When you’re delivering crew training for offshore and subsea operations, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Operations that are typical for large offshore wind or oil and gas projects, involving cable lay, pipelay, dredging or underwater maintenance, can be highly complex and all face their specific risks and challenges.

Your offshore or subsea activities have multiple variables that are constantly changing: from offshore weather conditions to the unique mix of equipment, machinery, and vessels operating in various locations around the globe. 

That makes choosing the right training and operations simulator extremely tough. To support your decision-making, we’ve put together a list of questions: the 5 things to keep in mind when selecting a simulation provider.

1.  Do they have proven tech and development methods?

The right simulator technology will enhance the training and preparedness of your operators, significantly reducing the risk of operational failures and accidents in challenging environments. That’s why when selecting a simulator provider for your operations, it’s a good idea to look for proven technology and development methods. 

It’s crucial to choose a provider with a solid track record in your industry, with established technology that’s been rigorously tested and validated in real-world scenarios. By opting for a provider that’s a specialist in your particular field, and continuously iterating on their simulator technology, you will benefit from long-term reliability and accuracy. 

Here at Tree C, we’ve been delivering simulators to offshore and subsea industries since 1994. Our visualization and simulation technologies – VR4MAX® and the Tree C Simulator Framework – are used for a broad range of purposes, including engineering, procedure design and validation, planning, operation monitoring, and training. 

2.  Do you have the option for custom development?

The irony of a one-size-fits-all generic training simulator is that it doesn’t actually fit all sizes and scenarios. For that, you need a multi-asset simulator that can not only house and simulate multiple pieces of equipment and collaborators in one virtual environment. Even better is a simulator framework that actually replicates the real-world work site and environmental features, including weather events, equipment failures, and even disaster events.

Lots of software vendors promote the scalability of their products. But when it comes to simulators, what does that actually mean? At Tree C, when we talk about scalability, we’re talking multiple pieces of equipment from different brands, multiple workstations, multiple operators, and multiple vessels. We’re talking big. We’re talking entire fleets. That means you can use our flexible simulator framework to customize the right solution for your needs.

3.  Are they an independent supplier?

If you already use simulators as part of your training and operations, you may have acquired and accumulated a host of simulator products that serve particular brands or OEMs – but don’t necessarily integrate or speak to each other. 

A generic simulator is great for helping a single operator get to grips with a piece of equipment. But how does your team of operators practice teamwork and communication in a safe environment? How do people rehearse emergency scenarios as part of a crew if their training screen shows one piece of machinery in isolation? 

Whilst it’s possible to run multiple simulators for several brands of equipment at the same time, have you ever considered the potential possibilities of bringing everything into one virtual environment? The ideal training simulation is built around your equipment and your real-world work site, not a generic operating environment, and not limited to one piece of machinery (unless you need it to be). 

With an independent supplier – like Tree C – your simulator isn’t tied to one equipment provider (unless needed). On top of that, Tree C’s flexible simulator framework enables you to integrate realistic virtual versions of vessels, machinery, and equipment from multiple brands into one solution ready for training in one shared – and fully customizable – virtual environment.

4.  Is it possible to connect different types of hardware?

Connectivity options are another critical consideration when selecting a simulator provider. Look for providers that offer robust connectivity features such as hardware-in-the-loop capabilities, together with the ability to incorporate new digital assets over time, such as control system hardware and software and monitoring applications. This ensures your simulator is future-proof and tailored to your specific training and operations needs. 

Flexibility is invaluable, whether you need a portable solution that you can pack up, and take anywhere, or a fixed multiscreen (even multiroom) setup, complete with hardware-in-the-loop. With Tree C, the possibilities really are endless. Our flexible simulator framework gives you the option to plug in a range of physical hardware components into one virtual environment, so you can create a realistic and immersive simulator experience.

5.  Is the solution adaptable and maintainable?

Look for a provider that offers scalable solutions, regular updates, and comprehensive support services. This adaptability ensures that the simulator remains relevant and effective over time, providing ongoing value and supporting the continuous development of your physical assets, and the improvement of your operational practice.

Tree C gives you a wider, more flexible framework for simulator development. Add assets – including realistic avatars to simulate additional crew members and emergency services –  from our growing library of content or add new scenarios that are relevant for upcoming missions. Not only that, you can test your new control software in the simulator before it is implemented on board, offering a safe testing environment.

Make Tree C your simulator provider of choice

Tree C’s technology has several unique qualities which make it stand out from the pack, and significantly enhance the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of your offshore and remote handling operations and the confidence of your team. Here’s a summary of why companies choose our flexible simulator framework:

• Proven technology and development methods
• An open framework for custom development
• An independent supplier combining different brands in one simulator
• Multiple connectivity options, including hardware-in-the-loop
• Adaptable and maintainable software

To discover if we’re the right simulation provider for your offshore or remote handling operations, get in touch with us today and let’s talk. Contact us