Engineers in modern ship engine rooms need a thorough understanding of system behaviour and how to deal with alarms, failures and emergency procedures. A hyper-realistic engine room simulator at Denmark’s Svendborg International Maritime Academy (SIMAC) provides an immersive environment that prepares crews for real-world operations.
SIMAC’s training programmes prepare ship crews for real-world operations on modern vessels with increasingly complex machinery, automation and energy systems. To perform their roles safely and efficiently, engineers need a thorough understanding of how highly complex engine and auxiliary systems behave; they also need to be capable of dealing with alarms, failures and emergency procedures.
Hyper-realistic simulator training provides engineers with critical knowledge and invaluable hands-on experience. An engine room simulator allows them to practise operational decision‑making, troubleshooting and teamwork in a safe, controlled environment. Engineers can interact with realistic control systems, automation interfaces and visual representations of machinery.
Each year, SIMAC provides education, professional training and upskilling for up to 800 maritime officers and engineers from across the commercial shipping industry. Their training programmes prepare crews for current and future ship operations, including automation, new fuels and increasingly complex operational environments.
SIMAC has been working with Wärtsilä for several years. The academy has been using electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS) and Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) simulators from Wärtsilä as part of its training programmes for more than 15 years. Trainees at SIMAC also have access to a real Wärtsilä 20 engine, which is used in the academy’s machinery laboratories.
The existing engine-room simulator installation no longer reflected the realities of modern vessels, automation levels or emerging propulsion technologies. The objective of the new simulator centre, a flagship facility capable of hosting international conferences and industry collaboration, was to:
Scope of the Wärtsilä solution
SIMAC’s ERS TechSim engine room simulator designed and delivered by Wärtsilä is a physically realistic recreation of a real ship engine room. The facility, built over three levels, includes both bridge and engine-room simulators. SIMAC also benefits from bridge part task and full mission bridge simulators delivered by Wärtsilä.
SIMAC trainees run through real‑world operational scenarios that are recreated using detailed mathematical models of ship machinery and auxiliary systems. The engine-room simulator covers:
The simulator at SIMAC enables precise, hyper‑realistic simulation of machinery and engine room compartments. It is used to train and assess the competence of engine department personnel, including second and chief engineers and officers in charge of an engineering watch.
To maximise the level of realism during training sessions:
“The engine-room simulator is an invaluable asset for our education programmes because it allows our trainees to practice mission-critical tasks in a controlled environment. The level of visual and physical realism contributes greatly to the effectiveness of the training, helping engineers to build critical knowledge and gain invaluable hands-on experience.
If you are a provider of training services for maritime officers and engineers and want to learn more about the benefits of hyper-realistic simulation, join the next Wärtsilä Simulation User Conference.
At these conferences you can connect with peers from across the maritime training community, explore the latest simulation technologies and take part in expert sessions designed to support safer, smarter operational training.
Last updated: May 2026
Content owner: Wärtsilä Marine
