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Le Havre port can be viewed in 3D, real time with S-WiNG software

HAROPA - Port of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris - is now displaying itself in three dimensions through the development of its software package S-WiNG.

This allows professionals and the public to virtually plunge into the environment of the Normandy port and observe its daily activities.

At the port of Le Havre, vessel movements can now be visualised by everyone, in 3D and in real time from a computer, a tablet or a smartphone.

Every vessel present in the harbour waters is represented according to its category (container ships, oil tankers, bulk carriers, roll-on/roll-of ships, dredgers, tugs, barges, liners, and ferries) with its draught, according to the real water level, the swell and the weather.

The software package S-WiNG developed by the teams of HAROPA - Port of Le Havre, is a port authority single window used by the whole community for collection of declarations, the management, planning, organisation and operational monitoring of the sea and river calls.

In the heart of the port information systems, it coordinates all the operations and events relating to a call. Bringing an effective and secure answer to the growth in volume and flows, S-WING today constitutes the key-element of the digital port.

Ergonomic, user-friendly and interactive, the S-WiNG - 3D application allows the user to look at the information linked to each vessel present in the tidal basins of the port zone, notably in the outer port, and at Port 2000, sailing in the basins or at berth (vessel length, width, capacity, origin, and destination).

Some functions such as position of the cranes that operate the vessels are also searchable but reserved for the relevant professionals. All the information is available in real time but also in replay, thus past calls to be viewed up to two weeks earlier.

"This e-navigation constitutes a first in a European port," said the head of the Information System Development department at HAROPA - Port of Le Havre, Jerome Besancenot. "We intend to continue and further expand such an innovative approach as part of the Smart Port."

"The tool is intended to include more and more realism, to change and to be continuously developed; it will quickly provide more extensive information both about the selected port zones and the targeted activities."

Managing director Jean-Marc Leroux of the Aerys start-up which made the developments, explains that "this was made possible through an innovative 3D technology based on our 'Minko' engine, and using real time data provided by the S-WiNG port single window developed by HAROPA - Port of Le Havre."

The tool enables all professionals of the port community, teachers and school children to understand the port's activities in a recreational way. It also offers tourists and other ship lovers the possibility to discover the port from a new perspective.

Marketed by the port of Le Havre, the software has already been installed in other French and foreign ports including Nantes and Abidjan.