developed incredibly fast 3D graphics drivers and


ultra-HD projectors that can be adapted to replicate any type of maritime situation, both above and below the water. CEO Joel Mills demonstrated the full-size ship’s bridge simulator that dominates the centre of the campus, where it is suspended between floors like a captured moon. High definition images are projected onto the inside of the sphere from where they completely surround the Rolls-Royce equipped bridge. The images can be altered and overlaid with diagrammatics to create several layers of supplementary information. “We’ve taken the capabilities from ‘almost real’ to ‘beyond real”,


Mills said, as our ‘bridge’ suddenly plunged to a depth of 300 metres. “Companies can make a three-year innovation step in just 30 seconds. Real physics reacting in real time is a powerful design tool, and now 95% of our simulations are for prototyping, with just 5% for training.” Scattered throughout the campus are a series of smaller simulators representing ROVs, engine rooms and subsea cranes, along with a suite of offices where the technicians continually work to refine and develop the technology.


Sperre Coolers What they do: As part of the international Sperre compressors group, Sperre Coolers was established to ‘focus on the development, sale and production of heat exchangers’. These include a wide selection of Rack, Pleat and Tube cooling systems. Sperre is developing a range of systems to assist with the development of crewless ships. What’s new? Sperre’s Dag Vikerstrand explained that whilst box coolers are effective, they face challenges from seawater corrosion and marine fouling. This could lead to inefficient running, early failure and increased maintenance costs. Sperre has built on proven technology by combining box and plate designs to create a new standard, the Sperre Rack cooler. For autonomous ships, ongoing maintenance of cooling systems


UK ex-pat Joel Mills is the driving force behind OSC. Note the two smaller simulator spheres behind him


must be minimal, with long intervals between routine servicing. The Rack cooler is integrated into the hull to save space, has anti-fouled tanks with cupro-nickel pipes to deter marine growth, and can be remotely monitored and operated. The saltwater filter is self-cleaning, and there are zinc anodes in each corner. The Rack cooler is also said to reduce fuel and energy consumption due to other improvements in its operating systems.


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