Maritime consultants, Watermark Group, have relocated their headquarters to Lakeside North Harbour and reopened a well-known maritime training simulator centre helping to address the skills shortage in the sector.
The simulator centre is regarded as one of the few high quality interlinked real time maritime training facilities in the country. The advanced setup enables tug operators to train simultaneously alongside cargo ship, cruise ship bridge and engine room teams, recreating realistic operational scenarios in real time.
Watermark Group’s presence adds specialist maritime training to the mix of occupiers at Lakeside, reflecting the campus’s ability to accommodate varied operations.
Lakeside have also just achieved international recognition after winning Silver at the Global FM Awards for its innovative workplace experience platform, My Lakeside.
Watermark’s training centre is equipped with a range of specialist systems designed to replicate real world maritime operations. The suite includes full bridge simulators, an engine control room simulator, a tug simulator, and additional high-fidelity technical training capabilities, supporting both navigation and engineering disciplines.
It also marks an important retention of maritime training capability within Portsmouth, with many former training staff reemployed following the reopening of the facility.
Watermark Group Director, Alex Downes, said:
“ We’re very pleased to be taking over the simulator facility here in Portsmouth. It is a well-established facility with real value for crews and operators, and one that Watermark knows well through previous industry use.
“Facilities like this play an important role in allowing teams to train in a realistic environment and work through scenarios that are difficult to replicate at sea. Bringing it back into use ensures that capability remains available both regionally and to the wider industry.
“It’s a great fit for Watermark, and we’re looking forward to seeing it open for companies in the sector.”
By reopening and operating the facility, Watermark Group has ensured that the simulator remains accessible within the local area and supports ongoing training demand.
Simon Bateman, Asset Manager at Lakeside North Harbour, said:
“We’re pleased to see the simulator training facility back in active use. It is good to see the Watermark team on campus everyday doing what they do best. Portsmouth is a premier UK maritime city and we are proud to do our bit to further strengthen the industry.”