The Australian Navy has awarded a contract to Kongsberg Maritime to supply warship bridge simulation systems to upgrade the navy’s training centre at HMAS Watson in Sydney, Australia.

Under the NOK38m ($6.4m) contract, the company will supply an upgraded ship bridge simulator system comprised of two full mission simulators, four part-task simulators, ten desktop systems, instructor and debrief stations and extensive visual systems.

In addition, Kongsberg Maritime will also upgrade the navy’s existing Kongsberg simulators and deliver new simulation systems to complement the existing simulation equipment.

The Kongsberg ship bridge simulator will provide the navy with the ability to accurately replicate the full range of maritime operations likely to be experienced while on the bridge of a warship, providing high fidelity visual effects of ships, ship behaviour and the maritime environment.

The state-of-the-art functionality allows the navy to accurately simulate a wide range of operations, including the ability to test knowledge, skills and competencies of trainees in various scenarios.

The scenarios include ocean passage and coastal navigation, pilotage, berthing and un-berthing, precise navigation and close quarter manoeuvring when conducting warfare type exercises.

The Kongsberg ship bridge simulator is expected to be delivered in January 2011.