The Korean government has committed to invest 130 billion won (US$110 million) in the project over the next three years, with a goal of starting operations in 2023. The simulation contract is being delivered through maritime ICT convergence specialists eMARINE Global. 

The simulator will be used primarily for research and development of navigational equipment and display systems, and will facilitate testing of autonomous vessel technologies in a safe virtual environment before trials in a designated autonomous ship test bed. Based on Kongsberg Digital’s industry-proven K-Sim Navigation platform, the new system will deliver high-fidelity visual and physical simulation, a radar signal interface function and software for navigation analysis, equipment test and evaluation.

The high-fidelity simulator is due for installation in November this year. The delivery will in addition to K-Sim Navigation, include development of new software to integrate external inputs such as GPS and wave sensors, as well as an API interface to permit simulation data transfer to other systems. Kongsberg Digital will also supply an area database for the virtual ‘Ulsan Port’, and a modelling tool enabling new simulator vessel models to be built from the ground up. 

Kongsberg Digital’s senior vice president Tone-Merete Hansen said: “Kongsberg Digital’s suite of simulators have a huge potential in the maritime research and development sector. The K-Sim technology platform, with its physics-based modelling, incredibly realistic vessel behaviour and virtual environment, enables testing and verification of operations to a very high level. Our simulation technology will support UIPA to test, verify and shape innovations in the field of autonomy. Other international autonomy projects have recently selected our simulation technology to carry out advanced autonomy studies, so we see a new market for advanced simulation growing.”

Kongsberg Digital is recognised as the technology-leader in simulators for crew training and a driving force behind the growing use of digital twins in maritime applications. The company’s flexibility to deliver a customised service including research-focused software development for the new autonomous ship research facility in Ulsan reflects its central role as an enabler of new safety and performance enhancing technologies for both manned and unmanned vessel operations.

The Memorandum of Understanding confirms that CIB and MPA will work on the financial structuring of the proposed terminal. This due diligence will include planning and pre-procurement activities for the design, the construction, the financing, the operation and the maintenance of the terminal. CIB’s work could lead to an investment in the project, subject to all standard due diligence and decision making.

The objective of the new terminal is to continue to enable importers and exporters to get products to market in a timely fashion and to support Canada’s economic growth and international trade. The terminal in Contrecoeur would enhance the port’s infrastructure that supports the flow of goods from container ships and increases current and future capacity for the next decades.

The Port of Montreal is the only container port in the province of Quebec and the largest port in Eastern Canada. In 2018 alone, it handled more than 1.7 million containers. 

The CIB has specialised infrastructure expertise and this project is consistent with its mandate to advise on and potentially invest in trade and transportation infrastructure projects that are revenue-generating and in the public interest.

Quick Facts:

CIB is focused on transformational projects that are revenue-generating and in the public interest. Public transit, trade and transportation, green infrastructure and broadband are the priority sectors for investment.

As a Crown corporation, CIB is mandated to use $35 billion in federal funding to attract private sector and institutional investment and to work with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous and private partners to transform the way infrastructure is planned, funded and delivered in Canada.

CIB’s Board of Directors is responsible for independently making investment decisions.

Montreal Port Authority’s proposed Contrecoeur expansion will result in a new infrastructure to help Canadian importers and exporters get products to market in a timely fashion by increasing capacity.

The Port of Montreal provides the shortest direct route from Europe and the Mediterranean to North America.

Quotes:

“The Canada Infrastructure Bank is proud to contribute its expertise to the development of the port terminal project in Contrecoeur to maximise its commercial value and attract private investors. Our collaboration with the Montreal Port Authority demonstrates our commitment to developing trade and transportation infrastructure that will support Canadian economic growth in a responsible, efficient and sustainable manner. This project represents the type of initiatives the CIB intends to develop to diversify and expand Canadian trade.”

Pierre Lavallée, President and CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank.

“This commitment by the Canada Infrastructure Bank is a key milestone in the progress of our project towards its completion. This collaboration with this new partner confirms the national importance of our project, whose purpose is to support the growth of international trade for Canada.”

Sylvie Vachon, President and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority.

“The collaboration between the Montreal Port Authority and the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) embodies the reasons for the creation of the CIB by the Government of Canada. The CIB has the investment expertise to help the MPA maximize the economic potential of the port terminal project in Contrecoeur. The joint work will ensure that Canadians derive maximum benefit from the expansion of the Port of Montreal’s activities, which is a vital contributor to the country’s economic growth.”

Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

“To help them remain competitive, in container inspection, maintenance and repair operations, the visual inspection of empty containers needs to be as efficient as possible,” says Chris van de Werdt, Product Strategy Manager EMEA Big Trucks for Hyster Europe. 
 

Hyster Europe has developed a spreader support device for its Empty Container Handlers that helps eliminate a stage in the inspection process. 
 

“With the spreader support device, containers no longer need to be set down for inspection, enabling checkers to quickly inspect the containers thoroughly,” he says. “The inspection process involves examining the container for damage, including the underside, and the process has health and safety risks if the container is not suitably held in position.”
 

By using the Hyster® spreader support device, the spreader holding the container is firmly locked in place at a height of about 1.80metres. At the touch of a button in the cab, the operator activates the support device which secures the spreader with mechanical locks from both sides of the mast. 
 

The mechanical locks prevent the spreader and container from dropping. Furthermore, the moment the spreader support device is extended, the operator cannot drive or move the truck until it is de-activated following the inspection.
 

“A monitor indicates to the checker that the spreader is fixed and the container stabilised,” Chris says.  “Whether it is a dry container or the inspection of a reefer for food transportation or pharmaceuticals, this device helps significantly reduce the inspection time.”
 

The solution is available on models from the Hyster® H8XM-EC6 – H11XM-ECD9 series of Empty Container Handlers for the inspection of 20, 40 and 45ft sea containers.

Moving containers into the workshop on the short end
 

Hyster Europe has also developed a solution to lift containers from the ‘short’ end, enabling them to be easily and quickly moved into repair workshops. A special container rotator attachment fitted to a heavy-duty Hyster® Lift Truck can lift a dry container or reefer into an indoor facility with doors just slightly wider than the front axle of the truck.  Inside the workshop the attachment allows the containers to be conveniently placed into a row ready for repair.  After repair, the containers can be removed in any order regardless of their position in the row.
 

“When engineers need to repair the roof or the bottom of a container, they normally have to work on top or underneath it. However, this attachment can rotate the container allowing them to work on these areas as if they were the side of the container, which is far more easily accessed,” says Chris. “This makes repairs and maintenance easier and more efficient, helping to increase productivity and contributing to overall safety.”