Live Partnership Launch and Demonstrations at Seawork 2025

June 2025 – Aage Hempel Group, a leader in marine electronic service and sales, is proud to announce its appointment as authorised dealer for VASCO, the world’s first untethered Virtual Reality (VR) bridge simulator from Kilo Solutions.

This partnership will officially launch at Seawork 2025, Europe’s largest commercial marine and workboat exhibition, taking place 10–12 June at Mayflower Park, Southampton. Visitors to Stand G-31, Charity & Taylor part of the Aage Hempel Group, will have the opportunity to experience live demonstrations of VASCO throughout the event.

VASCO is revolutionising maritime training by providing a fully immersive, portable, and scalable VR environment that enables bridge teams to train anywhere, anytime. Unlike traditional tethered simulators, VASCO uses untethered Meta Quest headsets, allowing realistic and interactive training without the need for expensive fixed infrastructure. This breakthrough technology supports a wide range of navigational and safety scenarios, tailored to specific vessel and operational challenges.

Aage Hempel’s partnership with Kilo Solutions enables the group to offer this state-of-the-art training solution to commercial, offshore, and superyacht sectors across the UK and internationally. With an extensive network of over 120 skilled employees and 45+ offices in 15 countries, Aage Hempel is uniquely positioned to deliver comprehensive support, installation, and training services for VASCO.

Steve Reeve, Managing Director of Aage Hempel Group, said:

“We are excited to bring VASCO’s innovative VR training technology to our clients. This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering flexible, effective, and accessible marine electronic solutions that enhance safety and operational performance. VASCO’s untethered design and realistic simulation capabilities represent the future of maritime training, and we look forward to supporting crews in developing and importantly, maintaining their skills with this powerful tool.”

Andy Parkin, Managing Director of Kilo Solutions, said:

Aligning our innovative technology with the global leader in marine electronic service and sales is strategically essential if we are to achieve the positive impact that VASCO is capable of delivering for Seafarers across the Globe. In Aage Hempel Group, we have established an alliance which is both culturally aligned and equally committed to providing trusted and sustainable support to the Maritime Industry. We look forward to achieving positive success for all.

VASCO’s key features include:

• Intuitive, easy-to-use interface suitable for all skill levels
• Portable design enabling immersive training anywhere with minimal connectivity
• Scalable scenarios adaptable to individual or team training needs
• High technical accuracy developed by maritime experts
• Real-time coaching, mentoring, and evaluation by qualified instructors

Kilo Solutions have already secured major contracts with the Royal Navy and US Navy, underscoring VASCO’s effectiveness and reliability in demanding operational environments. Aage Hempel’s appointment as dealer further expands access to this next-generation training platform within the commercial maritime sector.