Latest scale manned model joins the fleet

Solent’s new Chancellor, Theo Paphitis, joined Deputy Vice- Chancellor Julie Hall to officially name the latest vessel to join the country’s largest fleet of scale manned models at the University’s world-renowned Ship Handling Centre.

Eternity is a 10-metre model representative of an Aframax sized ship – a medium sized oil tanker designed to fit through the Panama Canal.

The 1:25 scale ship model joins the existing fleet of 10 vessels that are used for training ship’s officers and pilots in the art and practice of ship handling on Solent’s purpose built 10-acre inland freshwater lake at Timsbury Lake near Romsey.

Eternity was designed and built by Gosport-based QinetiQ, who are also in the process of constructing a second vessel, representing a Suezmax sized ship – the largest tanker able to transit the Suez Canal when fully laden.

Commenting on the new model Julie Hall said: “This valuable addition to the fleet demonstrates our continued commitment to and investment in our world renowned maritime facilities and training.

“Ships are getting larger and waterways and ports more crowded, so scale model training is more important than ever.”

These scaled vessels are part of Solent’s ongoing multi-million pound investment in maritime training provision at the University.

Key specifications for Eternity

Scaled Model Full Scale
Aframax Equivalent

Length overall 10.04m 251m

Breadth overall 1.75m 43.8m

Depth 0.84m 21.0m

Loaded draught 0.54m 13.6m

Loaded displacement 7.5 tonnes 120,000 tonnes

Design speed 3.5 knots 17.5 knots