Source: Times Colonist

Author: Andrew Duffy

Victoria’s Race Rocks 3D will be expanding its workforce after landing a major contract with one of the country’s largest shipbuilders.

The Victoria-based firm, which develops digital training and simulation software, has been tapped to design training systems that will be used in a Royal Canadian Navy ship being built by Chantier Davie in Quebec.

The build is called Project Resolve and is a conversion of a container ship into an auxiliary oiler replenishment ship. It is being completed at Chantier Davie for delivery to the Royal Canadian Navy.

Though financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the contract is a big deal for Race Rocks. “This contract will require upwards of a dozen employees for several years,” said chief executive Scott Dewis, noting he will be adding at least four new staff to his ranks. “We have eight steady [employees] and this will ensure their employment. We will also be engaging other local companies and academia.”

Dewis said the training system they will design over the next 18 months will be used by the navy for training on new equipment, as well as general ship safety.

Delivery of the software and training modules will continue for the life of the vessel.

Race Rocks was established in 2010 as a means of harnessing a decade of doing visual effects for Hollywood and the gaming industry. It evolved into a studio that provides simulation and training in the defence and aerospace industries.

Race Rocks has developed flight and marine simulators and a lightrail transit training simulator.

“Race Rocks has extensive experience integrating its world-class training tools into the naval training system, and we are delighted to have [them] on our team,” said Spencer Fraser, chief executive of Project Resolve.