VSTEP and Damen sign agreement for Royal Bahamas Defence Force project

Damen signed an agreement with VSTEP for the delivery of a NAUTIS Full Mission Bridge Simulator with Alphatron Marine equipment to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. The delivery is part of the Sandy Bottom Project that will have the Defence Force acquire a range of Damen patrol vessels, upgrade its existing fleet and develop its port and base infrastructure.

VSTEP will deliver the latest version 3.0 of NAUTIS featuring improved graphics, advanced ship dynamics and increased accuracy and visual fidelity of the sea, allowing for the most realistic training possible.

VSTEP, with input from Damen, will develop four simulated vessels for use in its custom simulator. The collaboration will involve the seamless digital recreation of the Bahamas, an area of 13,878 km2, including nine detailed ports.

“The incorporation of the simulator package was an instrumental part of the overall Sandy Bottom agreement. It will give the RBDF the ability to recruit and train new cadets annually in a professional manner,” according to Damen Sales Manager Alan Borde. “The synergy between the simulator training, the familiarisation training we have already completed and the general commonalities between the different classes of vessel and the bridge systems will provide longevity and increase the patrol capabilities of the RBDF.”