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Corporate Profile
Virtual World
Ice scenarios in Kongsberg Maritime's latest Polaris simulation software.
Another aspect of training is Kongsberg Maritime's activities in the world of marine simulation. The company is a leading player in navigation and engine room simulation providing a range of Full Mission and desktop simulators to maritime training institutes around the world. Kongsberg Maritime simulations make use of the real life experience the company has as a supplier of the systems it simulates. This enables its customers to provide unparalleled levels of realism to hundreds of thousands of students a year. As an established leader in marine simulation technology, Kongsberg Maritime feels it has more of a role to play in the training of the world's seafarers than simply an equipment supplier. "We have great relationships with our customers, colleges, universities and training institutes around the world," said Mark Treen, Sales & Marketing Manager (Simulation), Kongsberg Maritime. "Communication is two-way, we need the feedback of our customers and users, to ensure that we continue to develop simulation solutions that the industry as a whole needs." As part of this communication, the company's simulation department organizes three simulator user conferences every year. These conferences follow the company ethos of getting closer to the customer with one held in Europe, one in Asia and another in the U.S. "The User Conferences provides the platform for open dialogue, an opportunity to guide our future innovation and to share industry related issues amongst the key players," said Mark. "The success of our conferences is testimony to the efforts of the many hands and heads that made it possible, and of course, the quality and enthusiasm of the delegates that keep returning, time and again." Aside from the traditional aspects of marine simulation, Kongsberg Maritime is also heavily involved in dynamic process simulation for the Oil & Gas sectors. Kongsberg Maritime has been developing its dynamic simulator tool ASSETT (and its precursors) since 1989. In an era of further integration at the field, ASSETT enables engineers to fully test and analyze processes before going live in addition to continuous operation throughout the lifetime of a field. This provides benefit in costs and safety; something that the world's leading oil & gas companies are now recognizing with the growing adoption of process simulation. To this end, in July this year, Kongsberg Maritime acquired Fantoft Process Technologies AS with the aim to establish a world-leader in the field of dynamic process simulation and related tools and services. The merger will offer and promote further development and internationalization of the joint technologies, products and services of the two companies, and result in significant synergies in many respects. For the foreseeable future, the two world leading dynamic process simulation tools D-SPICE from Fantoft and ASSETT from Kongsberg Maritime will continue to be maintained, marketed and supplied while the next generation simulation tool is developed in parallel. The merger process between the companies is expected to be complete towards the end of 2006
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Maritime because we supply the equipment they need, which works and continues to work well throughout its lifetime. However a very important aspect to gaining new customers and keeping existing customers, is to be there, where they are," said Torfin Kildal, President, Kongsberg Maritime, when asked about the company's approach to the global market. "Our strategy of being a global company and local supplier is across the board. It forms the backbone of our sales, support and training activities in all our core markets. We are close geographically to the customer, but fortified by a strong worldwide network." With a presence in 22 countries, the Kongsberg Maritime organization is positioned to serve all the major marine and offshore areas of the world. The company has five manufacturing locations: Kongsberg, Horten and Trondheim in Norway; Aberdeen in Scotland; and Vancouver in Canada. The Norwegian facilities are the development and manufacturing centers for Kongsberg Maritime's core systems Navigation, Automation, DP, Simulation, Position Reference Systems and Subsea (including fishery, hydroacoustics and AUVs). Just north of Aberdeen, in Wick, as Kongsberg Maritime Ltd., the development and manufacturing of a range of underwater camera equipment for the offshore, construction and scientific industry takes place. There are 120 staff at Kongsberg Maritime Ltd., 80 of which are dedicated to the Camera group. The company also handles all sales and customer after-sales support,
including on-site/off-site repairs and servicing for the full range of Kongsberg Maritime products. Equipment rental and training services are also provided for the company's range of vessel dynamic positioning, underwater acoustics and underwater imaging products. With the North Sea offshore industry so close, Kongsberg Maritime Ltd. is a key player for Kongsberg Maritime's activities within the Oil & Gas sector. In Vancouver there is Kongberg Mesotech, the arm of Kongsberg Maritime which develops and builds hydroacoustic equipment, for use across many heavy duty applications including underwater construction, port security and military use. The company's sonar products are regarded as some of the most powerful available to the military and civilians. Kongsberg Maritime boasts several facilities in North America, centered around a sales group based in Seattle. Heading south, the company is a huge part of the oil & gas sector out of New Orleans. Heading much further south (to South America that is) and the company's Brazilian division is a key player in Brazil's burgeoning offshore industry. With such a strong network running across the Americas, Kongsberg Maritime customers are well catered in these key offshore and merchant marine areas. And so in Asia. Over the last five years, the company has focused much energy into building its presence in the East, especially in the key shipbuilding territories of China and Korea.
Above: The 'Portable Classroom' concept debuts at MaranGas in Greece.
Right: The 'Training Box' used to enable the 'Portable Classroom' concept.
Maritime Reporter & Engineering News