As part of the contract, Kongsberg Maritime will provide its world-class Polaris and Neptune Simulators for navigation and engine room training to the school’s new facility.

Following an open tender that saw Kongsberg Maritime’s proven products and comprehensive proposal secure the contract, the simulation developer will install an extensive range of equipment and software at BP2IP’s new ship-shaped training facility to help meet the increasing need for expert maritime training in the region. The scope of supply includes a ship’s bridge simulator, engine room simulator, Polaris Crisis Management/Oil Spill simulator, GMDSS trainers, instructor stations, Exercise Area Database Creator, full mission ERS and target ship, and own ship hydrodynamic models.    

“It is a priority for the Ministry of Transport that training centers are able to deliver world-class mariners for the global manning of ships and Kongsberg Maritime Simulators enable us to provide students with the skills and experience they need to become the best seafarers,” comments Mr M. Chairul Djohansyah, ST, M.Mar.e, Principal of Barombong Merchant Marine College. “The installation of this training technology shows our commitment to the provision of outstanding education at all levels.”

The Kongsberg Maritime Polaris and Neptune simulators meet the requirements of IMO, SOLAS, the latest STCW Convention and are certified by the world’s leading maritime classification societies. Together, they will provide a broad mix of training scenarios across numerous disciplines, including bridge team management, ship-handling and manoeuvring, radar observation and plotting, automatic radar plotting aids and engine resource and team management.

“We already have several deliveries to other civil and naval training centres in Indonesia but we see this as a significant expansion to our activity in the region,” comments Peter Grindem, Area Sales Manager, Kongsberg Maritime Simulation. “Our delivery to BP2IP covers a broad spectrum of training disciplines and we are looking forward to providing the new facility with our state-of-the-art simulators.”

Noatum is the largest port operator in Spain and a significant port operator in Europe. After the acquisition of Dragados SPL from ACS in November 2010 by a consortium of institutional investors under the consultation of JP Morgan Asset Management and the Dutch pension fund ABP, and the rebranding process around the Noatum brand in February 2011, the company continues to integrate and consolidate the architecture of the new brand. As a result of the international aspirations, and looking to consolidate the brand identity, this will be the resulting branding of the terminals:

‘Terminal Marítima Santander (TMS)’ is renamed as ‘Noatum Terminal Polivalente Santander’; ‘Graneles Sólidos Minerales (GSM)’ is now ‘Noatum Terminal Graneles Santander’; ‘Abra Terminales Marítimas (ATM)’ changes to ‘Noatum Container Terminal Bilbao’; ‘Terminal de Castellón (TECASA)’ will be named ‘Noatum Terminal Castellón’; ‘Marítima Valenciana (Marvalsa Sagunto)’ will be known as ‘Noatum Terminal Polivalente Sagunto’; ‘Marítima Valenciana (Marvalsa Valencia)’ will be called ‘Noatum Container Terminal Valencia’, and “Terminales del Sudeste” will be named ‘Noatum Container Terminal Málaga’.

‘The entire brand identity transformation process will help us consolidate our leadership in the Spanish market, further consolidating a unique corporate culture and integrating our terminals under the wing of a global brand,” said Douglas Schultz, CEO of Noatum.

Schultz also added that “the brand establishment process for Noatum will be completed for the terminals before year’s end, and it will be a milestone for the Spanish port industry”.

After the board action the three commissioners will discuss the preliminary budget in detail with port staff at a half-day workshop on Wednesday, October 26. The budget workshop is open to the public, although no official public comment will be taken during the workshop.

Input from the public regarding the port’s 2012 budget is welcome at both the upcoming commission meetings. The port’s two-page 2012 preliminary budget is currently available on the port’s website at http://www.portvanusa.com/sites/default/files/tinymce/files/2012%20Preliminary%20Budget.pdf. 

The commission is expected to vote on the final 2012 budget at their November 8 meeting.

The second action item on the agenda is consideration of an inter-governmental agreement between the port and Clark Public Utilities for the construction of an electrical substation. The new substation is needed to supply additional electrical power to port’s Terminal 5 for future development.

The commissioners also will hear a presentation by economist John Martin on a recently completed Port of Vancouver economic impact study. Approximately every five years, the port commissions a study to measure its economic influence in Clark County and the Pacific Northwest.  The information assists port commissioners and executives in making future development decisions. The 2011 study was conducted by John C Martin Associated LLC. The firm is based in Pennsylvania and conducts similar studies for major ports throughout the U.S. and Canada. The last Port of Vancouver study was conducted in 2006.

Six freight operatives from Pembroke Port and Ferry Terminal, which is owned and managed by Milford Haven Port, were presented with their certificates on 14 October 2011.

The NVQ Level 2 Port Operations programme was delivered by Pembrokeshire College in collaboration with Milford Haven Port and awarded by EMTA Awards Limited.  Nine modules were studied in total including; berthing of vessels; working safely near water; maintaining environmental good practice within ports; health and safety and working on the ferry’s decks loading and unloading freight vehicles.

Port Manager Mike Ashworth worked alongside the college and his team throughout the process and has now become an NVQ Assessor. Commenting on the experience he said “Our freight operatives have demonstrated a highly proficient approach and depth of knowledge. The standard of work produced by each of them has been outstanding.” 

Malcolm York, MITEC Centre Manager added “We have been really impressed with the success of this new NVQ programme and look forward to continuing to work alongside Milford Haven Port Authority.”

Port Operator John Kenniford, who undertook the training, said “I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and I’m really pleased that I now have a certificate that demonstrates my ability.”

This programme will now continue to give other Operatives the opportunity to gain the same qualification.