Offshore Career Guide - UK North Sea
If you are interested in working in the North Sea here is our useful guide.
As there are a wide range of roles to pursue its difficult to know where to begin!
The phrase I hear all too often is;
'My uncle/friend/ earns a killing on the rigs, - I want a job offshore too'!
Each offshore worker has to pass rigorous training in order to qualify to work, and they are frequently assessed to maintain their certificates. It's well paid for very good reasons! The North Sea environment is a hostile and sometimes dangerous place in which to work. Safety is always the top priority and, it is by no means an easy job. Now we're clear on that, let's take a look at what's required.
There are two things that are needed to work offshore:
An offshore survival certificate.
An offshore medical
OFFSHORE SURVIVAL
The offshore survival certificate for UK waters is referred to as a BOSIET.
(Basic Safety Offshore Induction and Emergency Training).
The B0SIET includes; Survival at Sea, Safety, First Aid and Hypothermia, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Helicopter Safety and Escape.
BOSIET courses vary in length between providers - usually 2 to 3 days, and with the advent of e-learning some providers allow the theory parts to be completed via the internet. The cost of a basic course is around 600, plus any accommodation costs. Courses are very popular and there can be a waiting list of a couple of weeks - though gone are the days of a single provider for the UK. The "Offshore Survival Certificate" as the BOSIET is also commonly known, is only valid for 4 years, and a refresher (usually lasting a day) must be done before your old certificate expires otherwise the whole 3 day course must be repeated. There are no exceptions to this rule.
There are "extras" that you can request, and pay for, when doing your survival, e.g. a little extra helicopter escape training bolted on to the BOSIET counts as "Additional Safety Training" for the Norwegian sector.
The Norwegian Oil Industry Association (OLF) course is a 5 day affair and a lot more demanding than that required in the UK. A BOSIET course is not sufficient for working in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Most offshore training companies in the UK run courses allowing you to work in other sectors. These are often run as additions to the BOSIET course. Different countries across the world have differing requirements, some more stringent than the UK requirements described above, whereas others are frighteningly inadequate.
THE OFFSHORE MEDICAL
Every offshore worker must undergo and pass a medical examination which classifies them as medically fit to work in the offshore environment.
Different offshore authorities have different requirements. For UK waters only physicians who are approved by the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) Health Advisory Committee should carry out the examination and issue certificates.
The medical ticket which it is commonly referred to is only valid for a set time frame. This is determined by your age and the authority or body who controls the asset on which you work. You will have to have it renewed every so often in order to continue working offshore.
For UK waters, all assets are controlled by UKOOA and renewals are necessary 2-yearly, with effect from 1 Jan 2007, irrespective of the age of the offshore person.
The typical medical examination will entail a physical examination and you will be required to complete an extensive form on your medical history and lifestyle, e.g. exercise and alcohol consumption.
- Urine check (for protein and sugar)
- Height, weight and resultant Body Mass Index calculation
- Blood pressure and pulse
- Basic eye sight test including colour vision
-A Check on your lung capacity
- Hearing test
- A physical examination by a doctor. Check stature, listen to your breathing, reflexes etc.
- The doctor will also discuss the form you filled in, and carry out any additional checks they think necessary.
If your employer is paying for your medical, they may request additional checks such as a drug tests or a blood test.
The Next Step
It's no use rushing out and getting your offshore survival and medical straight away however. These two pre-requisites alone will not guarantee you employment. You now have to research the various career paths on the rig. What is it you see yourself doing offshore? Do you have skills you could develop which could then be utilized? Perhaps your already qualified in a trade such as a cook or electrician, you could simply take the additional training and do this job offshore. There are a wide range of roles to investigate further. Do some research find out what skills are currently in demand, and the training involved in becoming qualified. Find out the cost involved, who runs the course, the body who oversees it. Below is a short list of the many job categories to research further.
Engineering
Drilling
Piping
Marine/Diving/ROV
Technicians
N.D.T. & Rope access personnel
Specialized trades & Riggers
Health & Safety
Geologists & Geosciences
Working Offshore
Working on an oil rig offshore is very different from an onshore office. The days are long (12 hours), there are harsh weather conditions, (especially in the UK's North Sea) the remoteness, and transport by helicopter are not for everyone. It is certainly very different from the usual office workers nine to five and rush hour commute. Most people fins it a challenging but refreshing environment in which to work.
What To Expect
A lot depends on the installation. It could be a production platform or drilling rig, or an FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel) each one is different! Their size is a factor. Some are huge other very small. As a result facilities on offer vary greatly. As a general rule of thumb a typical North Sea production platform will boast a crew of between 50 and 100 men and women. Living quarters are usually small but comfortable, typically en-suite, with 2 or more to a cabin. Food is good and plentiful, although do not expect a beer with your meals - alcohol is strictly prohibited offshore.
Offshore crew work 12 hours a day, including rest and meal breaks, and have 12 hours off. Off-shift, workers can choose to work out in the gym, watch a video or DVD or satellite TV, play snooker, play PC games, read or just hang out with their colleagues. Offshore crew usually work on a production platform for a period of two weeks before having a rest period onshore for two weeks - 2 weeks on 2 weeks off, though 2 weeks on and 3 weeks off is becoming increasingly common. Those in drilling and exploration can spend longer offshore.
Downsides
You have to get on with your cabin mates. Work disagreements need to be patched up quickly. There are downsides. Living close together with you colleague's means you have to get on with everyone. Disagreements certainly need to be patched up quickly. Being away from your loved ones at home can also sometimes be a problem as can on occasion lead to divorce or break up.
Restrictions
Some other restrictions, in addition to the medical and survival;
- The minimum age for working offshore in the UK sector is 18.
- You are not allowed to travel offshore under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. This is strictly enforced at the heliport departure desk. It is not unknown for people to be denied travel offshore because their breath smells of alcohol. Additionally, some operators have provision for carrying out random drugs tests on potential travellers.
- There is a limit to how long you can spend offshore in any one trip. Most operators have a 21 day limit on this. After 21 days you must be onshore for 7 days before travelling offshore again.
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