SOGREAH CONSULTANTS INVESTS OVER A MILLION EUROS IN ITS PORT REVEL CENTRE
On Thursday 30 April, Sogreah, a firm of consulting engineers working in the fields of water, energy
and the environment, launched the "Otello", a 1:25 scale model of one of the largest French
container carriers. This event was part of the celebrations to mark the extension of its Port Revel
shiphandling training centre. Representing an investment of over one million euros, the new
facilities consolidate the centre's worldwide leadership in training pilots in shiphandling operations.
Ranked by the American journal Engineering News-Record in 2008 as one of the world's top 5 port
and maritime consultants, Sogreah has been meeting the highly specialised training needs of the
pilots and captains of very large ships for over 40 years. The idea that lay behind the creation of
Port Revel on a shallow lake of the Chambaran hills in North Isθre, France, in the 1960s is still just
as valid today, namely using the group's expertise in physical modelling and the simulation of
maritime phenomena to recreate navigation conditions as faithfully as possible. This system, which
is better than any numerical simulator, uses model ships (at scale 1:25) sailing on a specially
developed lake (with waves, currents, wind and shoals) giving the on-board pilots "the same
sensations as in the real world".
Launched in October 2007, the Port Revel development programme yet again aims to address the
needs of maritime pilots. As maritime trade explodes and the size and tonnage of ships increase,
pilots' experience and know-how are increasingly decisive in handling these gigantic vessels safely
in port and coastal areas, where there are many kinds of hazard. By extending the lake to cover a
total of 5 hectares, of which 70% is shallow water, doubling the number of quays and installing
additional current-generating equipment, Port Revel can now offer an extremely varied range of
situations and host 10-12 trainees each week as opposed to 8 previously.
The construction of Otello, which is a faithful reproduction of a 334 m container carrier capable of
transporting 8500 TEU, bears further witness to Sogreah's intention to keep abreast of current
developments. With this new model, mariners can experience the sensations of working on one of
the giants that now ply the world's oceans. Since the beginning of April, when the centre reopened,
numerous French, Canadian, American, Belgian, Danish and Norwegian pilots have already been
able to appreciate the new installations. Some 200 are expected in the months ahead to attend
conventional courses or customised programmes drawn up by the centre's experienced and highly
motivated instructors to suit particular requirements.
1. A major extension of the lake
The shallow parts of the lake (less than 27.5 m in real conditions) have been extended to
cover 70% of the total area.
The areas subject to currents now cover half of the entire lake.
With these modifications, Port Revel is clearly focussing on shiphandling in the vicinity of
ports and coasts, where risks are greatest.
2. A new ship
A model of the CMA CGM Otello has been built to 1:25 scale, the same as that used for all
of the 12 other models at Port Revel.
The scale model reproduces the smallest details of the real ship in terms of handling and
behaviour at sea.
The main characteristics of the real 8500 TEU container carrier are:
Overall length: 334 m
Breadth: 42.8 m
Draught: from 10 to 14.50 m:
Windage: 10 000 m2
The first tests carried out with the scale model showed that Port Revel has complete
mastery of modelling techniques as the real ship's captain said that the model perfectly
imitated the typical behaviour of his own vessel. Further proof that Mother Nature (in the
form of hydraulics) is at work on the model as on the real ship without it being necessary to
write all the equations for the hydraulic phenomena involved. The realism of scale models
is unequalled and for the moment has not been bettered by any other form of simulation.
As maritime safety becomes an increasing concern, Port Revel is even more relevant than ever in
training ships' captains and pilots to handle emergency situations.
The European and North American pilots who make up 80% of the Centre's trainees are well aware
of this, and it is expected that other European captains and pilots will soon attend also
In order to answer these needs, Port Revel proposes several types of shiphandling training on
manned models:
Basic pilot & master courses
Refresher course
Escort tug course
Emergency shiphandling course
Offshore course
Gas carrier/car carrier/container vessel course
ULCC course
Pods course
The Port Revel Centre was the first of its kind to be be created in the world, and it offers significant
advantages:
over 6000 experienced pilots and captains have been trained there since 1967 (mainly
from the USA, Canada and Europe), and many of them are now coming for the second
(and even third) time in their career,
instructors are highly experienced and motivated maritime pilots,
the fleet of 10 models at scale 1:25 reproduces 20 different vessels,
3 escort tugs are operated by a real tug master at the pilot's orders,
Port Revel has inherited Sogreah's century of experience with scale models, numerical
simulation, port planning, design & construction,
the 5 ha lake is most versatile with very little interference from wind; it also features
extensive shallow water areas, a long canal, the new Panama locks, an SBM and
numerous quays; it is also equipped with wind, wave and current generators and a DGPS
for accurate debriefing of the exercises performed on the lake.
A few technical details
The ships are precisely reproduced to a 1:25 scale and are equipped with indicators giving rudder angle,
engine speed, ship speed and heading, wind speed and direction, etc. Most of the ships are equipped with
bow and stern thrusters and with perfectly operational anchors. They behave like real ships.
Two of the three tugs are fitted with Voith Schneider propulsion and the other with a Z-peller system. The tugs
are controlled by the pilot via a remote-control system.
35 years' experience has shown that trainees quickly learn how to control the models just as they do the real
ships that they are used to manoeuvring.
A few words of background history
After three years spent with Esso captains at the end of the 1960s, the Centre was taken over by Sogreah in
1970.
During the 1970s, most trainees were captains, while the first pilots came to discover the centre.
During the 80s, the ratio of 9 captains to 1 pilot was reversed.
In the 90s, the first refresher courses were organised for pilots, who returned every 5 years. These courses
are less directive and leave more room for customisation, which is a way of optimising port operations to
increase port accessibility.
During the current decade, we have seen a change in our relations with mariners. We are now moving
towards a closer partnership in which students use our installations at their convenience. Courses and
equipment are specially designed in close collaboration with them, such as the courses on operations using
escort tugs, with our friends from San Francisco.
A few words about Sogreah
Sogreah is an independent consultancy and engineering firm of European scale, specialising in the fields of
water, the environment, energy and urban development.
Sogreah assists local and regional authorities, public-sector clients, industries, contractors, financial
institutions and investors in preparing, designing and implementing their strategies, projects and investments.
Sogreah's turnover in 2008 amounted to about 100 million euros and its permanent workforce is over 1100.
Sogreah has enjoyed regular growth and healthy profits for 10 years.
The Sogreah Group's capital is held entirely by the management of the Group's companies.
With its head office located in Grenoble, Sogreah has 30 offices spread throughout France divided into 5
regional divisions (Grenoble, Nantes, Marseilles, Paris, Toulouse).
Sogreah has extensive international experience with references in over 170 countries and 15 permanent
international subsidiaries or offices:
- in Europe: Belgium, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Cyprus
- in the Near and Middle East: Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman
- in Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Madagascar
- in Asia: China, India
Sogreah works as both consultant and engineer, offering design studies, supervision of works, assistance to
owners, auditing and technical assistance. It has the capacity to design and supervise the construction of
major infrastructure projects in France and internationally and at the same time carry out highly specialised
consultancy assignments for local authorities or private clients.
Sogreah pursues an energetic policy of research and innovation and is deeply involved in French and
European research programmes in partnership with public and industrial research establishments. It holds
patents for innovative technologies, and operates a hydraulics laboratory and a shiphandling training centre at
Port Revel (www.portrevel.com).
Independence, innovation in the areas of consultancy and engineering, a corporate culture of technical
excellence, an advanced knowledge management system and a well-established international network are the
strong assets of a group capable of providing each client with a single point of contact for a comprehensive
range of services.
Contact: Arthur de Graauw, Director
Tel: +33 (0) 474 20 02 40
Fax: +33 (0) 474 20 12 29
E-mail: port.revel@sogreah.fr
www.portrevel.com
|