(VALLEJO, Calif. – December 6, 2012) – CSU, California Maritime Academy has been honored with a 2012 Modeling and Simulation Award by the National Simulation and Training Association (NSTA). The award, which was chosen for the Analysis category, was presented during the NTSA Leadership Reception and Executive Dinner held on December 4th in conjunction with the Annual Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Cal Maritime received the award for its work on a simulation project funded by the Port of Oakland in preparation for the March 3, 2012 arrival of the massive MSC Fabiola, a 1,201-foot, 166,000 ton (loaded) cargo ship. The Fabiola is the largest ship to ever come under the Golden Gate Bridge and it is one of the largest ships to ever dock in a seaport in North America.

The simulation project and exercises were conducted in Cal Maritime's state-of-the-art Simulation Center, under the leadership of Captain Vic Schisler, Cal Maritime's director of professional simulation training. The simulation exercises, which were assisted by Captain Greg Brooks of Towing Solutions Inc. (TSI), were designed to assess the feasibility and develop assessment parameters for maneuvering the new Panamax and Ultra Large Container Vessels (UCLV) into the Port of Oakland’s Outer and Inner Harbors.

"Receiving this award validates the tremendous simulation capabilities that exist at Cal Maritime, and endorses our facility as a center for training, assessment, and research," said Dr. Jim Burns, dean of sponsored projects and extended learning at Cal Maritime. "The recognition also highlights Cal Maritime’s strength in working with other agencies to ensure safe and efficient vessel movement throughout the world."

Nineteen San Francisco Bar Pilots participated in five days of simulations that were conducted under varied wind, current, and tide conditions. During each run, extensive data recorded the ship’s speed, rate of turn, lateral speed of the bow and stern, wind and current speed and direction, tug power applied, and the closest point of approach to a grounding point was measured and noted. The simulation analysis has lead to reduced cost and increased efficiency through the use of larger vessels in the Port of Oakland - strengthening economic growth and bolstering environmental safety.

Cal Maritime currently provides pilot training for all three of the largest piloting organizations in California – Long Beach, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as many other maritime companies.

For more coverage of the simulation training and Fabiola's arrival, visit metacafe.com/watch/8474378/sf_bar_pilots_abiola_two/.

ABOUT CAL MARITIME
Established in 1929, The California Maritime Academy, a campus of The California State University, is the only degree-granting maritime academy on the West Coast. Cal Maritime was recently ranked by Forbes magazine as being among the Top 25 "Best Value Colleges" in the nation, providing students with the highest quality education for their academic dollar. Located in Vallejo, Calif., the campus serves approximately 900 students and offers undergraduate degrees preparing students for careers in engineering, transportation, international relations, business, and global logistics. It also offers a master’s degree in Transportation and Engineering Management, as well as a number of extended learning programs and courses.