His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, officially opened the Marine Simulator Complex building for basic and postgraduate studies at the Sharjah Maritime Transport Academy in Khor Fakkan.
In a ribbon-cutting ceremony, His Highness inaugurated the building and toured the academy’s advanced scientific laboratories and simulation rooms. Among the notable facilities is the virtual engine room simulator, allowing students to simulate ship engine control and monitor power and pressure onboard. The integrated wheelhouse simulator features 25 port models worldwide, providing a comprehensive experience of ship driving simulation for students to learn cockpit contents and the role of a ship captain. Additionally, a dynamic site command room simulator enables students to practice dealing with oil facilities, rigs, offshore refineries, emergency services, rescuing survivors, and extinguishing fires on other ships.
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi received an explanation of the simulator rooms’ specifications, which can be controlled via a panel for selecting natural phenomena, wave heights, marine maneuvers, and various scenarios to prepare students for real-life sea voyages.
Equipped with the latest advanced devices globally, the simulator rooms enhance students’ skills in ship control from the cockpit, covering navigational and directional control devices, voice control, and large screens displaying the ship’s itinerary and strategies for handling different weather conditions during voyages.
The opening ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority, and Engineer Ali bin Shaheen Al Suwaidi, Head of the Public Works Department, among others.
