Bridge Simulators at BRNC named by the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key
December 14, 2023 @ 08:00 - December 14, 2024 @ 17:00
Date: 14DEC23
Author: BRNC Public Relations Office
As part of Lord High Admirals passing out parade in December, the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key unveiled a plaque officially naming the two new bridge simulators at Britannia Royal Naval College. The bridge simulators at BRNC make up part of a wider rollout taking place in early 2024.
Named after Admiral FitzRoy, BRNC’s Navigation block is where the search for names for the two bridge simulators began. Establishing a link with FitzRoy was key. On investigation, it appeared Admiral FitzRoy had not commanded that many ships, so the choice of options was going to be limited. After careful consideration and consultation with RN Ship naming Committee, the names ADVENTURE and BEAGLE were chosen. Beagle was the ship that FitzRoy commanded during Darwin’s original species studies and Adventure was the schooner FitzRoy purchased with his own money to assist in the survey.
Lt Cdr Mark Raeburn, the Navigation department lead had the privilege of hosting the First Sea Lord during his visit and was able to demonstrate the capability, realism, and versatility of the simulators. The Navigators working and instructing in Fitzroy Block, drawn from ships and submarines around the fleet, remarked to the First Sea Lord on the overwhelmingly positive responses these new facilities have already received from the first students being trained in them. The new sims will benefit both phase 1 and phase 2 training and are a significant step change in the training that can be delivered.
Lt Cdr Mark Raeburn said “It was an honour and a privilege to host the First Sea Lord here in Fitzroy Block. Now formally named, ADVENTURE and BEAGLE stand ready to serve successive future generations of naval officers, Navigators and Captains, as they embark on their own exciting naval careers. With the time-honoured skills and practices that have kept our ships and submarines safe at sea, for centuries, these world-leading simulators will ensure that our people are better equipped, than ever, to meet the challenges they will face at sea and win”.
Image: Peter Heal, Captain Sarah Oakley, Admiral Sir Ben Key, Lt Cdr Raeburn