A Study on Development of Laptop-Based Pilots’ Ship-Handling Simulation Software

Berthing and unberthing maneuver is essential work for marine pilots and securing the safety against risks during the maneuver is more important than anything else. Moreover, the maneuvering environment in ports and harbors has changed rapidly and got worse due to development of a new port, the advent of a new type or large-sized ship, and the rapid increase in harbor traffic. As one of measures taken to cope with such changes in the maneuvering environment and for each pilot to improve his own maneuvering ability, this paper developed laptop-based ship-handling simulator which is readily available anytime and anywhere. This paper is to develop a conning display for ship’s maneuvering and electronic chart based display widely used nowadays to represent a model ship’s movement. The displays were arranged appropriately considering pilot age, easy handling by mouse, using a maximum screen, proper arrangement of rudder, engine, thruster, tug etc and representation of information. Up to now thirteen (13) model ships were developed based on real-ship, whose mathematical model is Japanese MMG & pilots' low speed maneuver.