Summary
Millions of crew transfers take place each year, and whether they are by
boat or helicopter, this remains one of the most high-risk activities in
offshore operations. Although the safety of crane transfers compares favorably
with other methods of crew supply, incidents and associated litigations are not
infrequent.
Why does such an apparently simple operation go wrong? One reason is a lack
of recognition of the true risks. Operators go to great lengths to improve the
safety of helicopter operations, while marine transfers rarely get a second
thought. The underlying objective, however, remains the same: to move personnel
to and from their place of work in a safe, cost-effective, and reliable
manner.
This paper looks at the real risks, the root causes, of recorded incidents
and outlines how transfers can be made safer. Risk can be managed in two
ways:
- Engineered protection. A modern car provides a secure environment that can
protect passengers from impacts. A transfer device can do the same and guard
against the inevitable human factors that contribute to the majority of
incidents.
- Improved operational control. Procedures, pre-lift planning,
communications, and training can all play a significant role in reducing
risk.
The paper also describes how analysis of past incidents led to the
development of improved equipment and operating practices. Considerable focus
was given to human factors to prevent minor misjudgments, for example by a
crane operator or a vessel skipper, leading to serious incidents.
After 10 years working with enhanced systems and after millions of safe
transfers, the author explains why serious transfer incidents are not an
inevitable feature of offshore life. Modest investments and changes in
operational practices have provided many operators with a dual benefit of safer
operations and reduced downtime.
Finally, the author takes a look at the future of offshore crew supply,
providing details of a groundbreaking new project that will utilize a
state-of-the-art high-speed catamaran and newly developed transfer system. This
will be the first time that a vessel and transfer system have been custom-built
to provide swift, comfortable, and safe transfers to offshore installations.
The system, developed for the new Crewzer Class of vessel, is due to be
commissioned in the Gulf of Mexico in late 2007.
Introduction
Over the past few years, operators have become increasingly aware that the
movement of personnel is one of the highest risk activities associated with
offshore operations ("Safety Performance" 2006; Hart 2005). The
emergence of new equipment and operational philosophies are leading many
industry professionals to take a fresh look at their crew supply options and
associated risks, efficiencies, and costs.
A lack of good data relating to marine activity and incidents continues to
be an impediment, although awareness of this issue is now increasing in the
industry.
This paper outlines how a group of transfer specialists compiled their own
database in order to evaluate the root causes of past incidents. Their analysis
indicated there had been an overreliance on human responses and suggests that
improved equipment and operational controls could reduce this reliance. The
paper describes the approach taken to develop a safer transfer solution. It
also looks at how one vessel operator plans to introduce a completely new
approach to marine transfers and has custom-designed a vessel specifically for
the purpose of providing safer and more efficient personnel transfers.
© 2008. Society of Petroleum Engineers
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History
- Original manuscript received:
16 January 2007
- Meeting paper published:
5 March 2007
- Revised manuscript received:
28 September 2007
- Manuscript approved:
7 December 2007
- Version of record:
15 June 2008
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