The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland officially opened the Hibernia Offshore Operations Simulator Facility Friday, Oct. 30.

This new simulator will provide offshore operators with advanced and customized training for the supply and support of offshore facilities and production platforms.

The Hibernia Offshore Operations Simulator is housed at the institute’s Centre for Marine Simulation (CMS) in a new two-storey facility that was added to the Marine Institute campus this past winter. The facility includes a six degree of freedom motion platform that replicates a wide range of at sea conditions and vessel vibrations, a visualization system to represent offshore operations in real time and an instructor station to co-ordinate and oversee training scenarios.

The construction of the facility was made possible by donations of $4.4 million from the Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC) and $750,000 from the provincial government’s Infrastructure Funding Program.  

“Creating a learning environment that simulates Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore conditions will enhance our overall approach to safety,” said Jennifer Walck, president of HMDC. “This simulator will better prepare our workforce for the conditions they encounter offshore, and ensure they have the ability to practice operations in a controlled environment.”

“Our advanced technology sectors such as ocean technology continue to grow and are attracting people from all over the world to our shores, and the Hibernia Offshore Operations Simulator Facility is an excellent addition to our suite of training infrastructure to supply and support our offshore industry,” said Clyde Jackman, minister, Advanced Education and Skills. “As a government we are very pleased to provide financial support for continued excellence in training for the offshore. Both the growing offshore sector and continued excellence in post-secondary training further support the goals of our Population Growth Strategy, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s 10-year strategy for supporting individuals and families who choose Newfoundland and Labrador as their home.”

Using the Hibernia Offshore Operations Simulator, CMS will train new and existing personnel at the Hibernia Offshore Operations Simulator Facility in complex tasks, such as positioning and mooring of offshore structures, deep water anchor handling, supply operations alongside platforms, iceberg management and subsea operations. The simulator will also be used to rehearse operations and develop and evaluate procedures as part of risk assessments.

The facility will also enable CMS to continue spearheading research in the areas of equipment design, ice navigation, technology transfer and simulation development with the aim of making offshore operations safer and more efficient.

“The Fisheries and Marine Institute prides itself on being Canada’s most comprehensive centre for education, training, applied research and industrial support for the ocean industries,” said Glenn Blackwood, vice-president, Memorial University (Marine Institute). “The Hibernia Offshore Operations Simulator is the latest in training technology for the offshore sector and will ensure today’s workforce is equipped with the unique training they require to safely perform complex tasks and react to conditions in the harsh marine environment such as that off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. We are grateful to Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd., the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the provincial government for their support in making this new facility possible.”

The new simulator will complement the wide range of marine and offshore training simulators currently housed at CMS, including one of only three full motion ship’s bridge simulators in the world.