Marine Institute Repeats as Distinction in Innovation Winner
Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland
Tuesday, 19th June 2012
The Marine Institute's Centre for Marine Simulation is the winner of the 2012 Distinction in Innovation Award.
The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development, announced the winners of the Export and Innovation Awards, which recognize individuals, businesses and organizations that are excelling in the areas of innovation and exporting, at a ceremony at the Delta St. John's Hotel and Conference Centre.
The Distinction in Innovation Award distinguishes an individual or group that has taken a leadership role in advancing Newfoundland and Labrador's innovative culture and creating new opportunities for industry. The Centre for Marine Simulation has developed simulators that provide its clients with the ability to undertake ship maneuvering and procedural trials, performance examination and improvements, marine equipment testing and port design evaluation.
"It is an honour to receive this prestigious award at a time when the province making enormous strides on the world stage as a leader in the oceans economy," said Glenn Blackwood, vice-president, Memorial University (Marine Institute). "The Centre has become North America's more comprehensive research and training facility for marine simulation. We have leveraged our North Atlantic location, world-class simulation technology, our people and industry expertise to create one of the most innovative centres to improve the performance of people and equipment and we are proud to be recognized by the Province for our work."
In operation since 1994, the centre operates 15 different marine simulators, including a full motion full mission ship bridge simulator, the only one of its kind in the world. Its clients are globally based and come from a variety of maritime sectors: commercial shipping, oil and gas, port operations, civil engineering, environmental, marine policy and regulation.
The Marine Institute was named the winner of the Distinction in Innovation Award at the 2009 Export and Innovation Awards for its work with SmartBay, a Marine Institute led oceans observation project that plays a valuable role in support of marine operations in Placentia Bay. The award acknowledged Institute's attempts to improve safety within the bay while providing timely and indispensable data regarding weather, sea state and traffic conditions.
The Institute's Journal of Ocean Technology was named a finalist in 2010. The Marine Institute was also a finalist for the award in 2008 for its world-class applied research in aquaculture, fish harvesting, seafood product development, marine safety and simulation.
The Export and Innovation Awards are coordinated annually by the Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development. Partners of the Provincial Government in coordinating the Export and Innovation Awards are the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs, Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology Industries, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, and OceansAdvance.