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			              The AZIPILOT Project has 
			developed a number of focussed questionnaires to help us establish 
			the needs and expertise of the Industry, if you would like to 
			contribute to this research, then please download the relevant 
			questionnaire here:
			Class Societies       
			Maritime Societies        
			Pilot 
			Organisations   
			Unions         
			Ship Owners & Operators        
			ACD Producers      
			Insurance 
			About the ProjectFrom the 
			thrusters on smaller, but numerous, harbour support vessels through 
			to the pod-drives on cruise ships and ocean going liners, azimuthing 
			control has rapidly established itself in the maritime industry. 
			While the industry has risen to meet the demand, this rapid 
			evolution has not allowed sufficient time for the propagation of 
			knowledge throughout the different disciplines. Though the various 
			sectors of the industry each have their own expertise, a lack of 
			communication is both restricting progress and compromising safety – 
			in addition, much work is being repeated unnecessarily. The project 
			brings together the industry sectors responsible for design and 
			testing, simulation and training, the pilots that operate these 
			ships and the authorities that regulate them. The project aim is to 
			promote a wider understanding across the industry, leading to harmonisation of practice and providing recommendations for both 
			police making and the pilot training process and practice; 
			specifically for ships that use azimuthing manoeuvring devices.
			
			
			The project provides a forum for cross-disciplinary discussion 
			between the key industry sectors; specifically:  
				
				
				
				The specialist in HYDRODYNAMIC MODELLING and testing, both theoretical and 
				experimental, and expert in the understanding of azimuthing 
				control devices.
				
				
				The designers and manufacturers of
				MARINE SIMULATION 
				software, hardware and physical models that are used for the 
				training of marine pilots.  Including, the designers, human 
				factors specialists and manufactures of automation and control 
				systems, joystick systems and graphical user interfaces.
				
				
				The MARITIME TRAINING 
				facilities using both numerical and physical simulation tools 
				and specialist in the theory and practice of human factors 
				(physical and behavioural components) and specialist in the 
				training of bridge-crews and pilots.
				
				
				Practitioners in OPERATIONAL PRACTICE including maritime pilots, ship 
				operators/managers, pilot association and end-users.  And 
				including, Maritime Authorities and Regulators specifically 
				interested in policy and regulation. 
			 
			
			Generally speaking, the project will draw on four 
			main sources of input, interact with four key areas of ongoing 
			activities and result in four main outputs.  Specifically, the four 
			main sources of input include: the results and recommendations from 
			previous projects; existing general maritime training methods; 
			existing knowledge from contributing related disciplines; existing 
			more general regulations and criteria.  The four key areas of 
			ongoing activity include: other national, international and E.C. 
			research projects; existing conference series in the same or related 
			domains; existing international technical forums; existing maritime 
			associations.  The four main outputs include: the publication of a 
			dedicated technical journal; guidelines for a dedicated maritime 
			training program; data for a dedicated engineering lecture series; 
			recommendations for specific regulations and criteria. 
			 
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