Warsash Maritime Academy to Get Eighth Scaled Ship Model

Warsash Maritime Academy will reaffirm its place as a world-leading training platform for seafaring pilots, masters and ships officers when it welcomes the eighth scaled ship model to its fleet in May 2013.

It will be the first container ship to join the existing fleet at Southampton Solent University’s Ship Handling Centre when it is officially launched at a special ceremony.

Industry leaders, dignitaries and University staff will be present at the launch and naming ceremony which will be presided over by Admiral, The Right Honourable Lord West of Spithead, at the Centre in Timsbury, near Romsey on Thursday 16 May 2013.

“This valuable addition to the fleet demonstrates the sustained level of investment from Southampton Solent University in its facilities at the Academy,” says Andrew Hair, Director of Warash Maritime Academy (WMA).

“Our extensive fleet, expert teaching staff and unique training facilities, reaffirm the reputation of the Academy’s Ship Handling Centre as one of the best in the world.”

Modelled on a real 13,300 TEU container ship that is 365 metres in long, the scaled vessel replicates the most widely used container ship size trading globally by major shipping companies such as CMA CGM Group, Maersk and MSC.

The 1:25 scaled model is 14.62 metres long, weighs 12.5 tonnes, has operational power anchors, electric hydraulic steering, bow thrust and main propulsion systems. Transferable water ballasts enables it to operate in light or loaded conditions.

One of only three major centres in the world, the Ship Handling Centre provides a world-class training platform for pilots, masters and ships officers, using various manned models, accurately scaled to that of a real ship.

“It puts mariners aboard a genuine, albeit scaled, ship, in real environmental conditions. The models handle in the same way as a real ship, giving officers the opportunity to see how to handle a large vessel – particularly in restricted waters, such as a crowded anchorage or through a narrow canal or channel – allowing them to navigate through a variety of scenarios in a safe environment.”

“With 95% of the world’s trade moved by sea, ships are getting larger and waterways and ports more crowded, so scale model training is more important than ever,” says Andrew.

Since the opening of this 20-acre lake facility at Timsbury in 2011, the Ship Handling Centre has been operating a fleet of seven scaled models, including a Panamax vessel, twin screw Ro-Ro Ferry, Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), 40,0000 dwt Product Tanker, Twin Screw Shuttle Tanker, Suezmax and an Ultra Large Crude Carrier (ULCC) .

In addition to the new container ship, WMA is undertaking the build of a sister ship to the popular Panamax vessel, to be named ‘Intrepid’. Due to be operational this summer, it will increase the fleet to nine models.

The model is built locally by Composite Manufacturing (Design) Ltd (CML) based in Southampton.