SMT recently loaned a MaK 6M25C diesel marine engine (inset) to the College, making Georgian the only school in North America to have this equipment located on site at a marine training centre. Having the engine available for training purposes positions the College as a highly-capable MaK training centre. Mariners previously had to travel to Germany to obtain this quality of training.

The partnership between Georgian, SMT and Toromont/Caterpillar (the makers of the MaK engine) creates a “win-win-win” situation for all involved, says Capt. John Greenway, Vice President – Operations for SMT.

“This partnership will help us to develop an interactive, state-of-the-art engine familiarization, maintenance and plant management course to address the needs of marine companies in North America,” he says. “Offering this type of hands-on education locally with Toromont instructors will allow us to provide a cost-efficient MaK training course with significant value to the end-user.”

Georgian and Toromont/Caterpillar are working closely with input and involvement from the marine industry to develop an engine training course on new MAK diesel main engines and generators.

Course development is currently underway to address both junior and senior engineering officer levels, utilization of simulation models and scenarios, and plant efficiency and environmental management related to the MaK engine.

The multi-million-dollar investment will propel post-secondary students enrolled in marine programs at Georgian to the front of the class in terms of access to technological innovations in marine engines, says Capt. Peter Buell, Director of GLIMTC.

“Having the MAK engine on campus will allow both post-secondary marine cadets and professional mariners to train on the most up-to-date relevant equipment available in the marine industry today,” he says. “The addition of the MAK engine to our marine simulation and training centre will put us on the forefront of marine training in North America and beyond.”

Peter received his Master Foreign
Going Designation in 1995 and from
there moved onto the Royal New
Zealand Navy to pursue a variety
of opportunities, including time at
sea. He held several appointments
including Officer in Charge of the
Maritime Operational Evaluation
Team, where he was responsible
for assessing and training shipping
companies’ personnel both ashore and
on-board their vessels.

Upon his return to Canada in 2006,
Peter worked as the Assistant
Director of Marine Services for the
Government of the Northwest
Territories, where he was responsible
for a fleet of five ferries and their
personnel.

Peter is currently active in the
Canadian Marine Advisory Council,
the Canadian Ferry Operators’
Association and the Arctic Marine
Advisory Board.

Nov. 21, 2008

**************************************
GEORGIAN COLLEGE OPENS CANADA’S MOST ADVANCED MARINE SIMULATION AND RESEARCH CENTRE

OWEN SOUND, ONTARIO — The most advanced marine simulation and research centre in Canada officially opened today at the Owen Sound Campus of Georgian College.

Representatives from the federal and provincial governments, the Georgian College president and chief executive officer, as well as local and provincial dignitaries, representatives from Transport Canada, the marine industry and Georgian College gathered at the Owen Sound Campus of Georgian College to mark the official opening of the new Great Lakes International Marine Training Centre.

“The Government of Canada is delivering real results for Canadians and the marine industry,” said Larry Miller, Member of Parliament for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, on behalf of John Baird, Canada’s Minister of Transport. “The Government of Canada has contributed over $1.4 million and has transferred two of its marine simulators to contribute to the modernization of this marine simulation and research centre.”

The $8-million centre is the first of its kind in the country. It includes four state-of-the-art simulators of ship bridges and engine rooms with computer generation and projection, and a world-class full mission ship simulator, which features a 360-degree view of harbours and waterways around the world.

The Province of Ontario contributed $3.75 million to the project. “By investing in a first-class, accredited marine simulation and research centre in Owen Sound, the province is helping strengthen the marine industry and providing benefits to Ontarians now and in the future,” said Ontario Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield.

The City of Owen Sound, marine industry partners and generous private donors to the Georgian College Power of Education fundraising campaign provided additional funding to this new marine simulation and research centre.

“We are thrilled to open this state-of-the-art centre,” said Brian Tamblyn, president and chief executive officer of Georgian College. “This facility allows the college and the marine industry at large to keep up with the demand for highly trained marine professionals. With this facility, we can address the educational needs of an industry that contributes to our economy and quality of life. Previously, mariners had to travel out of Canada for some of this specialized training.”

Global marine traffic is expected to triple in the next 20 years, at the same time as a worldwide shortage of ship’s officers and seafarers is forecast. In the Great Lakes marine transportation industry alone, three-quarters of employees are set to retire in the near future, creating an estimated 1,500 job vacancies in Ontario.

Georgian College offers three-year co-op programs in marine engineering technology and marine navigation technology. Each program has been planned in cooperation with Transport Canada and marine industry partners.

GEORGIAN COLLEGE OPENS CANADA’S MOST ADVANCED MARINE SIMULATION AND RESEARCH CENTRE

Photo info: Representatives from the federal and provincial governments, Georgian College, as well as local and provincial dignitaries and members of the marine industry gathered Nov. 21 at the Owen Sound Campus of Georgian College to mark the official opening of the new $8-million Great Lakes International Marine Training Centre. From left: Brian Tamblyn, President and CEO, Georgian College; Ontario Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield; Ruth Lovell Stanners, mayor, City of Owen Sound; and Larry Miller, Member of Parliament for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound.

- 30 -

Contact:

Sharon Burkhart

Manager, Corporate Communications

Georgian College

705-728-1968, ext. 1043

Thanks to the generous support of the Ontario ministries of Training, Colleges and Universities and Transportation, Transport Canada Marine Safety and the City of Owen Sound, along with a major commitment by Georgian College and members of the Canadian marine industry, the Great Lakes International Marine Simulation and Research Centre will officially open on Nov. 21.

Upgrades will allow the College and the marine industry at large to keep up with the demand for skilled professionals, said Archie Dickson, Director, GLIMTC.

“With global marine traffic set to triple in the next 20 years and a worldwide shortage of ship’s officers and seafarers, Georgian’s upgraded facilities will meet the training needs of the marine industry in Canada and internationally,” said Dickson. “As Ontario’s only Transport Canada-approved marine training facility, the Great Lakes International Marine Training and Research Centre will continue to attract domestic and international training opportunities in addition to reaping positive economic benefits for Ontario.”

The 20,000-square-foot facility will be equipped with four navigational training bridges designed to simulate real system interfaces including modern ARPA/Radar, ECDIS, AIS, GMDSS communications, and the most up-to-date integrated navigation systems on the market today. The Centre will also feature a comprehensive library of vessel models (including several specific to those on the Great Lakes) using real databases covering large areas of Canadian waters, global shipping ports and central routes.

Following a competitive bid process and extensive due diligence on part of the customer, Kongsberg’s engine room simulator was selected as the preferred training system. The new installation represents an upgrade from the earlier generation Kongsberg PPT-2000 UNIX platform ERS to a Windows environment, and the second major purchase by Georgian College of Kongsberg simulation equipment. In addition to meeting all Transport Canada requirements for full mission engine room training, Kongsberg brought additional value to the customer in several areas. As part of the upgrade, Kongsberg was able to reuse many of the original ERS panels and consoles, translating into cost savings by the customer.

This is testimony to the high quality of Kongsberg equipment, most of which had remained unchanged and fully functional from its original installation in the early 1990s.
The delivery included a range of marine engine models installed in both full mission and desktop configurations. The low speed L11 MAN B&W 5L90MC (VLCC) and the medium speed M22 Pielstick 10-PC-IV (Ferry) were delivered in both full mission and desktop, with additional desktop models for the Sulzer 12RTA84 L11 and the M11 MAK 32 engine. To ensure long term peak performance of the engine room simulator, Kongsberg Maritime will also provide Georgian College with an extended warranty which will cover all hardware and software for five years….Download the PDF with the entire article here