The Facility
The 2 hectare (5 acre) man made lake constructed at 25:1 scale, has deep and shallow water areas.
These areas have been carefully constructed to re-create the scale depths of water when approaching a typical harbour environment and the water depths within a typical harbour.
The lake has approximately a third of the area dedicated to deep water (scale 50 m depth) , another third is of medium depth (scale 25 m depth) and a third dedicated to shallow water areas of 14 m scale depth.
Port Ash has 32 (thirty two) berths of both open and sheet pile type, which show differing hydrodynamic effects.
There are two single-point moorings.
Current is generated in the canal or open water shallow areas so that cross-current effects and berthing can be practiced.
The 2 nautical mile long canal is 100m wide and has a 115° bend of 0.5 scale nautical mile radius.
In addition, there are numerous buoys and navigation marks found in any harbour environment to mark the water depths and channel centres.
The Port Ash lecture room is equipped with the latest in audio visual aids.
Desk top demonstrations using small desk top models, and pre exercise briefings, ensure the mix of theory and practical exercises are balanced, with the majority of time at Port Ash being spent on the lake.
Flexibility of course structure ensures specific client needs can be met if requested.
On Day 2 of the Course in General Ship Handling, a theory session on the use of anchors is conducted, prior to the on water briefing, before the trainees conduct exercises under the supervision of the on board facilitator on the lake.