Welcome to Timsbury Lake

Welcome to the Timsbury Lake ship handling centre, which provides world-renowned training for Masters and officers on ships and large yachts, together with specific training for Pilots and Berthing/Mooring Masters. This type of training is part of the principles contained within IMO resolution A960(23) for the training of maritime Pilots.

The Lake

The only one of its kind in the UK, and one of a very small number worldwide.
Harbour areas and 19 jetties, creating multiple berths and offering a wide range of ship handling scenarios.
Buoyed channels, critical bends, and turning basins.
Four-mile scale length canal, with a two-mile straight reach, as well as a major curved section.
Over 50 per cent of the lake area, including canal and harbour areas, provides an environment ideal for the demonstration of shallow water effects.
Realistic ship-to-ship lightering, FSU, CBM and SBM exercises can be conducted.
Hydrodynamic effects are replicated to those around the real ship – this is particularly important when examining the interaction between ship to ship and ship to berth, banks, and shallows.

The Training

The ship handling courses are delivered using scaled manned models, with emphasis on developing skills and understanding of the behaviour and handling of ships.

The focus of the training is around the demonstration of slow speed control. Complex and potentially hazardous manoeuvres can be practised and learnt in the scaled environment to enhance competence and refresh skills. There is no doubt that scaled manned models are considered to be the best way after a real ship to develop ship handling skills and competence, providing cost effective training which contributes to reducing ship operating costs.

With a ratio of one instructor to a maximum of two delegates, courses can be conducted to meet specific training requirements, whether it’s an introduction to ship handling, pre-promotion assessment or updating and enhancing existing skills.

The instructors and lecturers are all highly experienced senior mariners, often with long command and/or pilotage experience, including serving pilots. Mariners are therefore assisted during their time on the lake by staff who have spent many years at sea themselves and have the highest professional qualifications.

Course Availability and Fees

Courses are scheduled between March and November. Please contact the administration team for dates and availability.

Please contact the administration team for further information and to book:

Email: ship.handling@solent.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)23 8201 5066