Using navigation simulators to gain experience operating vessels in offshore wind farms

Presentation Description: Offshore wind in the US is a rapidly growing industry. Currently, there are lease areas along the east coast from MA to NC in various stages of development, with more leases expected in the Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico and along the west coast. Safe navigation and operation around wind turbines is a top priority and is a concern shared by maritime stakeholder groups. To proactively address these concerns and ensure mariner safety, Orsted Offshore North America partnered with the United States Marine Resource Center in Middletown, RI, the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies in Linthicum Heights, MD and the State University of New York Maritime College in the Bronx, NY to develop simulation demonstrations of the Revolution Wind, Ocean Wind and Sunrise Wind farms respectively. These exacted models of Revolution Wind, Ocean Wind and Sunrise Wind farms allow mariners and decision-makers the opportunity to experience navigating through them from the bridge of a simulated ship. To-date, over 100 stakeholders have participated in simulation demonstrations in RI, MD and NY. Stakeholder response to the simulators have been overwhelmingly positive. These simulators are a valuable tool and allow stakeholders the near real-life experience of operating in and around a wind farm in a variety of light and weather conditions.