Germany receives first new ship-handling simulator

Rheinmetall handed over the first AATN ship-handling simulator to the German Navy. The NAVOS in Bremerhaven and the NAVAC as well as naval bases in Wilhelmshaven, Kiel, Eckernförde, and Warnemünde are all receiving the simulators. (Rheinmetall)

The German Navy received its first ship-handling simulator from Rheinmetall following an official handover ceremony at the Naval Operations School (NAVOS) in Bremerhaven.

Known as Ausbildungs-Ausstattung Training Navigation (AATN), the simulators will provide realistic training to sailors in technical, terrestrial, and astronomical navigation as well as nautical law, military procedures, ship handling, and basic seamanship such as manoeuvring in port, towing, or being towed, the company announced on 3 July.

Overall, seven simulators are being delivered to NAVOS, the Naval Academy Mürwik (NAVAC), and naval bases in Wilhelmshaven, Kiel, Eckernförde, and Warnemünde, a Rheinmetall spokesperson confirmed to Janes . Each site is receiving different configurations of AATN to enable decentralised training.

The simulators are part of a ‘Regeneration AATN' project, which involves modernising existing equipment and delivering new systems to support technical navigation training, the company announcement detailed.

Encompassing a classroom trainer with 20 student workstations and one instructor station, the AATN systems handed over to NAVOS are capable of virtually simulating all German Navy ships and relevant sea areas.

The roll out of the simulators is ongoing with Eckernförde receiving systems this summer (June–September) and Warnemünde in winter (December–February).