We arrived in Plymouth with time to spare. Geoff had some books to return to the Plymouth University Library, which the Bartlett Library had had on loan. So off he duly went and for the rest of us we went in search of a cup of coffee and for some a slice of cake! We ended up in the students union Costa coffee shop, which was good for Phil as he likes Costa coffee and a piece of cake. Feeling refreshed we made our way to the Marine Building where we were welcomed by our host the Marine Commercial Director Adam Corney.
The Marine Building, a £19 million project, aims to provide world class research and training facilities to understand marine and coastal systems in order to assess and predict change and to look at the sustainable use and protection of seas and coasts. The building was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh on 31 October 2012. It houses everything to do with maritime that is based at Plymouth University, including the School of Navigation which was founded in 1862. Our main purpose of the visit was to see the tidal wave tank.
The wave machine, Ocean Basin is situated on the ground floor and is housed in The Coastal Ocean and Sediment Transport (COAST) laboratory. The COAST laboratory can combine wave, current and wind power to create environments for testing coastal engineering. The Ocean Basin is 35 metres long, 15.5 metres wide and 3 metres deep; it has a floor that can be raised up and down so is operable at different depths. Operating on a scale of 1/20th there are 24 electronic panels controlled by a computer which can create waves of up to 0.9 metres high and also multi-directional, recirculating current generation, both in-line and across the path of the waves and also has a wind generation facility. The Marine Institute team work on several commercial projects and partnerships such as the Wave Hub project at Hayle. Also, in the laboratory is the Coastal Basin, 15.5 metres long, 10 metres wide and 0.5 metres deep. This is used for research using various natural resources such as sand and rocks. Breakwaters and harbours can be built to create an environment for researching coastal erosion. The Coastal Basin is built to a scale of 1/50th. The last thing to view in the laboratory was the Sediment Wave Flume, also 35 metres long. Waves can be controlled to break at a certain point and the movement of sediment monitored.
After this we were shown the first floor where the School of Navigation was situated. Along the corridor walls there were little phrases such as ‘Navigation is more than a dot on the ocean’. Classrooms are available for students to learn about electronic chart technology; the University also teaches navigational skills with paper charts. UK and international students were on the courses. There was a comment passed about maybe more Italians might be taking up the course! There are 9 ship simulators – 8 of which are computer screens and can be programmed for one of many harbours such as New York, Hong Kong, Rotterdam with monitors and a TV screen. At the heart of the Marine Navigation Centre is Ship 9, a state-of-the-art full sized Ship Simulator. The software used recreates the environment of a vessel navigating the oceans. When we arrived it was in use by students but we were lucky enough that they were just finishing so we were able to enter and have a go. With a 270-degree screen and advanced computer imagining and with Plymouth Sound as our approach several of us took the helm. Many hazards, such as a burning ship and different weather systems were thrown at us. Survivors in the water and a life raft were mowed down by Phil and ably assisted John Fortey! The weather got really rough and it really felt like the floor was moving as on a ship.
Our final port of call on the tour was the Marine Innovation Centre, an area dedicated to bringing together knowledge and expertise in the maritime environment between the University, Business and Industry. The centre has accommodation for Boardroom-style meetings, space for informal meetings and facilities for students, staff and visitors who wish to use the Marine Building.
A fun time was had by all and off course the highlight of the visit to the Marine Building, Plymouth was the Ship Simulator.Anne Pond
