Ship handling facility reopens

The new 25 acre site was purchased by the university in 2009. Work began in June 2010 and was completed on time in April 2011 ready for the first courses to start in May. Following the opening ceremony, representatives from the shipping and port industries were invited to view the new facilities, followed by a public viewing.

The history of manned model ship handling training at Warsash began in 1980 on a lake at Marchwood, near Southampton, with two models. As student numbers increased, the fleet expanded to the present size of seven manned models, four radio-controlled tugs and a jack-up-oil rig. The centre remains only one of five in the world and the only one of its kind in the UK.

Manned model ship handling training is said to make a major contribution to shipping by increasing operational safety, efficiency and environmental protection by developing the ship handling skills of ship’s officers and marine pilots. By using manned models complex and potentially hazardous situations can be explored in complete safety.

The specially created features of the lake include; a canal with a scale length of 4 miles incorporating straight and curved elements; a harbour area designed to provide close manoeuvring practice; a ferry port equipped with a narrow entrance and finger jetty;19 strategically placed jetties offering a variety of ship handling scenarios; buoyed channels, critical bends and restricted turning basins that create realistic manoeuvring challenges and lake-bottom contours created to demonstrate shallow water effects on a ship’s handling. The sheltered environment ensures that training can continue in most wind conditions. The courses are attended by ships’ masters, senior officers, pilots and berthing masters, serving on all types of vessels. In a typical season some 200 delegates, representing about 25 different nationalities, attend.

Environmental sensitivity has been a major consideration throughout the whole project and the University’s ecological management plan, prepared in accordance with Natural England and local planning requirements, will ensure the development of the site as a haven for wildlife.