[00:00] that got stuck in the Suez Canal back in 2021? came out a few months ago, as I record this, It was travelling too fast,
[00:13] and there was the bank effect. You can get the theoretical explanation when travelling at speed along canals.
[00:28] you can learn it hands-on. Port Iława Ship Handling Research and Training Centre where the folks who steer those big ships
[00:41] Just to be clear, I'm not getting a full training course. a huge amount of theory work and study as well. for a lap around the lake, and...
[00:53] hopefully not get it stuck in the Suez Canal. We have started our training activity in 1980. In the '90s, we have moved from the old lake towards this one,
[01:07] and practically first training here was realized in 1991, We are performing training in ship handling. presenting different waterways.
[01:22] Everything was built using exactly the same scale, 1:24. different restrictions, rivers, canals. Permission to come aboard?
[01:36] Okay. It's one of the biggest in the world. 400 metre?
[01:49] 16 and a half. We can proceed. Dead slow ahead. And steady as she goes. Forward.
[02:02] These are the tugboat simulators. You've taken the controls here. and I'm just slightly nervous about driving a tiny boat.
[02:18] It's a 400m container ship. that simulate the effect of tugs on the boat. Hard to port?
[02:32] like the wheel of a pirate ship, Alright, so what's our plan now? Yeah, absolutely.
[02:45] I feel like I need to go left here. We have had, in our history, more than 6,000 pilots, masters, and chief officers
[02:59] On average, 220–230 a year. but we have also very experienced masters.
[03:11] Yeah. We will have If we have too high a speed, we touch the bottom. the more the boat is going to get sucked down to the ground.
[03:25] Oh! Sooner we do that, more time we have to apply any correction if necessary. That is such a tight spot to navigate through.
[03:39] Hard to star— Starboard, starboard. It's all going to fall apart. And starboard— yep. Starboard 20.
[03:51] Oh, I think I've overcorrected there! being done by the tugboats here, thank you. Yeah, starboard 20. Starboard 20.
[04:04] I can't see how close we are there. (wheezes) Again, solid tugboat work. Starboard 20. Okay!
[04:17] A linear scale, 1:24, means that timescale is equal to more or less five. five times faster than in reality.
[04:32] It's a disadvantage. But on the other hand, five days of training Hard to starboard. Hard to starboard.
[04:46] Hard to port again. Okay, I think we can make half ahead. We are clear of the lock.
[04:59] Phew! Did I need to slam that forward so dramatically? Our first models were really very simple.
[05:13] and that's it. we have started to add different facilities. It means a very precise GPS system,
[05:28] which allows to measure a given ship model trajectory Suddenly the nerves have gone. Starboard 10. Starboard 10.
[05:43] We're still going quite strongly to port Ages ago, and the wind? Due to the wind, yeah. You have to imagine that such a ship, fully loaded,
[05:57] with the windage area. Everything during exercises is measured, we can discuss step by step,
[06:11] Ooh! ...I'm sorry, I got distracted by a cormorant. Current, especially in the case of shallow water, It means we have current generators.
[06:24] This current velocity can be changed according to our needs. Oh, we did. That's me, sorry. It's not like this thing has rear-view mirrors.
[06:37] We're sailing a massive container ship Do I need to put a little bit of rudder in here? Right. You can make a port 10.
[06:51] Midship. Midships. Okay. Port 20. Port 20. And a full ahead.
[07:06] Starboard 20. Starboard 20. from the starboard wall. So it feels like I could go midships now.
[07:20] Except... It means the repulsion force pushes the bow. Hard to starboard. Gah, yeah!
[07:34] I'm putting full right lock on here. Yep... it is! You would have hit this wall. Yeah.
[07:49] That's so powerful! Midships. I was midships. I have to help you with that task.
[08:01] I should've done that earlier. Clear. Oh, cleared?! Hard to port.
[08:13] That was more luck than good judgment, that was! It means interaction forces, and... We have started
[08:28] three or four years ago, because... We need at least ten ships' lengths... And that harbour is here.
[08:44] Hard to port, okay. is realised in real conditions. you can feel very well current,
[09:00] and everything what deals with weather conditions. in case when using computer simulators. our training centre for training prefer very often to use
[09:16] Every driver's instinct in me is going, No, it won't. That's not how this works. The main difference regarding computers and our models
[09:33] you can switch off everything, In the case of our training centre, call technical staff for rescue tugs.
[09:50] directly from the training centre to our "shipyard" And this psychological effect influences People realise everything a little bit differently
[10:07] Alright, we are home. (sighs) I know very few people get to do that. (laughs) ...very easily.
[10:23] [Caption+ by JS* caption.plus | @caption_plus] Can I push the whistle button, please?
[10:37] Thank you! (laughs)