03.04.2003

Training offshore

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has sponsored research and offered its full support to Drilling Systems UK for the development of a training simulator for offshore crane operators.

Jim MacFarlane, HM Inspector of Health & Safety, says that the ‘hands on’ simulator will be used to assess a crane operator’s reactions to a variety of emergency situations that can occur during actual offshore lifting operations.

“In this way, the operator can develop skills in a safe environment under the supervision of an instructor,” says MacFarlane. “It is intended that the simulator be used by suitable training organisations to help assess and improve the competency of offshore crane operators and other personnel who are involved with other aspects of lifting operations.”

The Krane SIM-6000 was launched at the 7th Offshore Cranes Conference in Aberdeen last year, following a ‘Key Programme of work’, launched by the HSE in 2001, of which the aim was ‘to reduce the number of offshore lifting and mechanical handling accidents and dangerous occurrences by 15 per cent over a three-year period’. A report published by Drilling Systems states that: “One element of this [the HSE’s programme] is to increase awareness of the issues and seek to improve and monitor the competence of personnel involved with offshore lifting operations, especially crane operators,” and that “traditional training courses cannot usually provide the type of operating conditions that may give rise to accidents if inappropriate actions are taken”.

Mathematical models are used to simulate of wide scope of operating variants, such as high winds, stormy seas, while the actual operating area is an offshore rig environment, comprising a semi-submersible, floating platform, from which the loading and unloading of containers, pipe racks, anchors, personnel baskets and chemical tanks and containers to or from moving vessels takes place.

The Krane SIM-6000 is based on a 65 tonne capacity, Kenz DHC 65/3500 O.S. diesel hydraulic crane because it was seen as typical of the rope luff crane designs used throughout the UK offshore sector.