The Port of Saint John commissioned the MSRC to conduct real-time navigation simulations to determine operational parameters for 305 m container vessels transiting the port’s entry channel and berthing at the newly expanded Rodney North Terminal.

The study took place at the MSRC’s facilities in Quebec City over a five-day period using a 360º DNV Class A, Full Mission Simulator and 3 other interactive bridges. All 34 manoeuvres were conducted by seasoned Saint John pilots, who were assisted by experienced tug masters from Atlantic Towing.

The MSRC’s in-house team designed and created the “pilot-grade” container vessel model, which, thanks to the use of specific ship data, boasts a very high degree of accuracy. Its performance was validated by various pilot groups that are familiar with this type of vessel.

The MSRC’s own database development tool was used to create a high-fidelity 3D geographical area model to include all aspects of the channel’s bathymetry and shore-side structures. A 3D hydrodynamic model (FVCOM) was integrated to simulate currents and water levels associated with the tides and river flows.