SIN/70/513
Technical Report
SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY,
SINGAPORE POLYTECHNIC
SINGAPORE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A RADAR SIMULATOR
TRAINING CENTRE
Report prepared for
the Government of Singapore
by
the International Labour Organisation
acting as Executing Agency for
the United Nations Development Programme
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION
Geneva 1974
CONFIDENTIAL
43140
ISBN 9 2 - 2 - 1 0 1 1 6 6 - 6
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
I.
INTRODUCTION
1
II.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
3
III. RECOMMENDATIONS
5
Spare Parts
5
Fellowships
5
Local Staff
5
Upgrading of Training
5
Support for Training
5
Assessment of Project Activities
6
APPENDICES
7
I.
Statistics of Radar Simulator Courses
II.
Radar Simulator Training Courses Particulars of Students
8
III. Course Outline for Radar Simulator
Training
13
I.
INTRODUCTION
1. During the last decade the Government of Singapore has made a major effort
to ensure that maritime training in Singapore should at all times be in line with
the operational and safety requirements of modern ship operation.
With the
increasing use in recent years of radar and other sophisticated aids to navigation,
an accelerated upgrading of the instruction in navigation has been carried out and
a great deal of modern demonstration equipment acquired.
It was, however, not
possible with the existing equipment to teach collision avoidance under simulated
conditions.
2. Such training is becoming increasingly important and in some major maritime
countries, radar simulator training has become compulsory for ships' officers
responsible for radar navigation.
This was brought about by a number of serious
collisions which have occurred in various parts of the world and which resulted in
experienced officers being blamed for not using radar properly.
Considering that
radar has become the most important navigational aid, and that about 30,000 merchant
vessels call annually at the port of Singapore, it was considered necessary by the
Singapore authorities to provide facilities for training in radar simulation.
3. With this in mind, and as a follow-up to consultations with the International
Labour Office, the Government of Singapore in March 1970 requested technical assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (Special Fund) for establishing
a Radar Simulator Training Centre at the School of Nautical Studies of the Singapore
Polytechnic.
The objective of the assistance was to provide means for instructing
ships' navigators in the use of radar to avoid collisions at sea, the limitations
of radar, and the hazards of failing to recognise those limitations.
It was
expected that the Centre would make an important contribution to furthering the
efficiency and safety of modern merchant vessel operations in the South East Asian
region.
4. In submitting the request for UNDP assistance, the Government recommended
that the proposed assistance comprise part of a UNDP (large-scale) project for
development of the School of Industrial Technology at the Singapore Polytechnic
(SIN/70/513) which was approved by the Governing Council of the UNDP during its
ninth session in January 1970.
Accordingly, with the agreement of the UNDP, UNESCO
(the executing agency of SIN/70/513) and the IL0, which assisted the Government in
drafting the request, the Radar Simulator Training Centre project was included in
SIN/70/513 with the IL0 responsible for its implementation under a sub-contract
from UNESCO.
An amendment to the Plan of Operation for SIN/70/513, in order to
accommodate the Radar Simulator Training Centre, was approved by the Governing Council
at its January 1971 session, and a letter of agreement between UNESCO and the IL0
was signed in July 1971.
5. The assistance requested by the Government in setting up the Radar Simulator
Training Centre was to comprise essentially the services of one expert in the design
and execution of radar simulator courses for a period of two years; one fellowship
for a counterpart to the expert; and radar simulator equipment essential for
teaching courses at a total cost to the UNDP of approximately US$ 154,000.
6. In agreement with the Government, the IL0 appointed to the project
Mr. W.E. Poehl, of United States nationality and an expert in radar simulator courses.
Mr. Poehl arrived in Singapore in April 197 2, three months prior to the arrival of
the radar simulator equipment procured by the IL0 in consultation with the Singapore
authorities concerned.
His terms of reference were essentially to advise and
assist in setting up a Radar Simulator Training Centre at the School of Nautical
Studies of the Singapore Polytechnic, and in particular to:
(a)
supervise the installation of radar simulator equipment;
(b)
design and conduct radar simulator courses;
(c)
recommend standards of proficiency for obtaining a radar simulator certification
endorsement;
(d)
train Singapore counterparts in the conduct of radar simulator courses;
(e)
report on development of the project to UNESCO and to the IL0.
and
- 2 -
7. During his assignment, the ILO expert worked closely with the Chief
Technical Adviser of the SIN/70/513 project, officials of the Singapore Polytechnic
and other authorities concerned with the shipping industry and the vocational
training of shipboard personnel in Singapore, all of whom provided him with the
facilities "and help, required to carry out his assignment.
This technical report
constitutes essentially a reproduction of the expert's final report on his assignment,
as submitted to the ILO and to a Tripartite Review Meeting for project SIN/70/513
held on 12 March 1974 at the Singapore Polytechnic.
Certain amendments proposed by
the Meeting and others introduced by the ILO are included in the present text.
The
Director-General of the International Labour Office gratefully acknowledges the
assistance and support rendered the expert by all concerned.
- 3 -
II.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
• 8. Equipment furnished by the UNDP to the Radar Simulator Training Centre
comprises: (a) one transistorised digital marine radar simulator with two own ships
and three target ships; (b) one coastline generator with four different coastline
slides; (c) three 16" true motion display consols, together with one motor alternator;
and (d) spare parts.
In addition, the Singapore Polytechnic furnished accessories:
(a) an automatic exercise recorder; (b) a system of game time clocks; and (c) an
instructor-student inter-communication system.
The radar simulator equipment
installation was completed at the Singapore Polytechnical School of Nautical Studies,
Dover Road Campus, on 29 July 197 2.
The installation was accomplished by the
Solartron Electronic Group Ltd., manufacturers of the equipment, assisted by
International Aeradio, Singapore (agents for Solartron) and the ILO radar simulator
expert.
Preparation by the ILO expert of curriculum, training material, schedules
etc., was completed prior to installation of equipment.
9. The first week of operation was utilised for developing various simulator
exercises and for observing equipment operation and making necessary adjustments
for minor computer errors.
The second week of operation was reserved for the
instruction of six staff lecturers of the School of Nautical Studies, all of whom
were either masters or extra masters.
In addition, all had considerable experience
in ship-handling and radar operation.
Several had some experience in radar
simulator operation.
It was felt that after attending the above-mentioned course,
in an emergency, any one of this group could be called upon to take over a radar
simulator class in the absence of the designated radar instructor.
Two of the
above lecturers were later assigned as assistants to the ILO expert while awaiting
the assignment of the counterpart to the latter.
10. Captain P.K. Joshi, assisted in teaching the simulator courses from November
197 2 through March 197 3 at which time he was replaced by Captain P.K. Rajagopolan,
who assisted in a like manner from March 1973 through October 1973 when he was
relieved, upon the arrival of the designated local counterpart, Mr. C.L. Tay.
11. Mr. Tay arrived on post at the Radar Simulator Training Centre on
20 September 1973.
Although his participation in assisting and lecturing, in the
simulator training course was limited due to lack of students, he showed a remarkable
degree of expertise and knowledge of the subject.
With further training and
experience, he should prove to be an exceptional radar simulator training officer.
12. To further Mr. Tay's training, the Head of the School of Nautical Studies
has arranged for him to spend one month at the Malaysian Naval Station at Woodlands,
during the installation of Solartron radar simulator equipment, which will be
almost identical to the simulator equipment at the Singapore Polytechnic.
The
date of the above installation should commence some time in March or April 1974.
13. Unfortunately, upon the completion of the lecturers' course, applicants
for simulator training were very few, in spite of the fact that the Head of the
School of Nautical Studies exerted much effort in attempting to persuade shipping
companies to have their officers attend the course.
As a result of the lack of
applicants, no classes were held during the remainder of August, all of September
and October 197 2.
14. During October 197 2, the UNESCO chief technical adviser, the ILO expert
and the Head of the School of Nautical Studies visited the Port of Singapore
Authority (PSA) Pilots' Headquarters and outlined to the officials in charge the
advantages of having PSA pilots attend the radar simulator course.
The response
to this meeting was very gratifying.
On 6 November 1972, the PSA pilots commenced
attending the radar simulator courses and continued attending each week until the
end of December, when they were all required to be on call due to the setting in
of the monsoon season.
However, they again commenced this training in April 197 3.
A total of 86 PSA pilots have been trained.
15. In Appendix I, it will be seen that out of 122 students trained in just
about one year's time, only 7 were sea-going Singaporean ships' masters or officers.
It is understandable that with the present shortage of experienced ships' officers
in Singapore, many shipping companies find it extremely difficult to release key
officer personnel for radar simulator training without disrupting the operation
and movement of vessels.
Further there is the problem of salary, lodging and
maintenance for trainees while attending the simulator course.
The problem is
- 4 -
further amplified relating to personnel of other South-East Asia shipping companies
whose home ports may be thousands of miles away from Singapore.
However, during
the Tripartite Review Meeting of 12 March 1974, the Singapore Polytechnic reported
that, as from next year, the courses would be obligatory for sea-going home trade
officers and an annual enrolment of 70 applicants was expected.
.16. In addition to the above, it is at present very difficult to disseminate
information concerning the existence of the Radar Simulator Training Centre, to
other South-East Asian countries.
The UNDP Office, Kuala Lumpur, and the ILO
Office, Bangkok, tried contacting interested parties in other South-East Asian
•countries, but the effect has been negligible.
Although attendance for the first
full year of operation of the Centre exceeded predictions, the attendance outlook
for 1974, in view of the above, is not encouraging.
17. To complicate matters, a major equipment breakdown, early in January 1974,
which was only finally repaired on 11 March 1974, precluded holding simulator classes
in January and February.
International Aeradio, which were under contract with the
Singapore Polytechnic, worked almost constantly from 10 January 1974 to effect
repairs.
Their work was hampered by the lack of spare parts, some of which, when
requested from Solartron Electronic Group Ltd. , could not be furnished.
18. It appears that the main failure was the burning out of many components
on the 66 circuit boards in the computer section of the simulator.
Having only
8. spare circuit boards on hand, it was necessary to check-out the remaining circuit
boards, component by component, in order to determine defective parts.
The cause
of the breakdown has not yet been determined.. International Aeradio has been
instructed by the Principal of the Singapore Polytecnnic to furnish him with a
complete expert report as to the cause of the burning out of numerous components
of the simulator.
When this is known, steps will be taken to prevent a reoccurrence.
19. Regarding spare parts, the Radar Simulator Training Centre has a very
minimal amount, not nearly sufficient to cover a contingency as experienced above.
The spare parts on hand were recommended by the Solartron Electronic Group Ltd.,
at the request of the Singapore Polytechnic.
Since the ILO expert anticipated
such an eventuality, (major breakdown) several meetings were held at the Centre,
attended by a Solartron representative, International Aeradio representatives, the
Head of the School of Nautical Studies, the UNESCO Chief Technical Adviser and the
ILO expert.
The Singapore Polytechnic voiced concern regarding the ability of
Solartron and their representatives to adequately maintain the simulator equipment,
within a reasonable time framework, should equipment faults be encountered.
20. The Singapore Polytechnic representatives were given every assurance by
both Solartron and International Aeradio that there was nothing to fear in this
regard in that spare parts, not available in Singapore, could very quickly be flown
here from the United Kingdom.
This proved to be untrue, as certain spare parts
requested from Solartron were not available.
21. Although a radar simulator training manual was completed by the ILO expert
several months prior to the completion of his assignment, priorities for typing and
printing of other publications of the Singapore Polytechnic, have delayed the
finalisation of the manual.
At the earliest opportunity, copies of this manual
should be sent to all concerned.
- 5 -
III.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Spare Parts
22. With the incidence of the aforementioned extended breakdown of the radar
simulator, and the difficulty encountered in readily obtaining spare parts, it would
seem logical to explore ways and means of obtaining at the very least duplicate
printed circuit boards for the computer section of the simulator, not now on hand.
Since there are a total of 66 circuit boards presently installed and only 8 spare
boards on hand, it follows that the acquisition of a complete stock of spare parts
could very well be an expensive undertaking.
23. It should be realised that during a period of full scheduling of simulator
classes, a breakdown of the proportion already experienced could seriously disrupt
the training schedule.
It is therefore suggested that the Government consult with
UNDP, for the purpose of seeking additional assistance in this area, in order to
provide the maximum safeguards against future disruptions to training activities.
It would be appropriate at the same time, to request the services of one or more
consultants to evaluate and define the over-all situation of simulator maintenance
with a view toward reducing extended equipment breakdowns.
Fellowships
24. The project in its initial form provided for one fellowship of 12 months'
duration.
Because of extenuating circumstances, the fellowship was not used.
Instead it was transferred to the School of Industrial Technology.
If the occasion
should arise where additional fellowships are made available by UNDP, it is strongly
urged that consideration be given to providing at least one fellowship for training
in radar simulator operation, part of which should be accomplished at the factory
of the Solartron Electronic Group Ltd.
Local Staff
25. At present, the Radar Simulator Training Centre has only one local counterpart.
As a back-up to this person, there are six qualified lecturers at the School
of Nautical Studies.
However, all are expatriates under fixed-term contracts to
the Singapore Polytechnic and through termination of contracts or other reasons,
they will eventually be lost to the Centre.
Therefore, it is suggested that action
be taken to recruit and train additional local staff as assistants or back-up
instructors for the Centre, in order to maintain a smooth continuous operation.
Upgrading of Training
26. While much effort has gone into the preparation of radar training material,
the setting up of a great variety of simulator exercises, which includes ocean
going and piloting, due regard should be taken to the many more modern approaches
to this subject, both in methods of teaching and methods of plotting.
It would
be advisable for all radar simulator instructors to establish communication with
the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation, who are concerned with
the rapidly changing concepts of safety at sea which include radar operation and
the many aspects of collision prevention systems.
Support for Training
27. Continuing efforts are being made to induce shipping companies to
participate in activities of the Radar Simulator Training Centre by arranging for
their sea-going personnel to attend radar courses.
It is suggested that monthly
or quarterly bulletins, on a continuing basis, be sent by the Singapore Polytechnic
to local shipping firms and to agents for foreign shipping companies in the region,
containing information on the Centre's activities.
This action should help them
keep in mind their obligation to themselves and to their ships' officers in
maintaining a training programme for the safety of life at sea.
- 6 -
Assessment of Project Activities
28. Up to the time of the radar simulator breakdown, which was rectified only
on the last day of service of the ILO expert, it is considered that the project was
effective and successful.
29. If action is taken along the lines of the recommendations outlined above,
it is considered that the Head of the School of Nautical Studies and his staff will
be able to ensure the continuing development of the Radar Simulator Training Centre
- 7 -
STATISTICS
OF
RADAR SIMULATOR COURSES
(As of 31 October 1973)
Date of commencement of 1st Course:
Number of Simulator Courses conducted
Number of Preparatory Courses conducted
Total trained and.certificates issued
Classification of Trainees by Jobs
Ships' Captains and Officers
Pilots
Shore Officers (Lecturers and Port Captains)
Classification of Trainees by Nationality
Singaporean
Indian
Filipino
American (US)
Malaysian
British
New Zealander
Indonesian
Classification of Trainees by Competency
Certificates
Foreign Going Officers
Home Trade Officers
Singapore Shipmasters/Officers Trainees
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13
APPENDIX I I I
COURSE OUTLINE
FOR
RADAR SIMULATOR TRAINING
FIRST DAY (Monday)
0845
Assembly
Radar Simulator Room (9/102)
0850
Registration
Issuance of course material and general
teacher/student introduction
0900
1st Period
(1)
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
1000
Tea
1020
2nd Period
(2)
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
1200
Lunch
1300
3rd Period
(3)
A.
B.
C.
D.
1430
Tea
14 50
4th Period
Dismissal
(4)
Introduction to radar
History of radar
Radar and collision prevention
Principles of radar
Basic radar theory
Question and answer period
Interpretation of radar
Radar and collision avoidance
Effect of weather on radar
Target characteristics
False echoes - multiple reflections
Radar aids to navigation
Operation of radar equipment
Primary radar controls
Operating procedures
Maintenance and safety precautions
Demonstration of radar operation
on laboratory equipment
International Rules of the Road
A.
Review of the nautical International
Rules of the Road as applied to
radar navigation
B.
C.
Annex to the Rules
Avoiding collision in restricted
visibility
- 14 -
SECOND DAY ( Tuesday)
0900
1st Period
(1)
• A.
1000
Tea
1020
2nd Period
Logarithmic time, speed and
distance scales
C.
Time, speed and distance problems
(2)
D.
Lunch
1300
3rd Period
(3)
A.
B.
1430
Tea.
14 50
4th Period
(4)
A.
B.
C.
1600
Dismissal
Manoeuvering Board method
B.
A.
B.
C.
1200
Fundamentals of radar plotting
Fundamentals of radar plotting
(cont.)
Radar plotting symbols
The relative motion plot
Manoeuvering Board procedure
(speed vector diagram)
Manoeuvering Board problems
Fundamentals of radar plotting
(cont.)
Manoeuvering Board problems
(cont.)
Teacher/student analysis of
work
Rapid radar plotting •
Radar plotting sheet
Distance triangle method
Distance triangle plotting
problems
-15 -
THIRD DAY (Wednesday)
0900
1st Period
1000
Tea
1020
2nd Period
(1)
A.
Demonstration of rapid radar
plotting on radar display units
B.
Student participation
(2)
A.
1200
Lunch
1300
3rd Period
Tea
14 50
4th Period
(4)
A.
B.
C.
1600
Dismissal
Radar laboratory
Student operation and plotting
(cont.)
(3) Radar laboratory
A.
B.
1430
Radar laboratory
Demonstration of true motion
Student participation in operation
and plotting
Direct/reflection plotting
Tools and equipment
Demonstration of reflection
plotting
Student participation in plotting
on reflection plotter
- -16 -
FOURTH DAY (Thursday)
0900
1st Period
1000
Tea
1020
2nd Period
(1)
A.
Classroom discussion on
information contained in notes
B.
C.
Radar laboratory - demonstration
of loss of speed in turn
Maximum rate of turn
D.
Rudder delay
(2)
A.
1200
Lunch
1300
3rd Period
(3)
A.
B.
1430
Tea
1450
4th Period
(4)
A.
B.
1600
Dismissal
Emergency shiphandling
Emergency shiphandling (cont.)
Radar laboratory - multiple
target problems
Piloting
Coastline generator - piloting
demonstration
Shiphandling in restricted areas
and use of associated nautical
charts
Piloting (cont.)
Student participation in
shiphandling in pilotage
waters
Student/teacher evaluation
of exercise
- 17 -
FIFTH DAY (Friday)
0900
1st Period
1000
Tea
1020
2nd Period
(1)
Classroom review of previous
week's work
A.
B.
C.
D.
Radar theory
Operation
Collision prevention
Nautical International Rules
of the Road as applied to
radar navigation
(2)
Classroom review of previous
week's work (cont.)
A.
B.
C.
1200
Lunch
1300
3rd Period
(3)
A.
B.
1430
Tea
1450
4th Period
1600
Dismissal
(4)
Interpretation of radar
Radar aids to navigation
Radar plotting methods
Classroom review of previous
week's work (cont.)
Emergency shiphandling
Piloting
Classroom student/teacher
discussion and total evaluation
of exercises