News & Views
Welcome to the Tyne Area Shipping Club Website. The site is regularly updated so please get into the habit of checking it frequently for club news.
Have you some interesting news that you would like to share? please send it to me together with any supporting photographs.
Interested in having a monthly photograph competition? - let me know!
(contact me via the contact page)
JKA
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News Articles - around the Tyne
------------1861 - 2011 -------------
The South Shields Marine College Celebrates 150 Years THIS YEAR!!
Probably the most well-respected Marine College in the World!
Known by thousands of International students from all quarters of our great earth!
from Sydney - Durban - Piraeus - Shanhai - Hong Kong - Singapore - Rotterdam - Bombay - Liverpool - Busan & etc.
The World of Shipping has benefitted greatly from our College here in South Shields and continues to do so today.
See the article on this page *
A Book recording the history of the Marine School of South Shields has been written by (TASC Member) Alan Johnson. Click here for contact details:
ooOoo Commemoration of MN seat 
A short ceremony of commemoration took place at Eldon Square on the 26th March 2011 of bench seats dedicated to the various Services. Pictured is the Merchant Navy seat. L to R At the back standing Tasc member Chris McKeon, Tom Robertson joint executive ex Services Association. Seated Lord Mayor of Newcastle Councillor Brenda Hindmarsh and rev. Michael Bass Padre RASCT
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- Snippet from the past -
Night of destruction
By Neil Mearns
Published on Wednesday 16 March 2011 Sunderland Echo
DURING the 19th Century, freshes and floods periodically overwhelmed the Wear, the most destructive occurring on the night of Sunday, January 17, 1841 and continuing well into the next morning.
Due to a thaw following a long severe frost, a huge quantity of ice accumulated between Wearmouth Bridge and the ferry landing. Heavy rain began to fall on the evening, with ships being driven from moorings at Deptford and Pallion, but soon being made fast.
About midnight, larger pieces of ice floated downriver. Meeting with obstructions, these were driven over and under each other to form a huge mass, cemented together for a depth of several feet.
Due to the current being impeded, the river level stood six feet higher at Pallion than at Mark Quay in the East End.
At about 4am, the ice dam yielded to increasing pressure, resulting in a torrent of water and ice rushing downriver.
Entire tiers of ships were torn from their moorings at Lambton and Hetton Staiths and swept beneath Wearmouth Bridge, breaking their masts in the process and being dashed against other vessels. Further tiers were overwhelmed and thrown into a mass of wreck, extending the width of the river opposite Durham and Sunderland Railway Staiths.
Among the casualties were Pilgrim of Lynn, Caroline Korff of Altona, and Deux Amis, a French vessel; together with Rosebud, Kirton, Seaflower and Queen Victoria, all of Sunderland.
Some ships were driven to sea, including Era of Rochester, Beatitude Lamb of London, a French barque and Jean, Gamma and Young, all of Sunderland. Most were later picked up off the Durham coastline, many without crews, but others simply disappeared.
Huge quantities of valuable timber were also washed out to sea, with coal staiths being left in ruins and quay walls collapsed when mooring posts were wrenched from their foundations.
The RWC steamer, Utility, was badly damaged and the port's steam tug fleet was decimated, among these being Safety, Hare, Earl of Durham, George and Ann and Neptune.
About 30 keels were wrecked, along with most of the port's small craft. Fortunately, 25 vessels, about half being steamers, sought timely refuge in Wearmouth Dock.
Miraculously, only two lives were lost, these being a boy, who drowned in attempting to escape to another vessel and a young fitter named Davidson, who was carried away by Newby's boom after she grounded near North Pier.
The following afternoon, a passage was made through the blocked channel resulting in the ice, timber and flotsam drifting to sea.
Losses were estimated at some £91,000 and it took many months to repair most of the damage.
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South Tyneside College - formerly The South Shields Marine & Technical College
This year celebrates the 150th anniversary of the college. It was quite unique in its day being one of the first institutions to provide education for seafarers in order that they could better deal with the rigours of the sea; providing them with training in navigation and engineering to help prevent tragedy and loss of life that was so prevalent at the time the school opened in 1861. It is a brilliant achievement that, in 2011 the college offers some of the most modern and comprehensive marine simulation technology in the world. The college combines a unique blend of traditional experience and forward vision.
It is the largest UK centre for marine education, with a full range of courses in the three major disciplines
Deck :: Marine Engineering :: Marine Communications and Control
On Friday 20th May, members of the Tyne Area Shipping Club were guests of the Marine Simulation Department. We received a most comprehensive introduction to the world of high-end technology the art of simulation and their use of in-house mathematical -3D modelling techniques.
With many of us being ex deck and engineering officers, it was a most wonderful experience to see at first hand just how far the shipping industry has advanced technologically in just a few short years. We should like to thank John, Paul and Chris and other members of staff, for making the visit such a memorable one. We thank them also for information and photographs that will allow me to show you something of what we learnt and saw during our visit.
J.K.A. 
Ship Simulation The Marine Simulation Department boasts a total of thirteen simulated bridges in three locations. Five Kongsberg-Norcontrol (KMSS) Polaris-type bridges are housed at the Marine Simulation Centre. There is also a full mission engine simulator that is capable of being connected to a full mission bridge simulator for combined deck and engine room courses. This Centre also acts as the administrative base for the Department
Main Bridge
The Port Operations Unit contains a further four KMSS bridges, as well as, a comprehensive VTMIS simulator. The Radar Station is home to a four bridge Transas Simulator as well as six 'live' ARPA (Automatic Radar Plotting Aid) systems and a Navigation Aids Laboratory.
Marine Simulation Centre
Bridges
There are five simulated navigational bridges capable of being used together or individually. All bridges have a visual display with high quality day/night photo- textured scenes. One bridge has a 135º projected horizontal field of view on either side of the bow and can be used facing astern for supply vessel operations.
Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)
The Vessel Traffic Service simulator system consists of three shore based control stations with data input from radar scanner locations within the exercise area. The control stations use the same Norcontrol IT 'VOC5060' software that is used by actual VTS installations. There can be full interaction with any combination of the five simulation bridges plus any additional targets under the instructor's control. Digital audio communications are used, capable of full recording and synchronisation within the exercise scenario - for debrief purposes.
Cargo Handling Simulation
This workstation based system consists of up to eleven student workstations capable of performing the complete cargo handling operations of a real ship's cargo plant. There are ship models representing oil tankers (VLCC & Product), a chemical tanker and liquid gas (semi-pressure & Moss-type) carriers.
Full Mission Engine Room Simulator
This simulator is a generic reproduction of the control and engine room of a VLCC powered by a MAN B&W slow speed diesel engine. The control room contains consoles which house main engine controls, plant alarm, generator control, pump and compressor controls and oil fired boiler control panels.
The realism is further enhanced by an engine room located on two levels, with full sound and environmental conditions.
Engine Workstation Simulator
The individual workstation units are provided with various machinery models.
* Slow speed engine (MAN B&W 5LMC90)
* Combustion engineering boiler (CE V2 M9) and Stal steam turbine, powering VLCC
* Twin medium speed engine (Pielstick 10 PC 4.2) powering a ferry/general cargo vessel
* Diesel electric system, (Cegelec Synchro-converter) - powering a large passenger vessel
* Gas Turbine System (G.E. LM2500)
Engine Control station
Research & Development
The in-house research and development team, which includes Marine and IT professionals, can provide a range of customer specific 3D visual geographical
database areas as well as realistic ship models. These models are then used to deliver training scenarios or are integral to feasibility studies.
3D Modelling workstation
Model of Caledonian McBrayne ferry m.v.Bute
Port Operations Unit Port operations provide cutting edge training facilities. A single simulator system is based in twinned buildings; one location housing four KMSS ‘Desktop' bridges, the other is fitted with a fully integrated VTMIS suite. This unique development has been created specifically to service the full range of IALA approved VTS courses available at South Tyneside College.
Vessel Traffic Services (VTMIS)
The simulator system consists of three VTS Operator control stations and a VTS Supervisor station using the same Norcontrol IT VOC5060 software that is used by actual Norcontrol VTMIS installations. There are also five 'scenario stations', which provide the communication interaction to which VTS operators will need to respond. Each of these nine operators and up to two Instructors can observe a birds-eye-view of the VTS area of responsibility; they each also have access to a shipping movements database (Norcontrol IT VDB6070).
Radar Station
The Radar Station is to be found on the South Shields Foreshore, overlooking the mouth of the Tyne and houses six live radar systems, a Navigation Aids Laboratory and a Transas, PC-based, four bridge simulator
Radar Station
ARPA Radar
Marine Consultancy The Marine Simulation Department can provide a professional service to the marine industry; this can be provided by staff within the Department based on their practical experience and their academic ability. The simulation facilities can also be used to provide operational evidence and demonstration.
Provision includes:
* Safety Consultancy including Risk Analysis, Safety Assessment,
* Bridge Team Management Audits
* Port Operation Feasibility Studies
* Shore Based (VTS) Consultancy
MCA Approval
The Department is committed to maintaining the highest standards of training excellence. As evidence of this level of competence the Marine Simulation
Department has obtained MCA approval across its range of courses.
Quality
All courses operate under the quality control of ISO 9000:2000 with the Department having the flexibility to provide statutory courses or create courses to suit special or individual requirements
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To check out the college visit.. www.stc.ac.uk
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