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Foundation for Safety of Navigation and Environment Protection is a
non-profit company; established in 1991 by Gdansk University of
Technology, Gdynia Maritime University and Town of Ilawa. The
company designs and conducts ship handling training courses for
pilots, ship masters and chief officers, using for this purpose
manned ship models and hydraulic models of harbours and various
waterways that are build on a Silm Lake at Ship Handling Research
and Training Centre in Ilawa. The ship models (7 ships - one with
POD drives, and 2 azimuthing tugs) are physical simulators of ship
hydrodynamics, together with ship control and propulsion systems.
The models are designed and equipped to allow the trainees to
experience all problems involved in manoeuvring of ships in confined
areas of harbours, rivers, waterways and canals. The instructors
monitor the trainees behaviour using measurement and telemetry
systems, including control commands together with gyros and RTK GPS
for precise position estimation. The company has recently built two
manned models of escort tugs with azimuth stern and azimuth bow
drives to support specialised training. The Foundation is also
engaged in hydrodynamic research, human factor research, ship
manoeuvring modelling and simulation, harbour safety assessment and
ship design. It participates in numerous research grants funded by
Polish governmental offices and international bodies.
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