Turbinia Sails Again

The famous Turbinia, the worlds first steam turbine-driven vessel, has been recreated at South Tyneside College by its Marine Simulation Department.

(PRWEB) January 7, 2004 --Experts in the Department have input technical data from the original vessel into the software that governs the control of ship models on the state-of-the-art bridge simulator. The result is that, for the first time since Turbinias retirement in 1907, it is possible to experience how it would have handled and appeared to other ships as it sailed into Tynemouth or any other port held as a geographical database within the simulator system.

The story of the Simulation Departments involvement with Turbinia goes back six years to a conference organised by the Institute of Marine Engineers to celebrate the centenary of the Spithead Naval Review where Turbinia first made her mark.

As part of the conference Keith Hutchinson and Graham Mackie of Armstrong Technology (now Babcock) carried out an in-depth technical analysis of Turbinia. The resulting report contained both existing and new data covering the dimensions, hydrostatic and hydrodynamic properties of Turbinia which can be used to predict how Turbinia would respond to rudder, engine and environmental factors.

On the organising committee of the conference was Eddie Kirton, retired Chartered Marine Engineer and ex-employee of the Wallsend Research Station and Swan Hunters. At the time the Simulation Department had just been established and I was assisting with mathematical ship modelling," said Eddie.

Producing realistic models is all about using strong data. So when I realised I could access data on Turbinia which was second to none, it was a logical next step to set about modelling it."

One of the biggest challenges facing Eddie and the Simulation Department team was using the simulators software so that it could take account of the uniqueness of Turbinia. There isnt any ship around today that has three shafts, each of them with three propellers like Turbinia," he explained.

The simulated visual image of Turbinia includes graphics and effects which are much more realistic than the conventional ship models used for training. From the bridge conning position, pilots can see the sides of the conning tower with its riveted port-holes while ahead the railed bow appears just as it would have done to their counterparts in the last century.

The simulation also allows Turbinia to be seen by observers on the riverbank or from passing vessels. Flags flutter in the breeze according to the wind speed and direction while waves break over the bow and a stern wake trails behind to a size that varies according to the ships speed. Meanwhile, a look-out man stands on top of the conning tower to provide directions to the helmsman below who was often unsighted when the ship squatted in the water at high speed.

The noise of a turbine engine -- with a pitch that also changes according to speed -- completes the illusion. Said Paul Hodgson, Simulation Centre resource manager: We sourced a sound clip of a wave, looped it and then digitally processed it to remove a high frequency hiss and rumble. Some of our colleagues who are experts in marine engines and turbines assessed the sound for authenticity and made some suggestions for extra refinement."

A final challenge for the Turbinia team is to create the appearance of smoke from the burning of coal used to create steam.

The Turbinia model has been a novel project but has many serious benefits too. By exploring the limits of the software outside its normal application weve learnt a lot about it," said Paul. This has stood us in good stead for the simulations of modern day ships which we use to train many mariners every year. In fact, many of the techniques developed for Turbinia were used this spring to develop the simulated model of the 'Bonga for use on the Tyne database."

Added Paul: Were confident that our model of Turbinia is accurate because the same process is used to create models of existing ships, the behaviour of which is known."

The Simulation Centre is not open to the public but there are plans for a small-scale version of Turbinia simulation to be introduced next year alongside the ship which is on show at Newcastles Discovery Museum.

Editors notes:

1. The Marine Simulation Centre makes South Tyneside College a leading provider of marine simulation training. Facilities include:
 a full mission bridge simulator (referred to above) featuring a high quality photo-textured scene over 270 degrees and the full range of the most modern bridge equipment
 a four-bridge navigation simulator with fully equipped bridges including GMDSS provision and providing a 90 degree visual scene on each bridge
 a vessel traffic management system simulator consisting of a three station, VTMS control system interacting with the five bridges described above
 a full mission slow speed diesel engine room
 a workstation engine simulator
 a liquid cargo handling simulator

2. The Turbinia simulations were created using Ship Database Manager and Ship Executor software from Kongsberg Norcontrol. The visual effects were developed with MultiGen Creator software from MultiGen-Paradigm.

3. Turbinia sparked a revolution in ship propulsion which led to greatly improved speeds for warships and passenger liners such the famous Lusitania and Mauretania. The long, sleek yacht and the engines that drove her at a speed of up to 34½ knots (40 mph) were the creations of Charles Algernon Parsons, one of Britains greatest engineers. Turbinia is 103 ft 9 inches in length and is nine feet wide.
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