Pivot Maritime simulators to play important role in introduction of new LMV-M

The Australian Maritime Alliance (AMA), a joint venture between engineering group and shipbuilder Civmec and defence services company Serco, is using Pivot Maritime International as core simulation partner on the Land 8710 – Phase 1A Army Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel Medium (LMV-M) project.

In a statement from AMA on Tuesday, Serco said its General Manager Maritime Operations, David Astbury, recently visited Pivot Maritime in Launceston to be updated on the latest program and design activities.

Astbury said the partnership will help address the significant step change in maritime and amphibious operations presented through the Oboe LMV-M design. The Oboe is described as a “state-of-the-art amphibious vessel, capable of carrying a diverse range of combat and support vehicles”. 

Pivot’s simulators would play an important role in addressing the major vessel handling differences between the legacy LMC-8 Landing Craft and the much larger next-generation LMV-M vessel, said Pivot Maritime’s Managing Director Jeffrey Hawkins.

“At just over 45 metres in length, the AMA’s proposed Oboe design will offer significantly increased load carrying and sea keeping capabilities over the LCM-8 and allow Army planners to deploy the LMV-M force at considerably longer ranges throughout the South-West Pacific and around Australia’s northern coast.”

Upskilling Australian Army personnel to operate larger amphibious watercraft within Blue Water and potentially operationally Satellite Denied environments would be critical for the successful introduction, according to Serco.

“As part of our ongoing preparations for this important program, we’re actively engaging with our Australia-wide partner network to ensure we remain ready to deliver this critical program for Australia,” added Astbury.

“The AMA has invested considerable effort in working with Australia’s premier maritime training and simulation experts to develop a [holistic] program that will allow Army personnel to test their mariner skills and gain confidence within a safe and controlled simulation environment.

“Pivot’s Australian developed simulators are at the leading edge of immersive environments and allow personnel to learn new skills and trial various operations and manoeuvres across a diverse range of simulated environmental and operational conditions.”

Further reading

Serco tunes up Oboe for landing craft need