In August 2024, CME made significant strides in its mission to enhance training for maritime professionals. CME Director Stephen Polk met with Tim Studdert, President of Buffalo Marine, to explore ways to further improve their crew training program. Tim shared a valuable insight: customizing barge models to reflect Buffalo Marine’s specific needs would significantly improve the training experience for their crew. This feedback sparked a productive collaboration.

CME’s Simulator and Database Manager, Matt Hyner, teamed up with William Ford from Kongsberg Digital to bring this idea to life. Their goal was to take the standard 30,000-barrel tank barge model used in simulations and transform it into a Buffalo Marine bunker barge. In addition to incorporating customized company paint schemes and logos for enhanced visual detail and unique identifiers, the updated models featured dynamic loading configurations that simulate real-world conditions. CME’s customization also extends to towboats, adding an extra layer of realism.

Thanks to Matt’s efforts and the collaboration with Kongsberg Digital, Buffalo Marine now benefits from a fully tailored simulation experience. The new customized barge and towboat models enable their crew to train in scenarios that mirror the specific challenges they face, enhancing both preparedness and training effectiveness.

This collaboration with Buffalo Marine highlights CME’s dedication to working closely with its partners to meet their unique training needs. By continually refining and personalizing simulator environments, CME ensures it delivers top-quality training for mariners. We’re grateful to Tim Studdert for his valuable input and to Matt and Kongsberg Digital for turning that feedback into a tangible, impactful result. This partnership marks another milestone in CME’s ongoing efforts to advance maritime education and training.