ERDC breaks ground on new Watercraft and Ship Simulation Facility

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Dr. Ty Wamsley, director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL), said the groundbreaking of the new Watercraft and Ship Simulation facility marks the “dawn of a new era in maritime simulation and research.”

The ceremony for the new project was held Thursday morning at the construction site adjacent to the current CHL campus.

“We’re really celebrating a major milestone in the history of the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory,” Wamsley said. “We’re not just marking the beginning of a new construction project that you see out here, but also the dawn of a new era in maritime simulation and research. The Watercraft and Ship Simulator facility is going to be a world-class destination for innovation and collaboration.”

The new 7,500-square-foot building will expand the lab’s simulation capabilities to support research and development in areas such as autonomous water and gap crossings, how watercraft and vehicles transition between water and land, and improved ship-to-shore operations. It will also enhance training and planning by using physics-based simulations and augmented and virtual reality to analyze landing operations in both coastal and inland environments.

Developed by ERDC-CHL, the Watercraft and Ship Simulator is a vital tool for improving harbor design and navigation safety. It helps optimize navigation channels, assess harbor modifications, and support both civilian and military maritime operations. The simulator was instrumental in the 2024 emergency response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore.

“The ERDC ship simulator has been around for a long time,” said Richard Hunt, a Visual Information Specialist at CHL. “They started out with a plywood box with a steering wheel on it with a screen attached, and it’s evolved into what you see here. We now have three bridges: two 270 degree and one 360 degree.”

The system precisely replicates ports, harbors and inland waterways, incorporating variables such as currents, wind, waves, shallow water effects, ship interactions and tug assistance. Ship-bridge mockups provide realistic visuals and sounds, operating independently or in sync to simulate real-time conditions and events.

Part of ERDC, the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory addresses a wide range of water resource challenges, including those related to groundwater, watersheds, rivers, reservoirs, estuaries, harbors, coastal inlets and wetlands.