This was a well attended event beginning with a visit to the Marine Operations Centre at Aberdeen harbour, or Port of Aberdeen to use it's posh name. The building is quite iconic, completed in 2006, replacing the old Navigation Control Centre located in a muche earlier structure known as 'The Roundhouse' (actually octagonal) constructed in the 1790s. With additions and modifications, the old roundhouse remained operational through to completion of the new building. Both buildings can be seen in the image below. No apologies for the car in the foreground, that was from a previous life (that picture was actually taken in 2006). The 'roundhouse' is on the extreme left.
The new control centre is on six levels, Level 0 is the main reception. We were taken straight up to level 5, the actual control room, housing Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) with panoramic views of sea and harbour. Fortunately, it was a calm dry evening so we had some excellent views and were able to go outside onto the balcony without the risk of being blown away. The photos below were taken in the VTS room or from the balcony.
Moving down to level 4, we were taken into the Pilots room. The control room and pilots room are manned 24/7, 365 days a year. We were given an interesting talk by one of the pilots on their work and the sea experience and training required to qualify as a harbour pilot.
Down at level 3 we saw the harbour operations control room where internal movements and berthing are managed.
Below that, on level 2, we saw the Simulation Room which is used for both training and incident investigation. There are no windows here, the view in the image below is a 180 degree screen displaying the view from the bridge of vessels entering and leaving the harbour. The cruise ship in the background (on the left) has not run aground, it is berthed in the new South harbour which can accommodate much larger vessels. The simulator includes vessel control panels and software allowing emulation of different vessel types and sizes and how they respond. The software model includes the topography of the sea bed and can simulate different sea states, tides, winds and river flows (the river Dee flows through the main navigation channel).
Below that is level 1, which houses a conventional classroom.
Following the visit, we headed out to the Echt Tandoori, 15 miles west from the harbour. There we had some excellent food before breaking up and heading home.
The new control centre is on six levels, Level 0 is the main reception. We were taken straight up to level 5, the actual control room, housing Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) with panoramic views of sea and harbour. Fortunately, it was a calm dry evening so we had some excellent views and were able to go outside onto the balcony without the risk of being blown away. The photos below were taken in the VTS room or from the balcony.
Moving down to level 4, we were taken into the Pilots room. The control room and pilots room are manned 24/7, 365 days a year. We were given an interesting talk by one of the pilots on their work and the sea experience and training required to qualify as a harbour pilot.
Down at level 3 we saw the harbour operations control room where internal movements and berthing are managed.
Below that, on level 2, we saw the Simulation Room which is used for both training and incident investigation. There are no windows here, the view in the image below is a 180 degree screen displaying the view from the bridge of vessels entering and leaving the harbour. The cruise ship in the background (on the left) has not run aground, it is berthed in the new South harbour which can accommodate much larger vessels. The simulator includes vessel control panels and software allowing emulation of different vessel types and sizes and how they respond. The software model includes the topography of the sea bed and can simulate different sea states, tides, winds and river flows (the river Dee flows through the main navigation channel).
Below that is level 1, which houses a conventional classroom.
Following the visit, we headed out to the Echt Tandoori, 15 miles west from the harbour. There we had some excellent food before breaking up and heading home.
