Novatug, the innovation and R&D arm of Multraship Towage & Salvage, has opened an advanced simulator and training centre at the group’s headquarters in Terneuzen, the Netherlands, built around technology from Wärtsilä.
The facility brings together a full mission simulator, mixed reality technology, project simulation capabilities and customised digital vessel models reflecting the actual fleet, including a high-fidelity model of a Carrousel RAVE Tug for specialised manoeuvring and towage training.
All trainers are active or recently active vessel captains, ensuring instruction stays grounded in current operational experience.
The centre is designed specifically for the demands of the towage sector rather than general navigation training.
“Most vessel simulators are built to train crew for navigational scenarios, but Multraship’s new simulator is designed specifically to enable our crews to understand the challenges of manoeuvrability,” said managing director Leendert Muller. “Effective operations depend on close cooperation between towmasters, wheelmen and many other stakeholders. The simulator allows multiple people to train simultaneously in a single shared scenario, coordinating across several vessels in real time, just as they would in a real-life operation.”
Beyond its own crew, Multraship plans to make the facility available to external clients for training, port operation assessments, project simulation and bespoke vessel-handling exercises, with a longer-term ambition to develop Terneuzen into a regional training hub.
Simulator trends
The Multraship investment reflects a broader industry push towards dedicated tug simulation. Kotug Canada has trained crews in British Columbia on simulators, virtually operating two methanol-fuelled escort and emergency response tugs ahead of their delivery in Q2 2026, using a digital model at the P-Star simulator facility designed to emulate the new vessels before they enter service.
Kotug Training and Consultancy has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the British Columbia Institute of Technology to deliver exclusive training for escort tug masters, officers, crews and pilots at BCIT’s Marine Campus in North Vancouver.
Wilson Sons opened new facilities at its Training Centre and Towage Operations Centre in Santos, São Paulo, adding a tugboat manoeuvre simulator to improve safety, efficiency and sustainability across its fleet of more than 80 tugs operating in more than 25 Brazilian ports.
The simulator is also used for scenario analysis and project testing by clients and external stakeholders.
In Q1 2026, McAllister Towing launched its first national training campaign using simulators, partnering with State University of New York Maritime College to provide full-mission simulation courses focused on real-world towing operations.
