The BMT Digital Innovation & Simulation Centre (DISC) has officially opened its doors at the organisation's Fareham site in the UK, marking a significant milestone in the company's commitment to innovation and simulation-based solutions. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to provide a premium environment for high-value simulation, immersive engineering, and commercially focused engagement. By leveraging advanced technologies such as digital visualisation and synthetic environments, DISC aims to revolutionise the way industries approach complex challenges.
The DISC is powered by the BMT REMBRANDT navigation simulator, a DNV-accredited system used globally for port feasibility, pilotage training, and quantitative navigation studies. This powerful tool enables customers to conduct realistic simulations of various maritime scenarios, including tow-outs, incident reconstructions, and ship-to-ship transfer analysis. The integration of this technology with new digital visualisation tools further enhances the facility's capabilities.
The DISC boasts an impressive range of facilities, including a reconfigurable full mission bridge for defence and commercial vessels, two 360-degree pod simulators, two small-vessel simulators, a remote operations centre (ROC), a scenario control room, an instructor/briefing room, and multiple meeting and breakout spaces. These spaces are designed to facilitate collaboration, creativity, and effective communication among stakeholders.
One of the UK's largest specialised LED video walls provides a fully immersive canvas for multi-vessel operations, port and coastal studies, complex tow-outs, incident reconstructions, and investor-ready digital storyboards. This cutting-edge technology enables customers to visualise complex scenarios in stunning detail, facilitating better decision-making and more effective problem-solving.
At the heart of the DISC lies BMT REMBRANDT's high-fidelity hydrodynamic engine, which enables everything from tug and pilot training through to litigation-grade reconstruction and ship-to-ship transfer analysis. This advanced technology is a game-changer for industries seeking to improve their simulation capabilities and reduce costs associated with physical prototypes.
The DISC also hosts the MASS SEAS (Marine Autonomous Surface Ship Synthetic Environment Assurance System) synthetic environment, allowing customers and regulators to run DNV-grade, simulator-based trials of autonomous navigation systems and demonstrate compliance with emerging MASS and COLREGs requirements. This facility is a critical component in the development of autonomous maritime technologies.
Beyond navigation, BMT ENGAGE - powered by Unreal Engine - enables users to create photorealistic digital twins, virtual ship walk-throughs, and cyber and wargaming scenarios. These capabilities directly support BMT's autonomy campaign, digital ports work, ship design assurance, and global marine incident analysis, making DISC a transversal enabler for high-value programmes such as MRSS (Multi-Role Support Ship) design, ports growth, and maritime autonomous systems.
The DISC is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of maritime industries, particularly in the development of autonomous vessels, digital ports, complex operations training, and ship design de-risking. As the demand for simulation-based solutions continues to grow, BMT's investment in this facility will undoubtedly drive innovation and economic growth.
By providing a comprehensive platform for simulation, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing, the DISC is expected to support a growing pipeline of defence and commercial opportunities. This facility will serve as a hub for industry partnerships, research collaborations, and knowledge transfer, ultimately driving progress in maritime industries worldwide.
