Heavy Weather Ship Handling Simulation With and Without Motion

Despite the fact that high risk sailing operations are often caused by heavy weather and characterized by vigorous ship motions, the vast majority of (full mission) bridge simulators are Earth fixed. We therefore evaluated the value of adding motion to ship simulation in terms of technical feasibility, measurability of performance, and effects on training. Of eighteen navy personnel, nine received a 30 min training session with and nine without physical motion in a bridge simulator. Pre and post tests showed no objective effect on training performance. Subjectively, however, physical motion was judged beneficial.