Mid-November marked the time for MARSIM, the conference about marine simulators. This time, Chalmers was in charge of organizing. A total of about 30 actors in the marine simulator sector from large parts of the world participated during the three days.
"For those interested in maritime simulators, this is exactly the right group to talk to and be a part of," says Lars Finnema, lecturer and researcher at NHL Stenden University in the Netherlands.
The International Marine Simulator Forum, IMSF, was funded in 1978. The association organized and established compatible languages and formats for ship equations of motion, which in turn initiated the standards that exist today for simulator operators. Under the IMSF umbrella, the conference MARSIM for stakeholders in the sector of marine simulators, has been organised.
After a few years' break from having a physical conference in the wake of the pandemic, it was time to meet up again. This time the conference was organised by Chalmers.
"With a quite short timespan, we managed to get the MARSIM live again," says Johan Eliasson, lecturer at the Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, and the one who organised the conference. "And the event became better than I ever thought, and the willingness to participate from the association's members far exceeded my expectations. Good thoughts, good people, and good collaborations."
Presentations and study visits
During the three days that the conference was held, the participants, in addition to taking part in a number of presentations from industry as well as academia, also had the chance to visit the Chalmers Tracks environment on Campus Johanneberg and the marine simulators on Campus Lindholmen.
"It is a good thing to meet in a forum where both universities, other partners to the maritime industry as well as vendors from different simulator brands participate," says Johan Eliasson. "I felt that we had a good mix of presenters, and that the study visits to the campus areas were particularly appreciated parts of the planned agenda. As for the focusing forward, I think it will be reduction of sea time due to simulator exercises, and on how to develop exercises that can be used by different partners worldwide."
One of the participants during the days was Lars Finnema. On a daily basis, he works as a lecturer and researcher at the Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz, part of the NHL Stenden University in the Netherlands. Together with a colleague, he gave a presentation on constructing simulator models using machine learning.
"The group to talk to"
"For anyone interested in the world of maritime simulation, this is the group to talk to," he says. "A number of relevant and important actors participated, such as simulator manufacturers, lecturers, instructors and researchers. We had the opportunity to share with each other current areas of development, future prospects, and challenges in our sector. Those who were attending for the first time learned about the historical and future importance of IMSF with regards to legislation and standards for the industry."
As an instructor in maritime training, he emphasizes the importance of meeting and exchanging thoughts and ideas about how to use simulators in your work, and that the development of how to use the simulators is at least as important as the technical development in itself.
Face the same challenges
"I have realized that whatever challenges I am faced and struggling with in my daily work, there is always someone else facing the exaclty same challenges," he says. "We really need to maintain contact within this kind of network, to ensure that we maximize our work in making full use of simulators."
He specifically highlights how interesting it was to hear about the dedication and work that Stephen Cross, past president of the IMSF, and other members have put in historically.
"Hearing about that kind of commitment and visions is very inspiring, and I return home with many ideas and ideas to work on."
For Lars Finnema, it was the first visit to Chalmers. Among other things, he praises the good atmosphere on campus areas, and the friendliness and openness of students and staff. He is already looking forward to next year's gathering.
"To the MARSIM conference 2024, in St. John's in Canada, I hope that even more will choose to participate," he says. "It is extremely important that experts in maritime education have the opportunity to meet in this way and make contact with each other."
Participating organisations at MARSIM 2023
MIWB
VR Marine
Wismar Hochschule
Wärtsilä
Kongsberg Digital
DNV
Nautical Institute
US Coast Guard
VR Marine
UK Chamber of Shipping
SIMAC
University of Split - MARITIME STUDIES
V-Step
University of Gothenburg
NI London
IAMU
Petrobio
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
FMV
RISE
Chalmers