Working with cargo on board offshore supply vessels has its own hazards. These may
arise from the types of cargo being handled or from the extremes of weather often
found around offshore installations. Knowledge about good cargo handling is a
major consideration and understanding of the processes by everybody involved at
sea and ashore does make a significant contribution to that safety.
This video package will aid the understanding of the problems experienced by all the
people involved in moving cargo between installation and vessel and is aimed at
personnel all along the supply chain.
The package deals with the preparation and safe packing of cargo, both on shore and
offshore. The timely distribution of all relevant information to all concerned about
the nature of the cargo to be handled, especially to the Master of the vessel is
important. The package discusses the preparation of a proper stowage plan, taking
account of the physical limitations of the vessel and of the cranes available for
moving the cargo as well as the overall numbers, sizes, weights and shapes of cargo.
Other elements include the adequate supervision of cargo stowage on deck and the
need for proper securing of cargo, particularly piping or other round shaped objects
which are likely to roll as a result of ship’s movement.
The most important component of safe cargo transportation is efficient
communication between the Master of the vessel and the OIM at the Installation and
the Marine Control on shore. In addition, it is recommended that companies devise
and enforce a bad weather policy for Masters so as to relieve them of the need to
choose between safety and commercial considerations when decisions have to be
taken in bad weather.
The helideck on offshore installations is a safety critical area and it must always be
fit for use. To ensure that the relevant criteria are met an inspection regime for
helidecks in the UK sector has been established by the Health and Safety Executive.
The condition of every deck served by British helicopters is now inspected on a
regular basis to ensure its fitness for purpose.
CAP 437 covers how the functioning of the deck has to be assessed - dimensions,
lettering, lighting, netting and - most important - structural integrity. The helideck
must not only bear the weight of the heaviest and largest helicopter at rest, it must
cope also with dynamic and lateral loading and an emergency impact at high rates
of descent. So the primary structure must be checked for corrosion. Secondary
structures, hand rails, stairways and so on must also be examined. Normally
Unattended Installations or NUI’s, have one problem which overrides all others:
guano. Where guano persists, good housekeeping is critical. On all installations, the
role of the helideck crew in maintaining the condition of the deck is also important
and the OIM needs to ensure they have enough time for their tasks.
This video provides a valuable introduction to the offshore environment and stresses
the need for safety there. For, although rules and regulations may vary between
different countries and different operators, the importance of safety is universal
offshore. The overriding message of the film is that everyone going offshore must
listen to all safety briefings and instructions, make sure that they understand them
and then comply with them.
The following subjects are dealt with in detail:
Muster stations and lifeboat drills. Learn what to do and where to go in an
emergency
Permits to work. The reasons for them and why it is vital to comply with every
detail of them
The importance of good housekeeping and cleaning up after every job
The importance of using the right protective clothing
The video touches on many other aspects of offshore life - always with the emphasis
on safety. It makes the point that all the safe working procedures learnt onshore
apply offshore - but more so. Safety can only be achieved by informed, alert and
skilful people who have respect not only for themselves but also for the well-being
of others.
This film follows in detail the abandonment of an offshore oil installation by totally
enclosed lifeboat and the successful evacuation of that lifeboat.
Beginning on an offshore platform with the sounding of the general alarm and the
gathering at a muster point, a lifeboat is launched and the personnel evacuated from
it in three ways:
By transfer to rigid inflatable fast rescue craft
By winching up into a search and rescue helicopter
By transfer to a larger vessel - in this case a field stand-by vessel
A great deal of information about totally enclosed lifeboats and what to do once
inside them is fully covered. The emphasis is on how to get out of them safely. The
importance of patience and discipline for everyone in the lifeboat is underlined.
This video shows how Norway’s law of the sea regarding safety applies to the supply
boats, the hospital safety boats and the oil rigs stationed in the North Sea over the
Norwegian Continental Shelf.
The concepts of safety are the same for all maritime operations but the
requirements for organizing safety committees, increasing safety awareness and
developing safe working practices demand attention to the special conditions and
activities of each vessel, even in offshore operations.
Time: 20 Mins
Time: 18 Mins