by Evan Brown

Director, Communications

In September 2025, SCI’s Center for Maritime Education joined industry peers on the island of Terschelling, Netherlands, for the Kongsberg Maritime’s International Simulation User Conference. Now in its 17th year, the conference brought together 185 delegates from more than a dozen nations (pictured above) and was hosted in partnership with the Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz. For CME, the annual Kongsberg User Conference is more than a chance to hear about new technologies, but also provides a strategic opportunity to advance the organization’s mission, strengthen vital partnerships, and ensure that the tools CME relies upon evolve to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing maritime industry.

Simulation is at the heart of CME’s work. Whether training mariners to navigate complex waterways, preparing tug and towboat crews for emergencies, or conducting feasibility studies for new vessel designs or maritime construction projects, simulation provides a safe, efficient, hyper-accurate, and highly adaptable platform for learning and analysis.

As Capt. Stephen Polk, Director of CME, reflects, “Kongsberg is a strategic partner of SCI. Without them, it would be far more challenging to meet our maritime educational and feasibility studies goals. Attending these conferences allows us to hear about changes and upgrades, but also to influence product development, voice concerns based on mariner feedback, and remain at the forefront of training technology.” SCI’s effectiveness within the maritime industry is amplified by partnerships with firms like Kongsberg, whose innovations enable CME to train mariners more effectively and support safety initiatives that protect lives, maritime assets, and the environment.

Exploring the Next Generation of Training Tools

The conference showcased Kongsberg’s newest advances in simulation technology, particularly its K-Sim system and the highly anticipated SeaView7 visual platform, powered by the same Unreal Engine that drives the most advanced video gaming environments. This strikingly realistic visualization enhances mariner immersion, decision-making, and user confidence. Of particular interest to CME was the new barge fleeting capability, designed specifically for inland river operations, which SCI looks forward to integrating into its training centers in Houston and Paducah beginning in 2026. Other highlights included research on reducing cadet sea-time requirements through simulation, innovative approaches to promotion assessments, and the Royal Norwegian Navy’s techniques to use simulation to recreate accidents in order to learn from them. Understanding what went wrong, how it unfolded, what occurred, and what could have been done differently, and using the exercise in officer training for prevention purposes.

Also important, since the conference is designed to share information, SCI’s presence at the conference ensured that the voices of American mariners were heard in shaping the training tools they will one day rely on. CME had the opportunity to participate in meetings with Kongsberg Maritime staff centered on the future of hydrodynamic vessel modeling, customizations unique to SCI’s inland river training, and the broader integration of artificial intelligence to streamline vessel modeling and error-checking processes. These conversations underscore SCI’s role not just as a training provider, but as a member of a global collaboration in developing the digital and virtual tools that shape the maritime industry and transportation infrastructure.

Partnerships That Power Progress

Beyond the formal sessions, this was a conference that was as much about connections as content. SCI staff had the opportunity to meet privately with Kongsberg Maritime representatives and colleagues from MSRC in Quebec to discuss hydrodynamic vessel modeling. These conversations touched on customization options for SCI’s simulators, including dynamic vessel naming, barge visual adaptations, and logo integrations, all important for tailoring custom training environments to U.S. inland river operators. “Part of the value of attending these conferences is being in the same room with peers,” Capt. Polk emphasized, “You can talk beyond what’s on the agenda, forge partnerships, and open doors for collaboration that benefit mariners directly.”

With that, SCI’s presence at the conference highlighted not just its connection with Kongsberg but the network of partnerships that sustain CME’s success.

• Maritime Simulation and Resource Centre (MSRC): Develops vessel models critical to SCI’s training and studies.

• Robert Allan Ltd. (Canada): Collaborates with SCI using Kongsberg’s Hydrodynamic Modeling Tool (HDMT) for tug design and testing to DNV standards.

• Baird (USA): Assists CME with hydraulic current modeling, essential for realistic inland waterway training.

• SafeMARINER and Rick Dunn: Guided CME’s ISO certification in 2018, bolstering credibility and standardization.

•Action Group and Capt. David Foret: Support SCI’s work on Gulf Coast safety projects, including efforts tied to the Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee.

Collaborations and partnerships such as these, among others, underscore that SCI is not isolated in its mission. It is a trusted participant and partner in a global web of innovation, committed to enhancing safety, efficiency, and sustainability in maritime operations.

Balancing Innovation with Practicality

While emerging tools like virtual reality headsets were discussed—and indeed they may someday be on the horizon—the consensus at this conference was clear: VR has not yet achieved the practical utility required for maritime training. The challenges—limited situational awareness, potential for physical disorientation over long-term use, and the need for additional handlers and spotters—make it an imperfect substitute for classroom or simulator-based learning. Instead, Kongsberg’s focus on portable reduced consoles and enhanced simulator flexibility struck a balance between innovation and usability. For CME, these advances could potentially mean more options to bring training directly to mariners, whether in established training centers or on-site at industry locations. It is an avenue to be explored for growth and adaptation for CME down the road.

Why Attending Matters

The value of participating in events like the 2025 Kongsberg User Conference cannot be overstated. For the Center for Maritime Education, maintaining close engagement with global leaders in simulation technology is essential to ensuring that mariners working on America’s rivers and coasts have access to the most advanced insights and training tools available. Keeping CME at the forefront of innovation is more than progress for progress’s sake; it is an investment that results in safer mariners and waterways. The knowledge gained in Terschelling has the potential to shape CME’s path forward in 2026 and beyond, as it prepares to introduce Kongsberg’s new inland river simulation capabilities at our training centers, integrating the remarkable realism of SeaView7, and expanding the use of AI-driven modeling for feasibility studies and vessel design. Just as important, SCI will carry forward the partnerships and conversations sparked at the conference as these relationships strengthen not only SCI’s programs, but our globally-shared maritime mission of mariner safety and maritime efficiency.

As Capt. Polk concludes, “Simulation is more than technology; it’s also about people. It’s about providing the tools that ensure mariners go home safely at the end of the day, that vessel performance is optimized, and that our waterways remain vital and sustainable. That’s what these connections and our collective work is all about.”