Navy builds its own simulator

The Sri Lanka Navy has built its own Naval craft simulator by developing software to train its naval officers, navigators and cadets on navigating a Naval craft without leaving the shores, in a move to save a large amount of money which is spent on training.

It saves time, fuel and the risk which is spent on training of sailors. The simulator behaves as an actual ship which is a unique characteristic, according to the Navy. At present a Dvora attack craft is capable of carrying only 25 sailors at once for training purposes.

With the development of the simulator the Navy will be able to save time and energy spent on training in the seas.

The University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) assisted the Naval Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department to develop the unique software which is able to develop into a controlling room with 3D technology that of a Dvora, the Jetliner and ‘Sayura’.

The Director of the Department Rear Admiral K.R. Senadeera and its Deputy Director Commander Janaka Gunaseela worked together with Professor Nihal Kodikara of the UCSC to successfully complete the simulator.

It is able to assess the speed of the craft or the vessel plus the distance it has to cover and it had covered. It also gives the picture to the controller of the specific vessel to get basic knowledge about geographic locations situated along its path.

Controlling the vessel in the night, during the day time and adapting to a situation when the vessel is in the seas during storms is all possible in the simulator, the Navy said.

“The government can spend a large amount of money to buy a simulator. But with the development of a simulator with local expertise the Navy was able to save a large sum,” the Navy said.

According to the Navy when the country wants to buy such equipment from abroad the manufacturer wants to know all the details about the ports and vessels used by the Navy.

The Department is currently planning to build several such simulators to develop and enhance training capabilities of the Sri Lanka Navy under the direction of Navy Commander Vice Admiral Somathilaka Dissanayake. (Supun Dias)