Welcome Letter

Greetings:

On behalf of the International Maritime Simulator Forum (IMSF) Organizing Committee, we invite you to the International Conference on Marine Simulation and Ship Maneuverability (MARSIM '09), which will be held in Panama from August 17-20, 2009. MARSIM '09 is a follow up to the previous conference held successfully in The Netherlands in 2006.

The program will discuss a variety of aspects relating to marine simulation.  The objective of this conference is to create a scientific platform where new technical developments, research papers and simulation designs can be shared.

The conference also will showcase the use of marine simulators in the process of developing and improving ship maneuvering techniques. In addition, it will highlight the development of procedures to evaluate and improve safe and efficient ship handling. 

MARSIM '09 will take place in Panama City. Well known as a tourist destination, it is the most cosmopolitan city in all of Central America and the capital of the most globalized economy in the region.

The city is tucked into the heart of Panama Bay which offers a sophisticated and distinctive skyline. A Caribbean flavor, diversity, eclectic culture and sheer energy exemplify some of the unique elements Panama City has to offer.

We look forward to extending you a warm welcome!

Alberto Alemán Zubieta
CEO/Administrator
Panama Canal Authority

On behalf of the IMSF

MARSIM ’09 Organization Committee

Date

August 17 – 20, 2009 (Mon - Thu)

Venue

Panama Marriott Hotel

Panama Marriott Hotel

52nd St and Ricardo Arias

Banking Area, Panama City, Panama

Telephone: (507) 210-9200

Fax: (507)210-9311

 

See location in Google Maps

 

MARSIM '09 Conference

Since 1978, MARSIM Conferences, have been heldunder the auspices of the International Marine Simulator Forum (IMSF), has been held every three years. In Tokyo, the 1990 MARSIM was presented jointly by IMSF and the International Conference on Ship Maneuverability (ICSM). The association of MARSIM and ICSM will continue for MARSIM’09.

The conference will provide a forum for the presentation and discussion of theoretical papers describing the latest achievement and trends in marine safety and productivity through simulation training, maneuvering, channel designs and control system.

Exhibition

A technical exhibition will be arranged at the Panama Marriot Hotel, at the Casco Viejo convention room in connection with MARSIM’09. Interested companies and institutions are invited to contact the MARSIM’09 Conference Secretariat.

Call for Papers

Authors are invited to present papers on marine simulation and ship maneuvering topics shown in this announcement.

Those wishing to present a paper are requested to submit an English abstract of 200-300 words (typed) to the MARSIM’09 Conference Secretariat. The abstract must contain the title, the scope and conclusion of the proposed paper, and bear the name(s) and the complete address of the corresponding author(s) (mail, phone, fax and E-mail).

Submitted abstracts will be reviewed by the International Technical Committee.

Deadlines

• Deadline for abstracts                   Nov. 07, 2008

• Notification of acceptance             Jan.  31, 2009

• Camera-ready paper Due              Apr.  18, 2009

The official language of the conference is English.

Program Schedule

Social Program

General Information

As a meeting point in the history of the countries of Latin America, Panama is a country forged by various cultures and traditions that come together to create a unique complexity and exotic environment. The country's ethnic diversity is reflected in the traditional products, such as woodcarvings, ceremonial masks and pottery, as well as in its architecture, cuisine and festivals.

To visit Panama is to dazzle the senses, where Indigenous, Asiatic, Caribbean and European cultures combine to create a country unlike any other. Panama's architecture is a reflection of the different groups that make their home here.

The old city of Panama, known as Casco Viejo, is a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO in 1997. It is currently undergoing restoration, and is a place of great historical and architectural importance. Visitors to the site can see homes built at the beginning of the last century, narrow lanes with ancient ruins, beautiful colonial churches, the National Theater, the Church of San Jose (also known as the Church of the Golden Altar), that was saved from the greed of the pirates, and the ruins of the convent of Santo Domingo and its famous Flat Arch, which is over 300 years old.

Visa Support Documents

Any participant requiring an official letter of invitation to the conference, to support a visa application into Panama, is requested to contact the MARSIM 2009 Secretariat in order to receive assistance in obtaining such a document.

Transportation

Conference participants can travel by car from Tocumen International Airport to suggested hotels (approximately forty-five minutes).

The distance between the Panama Marriott Hotel and the other suggested hotels is:

• InterContinental Miramar Panama – 3.4km from the Conference Site
• Crowne Plaza Panama – 1.8km from the Conference Site

MARSIM’09  Secretariat

Center for Maritime Training, Research, and Development (SIDMAR)

Balboa, Ancon, Panama
Phone: +507 272-8554
Fax: +507 272-8222
E-mail: marsim09@pancanal.com
http://www.pancanal.com/esp/hr/sidmar