On Friday 30 January, the Net Design Simulator was officially presented during Firda’s Open Day in Urk. The innovative educational tool allows students, for the first time, to see what normally remains hidden beneath the water’s surface.
Firda is a vocational college. The simulator was developed in collaboration with the Fisheries Cooperative Urk (VCU) and marks an important step in modernising fisheries education.
From drawing to 3D net in one click
With the new simulator, students can convert a flat drawing of a fishing net into a realistic 3D visualisation. As the net “fishes” virtually, they can see how it takes shape, opens, closes and responds to conditions such as fishing speed and warp length.
If a design does not perform well, it can be adjusted and tested again immediately. The software has been deliberately kept simple, enabling students to experiment professionally without complex calculations.
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Wide support for new simulator
According to Thiska Portena, Director of Firda Emmeloord Urk, the simulator demonstrates how maritime education is evolving to meet the needs of the future: ‘The Net Design Simulator makes abstract knowledge tangible. It is a wonderful step forward that helps our students grow into skilled professionals in a field that is essential to the future of our maritime sector.’
VCU sees the simulator as a valuable bridge between education and practice. ‘This is exactly the kind of development that helps young fishermen work better, safer and more sustainably,’ states Albert Hartman, Manager VCU Maritime. ‘It is remarkable that students can now practise without limits, without risks or material waste.’
Strengthening fisheries education
The introduction of the Net Design Simulator gives Firda a clear educational advantage. Abstract theory becomes tangible, students learn through experimentation, and the appeal to prospective students increases. The simulator also demonstrates how effectively education, industry and regional partners collaborate in Urk, providing a valuable boost to fisheries education.
Picture: Thiska Portena, Director Firda and Albert Hartman, Manager VCU Maritime, reveal the Net Design Simulator (photo by Jeffrey Korte).
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