Electronic, Electrical or Hydraulic

[Wump]

Hi

Some of you may remember that I am looking to get into the ROV industry but do not have the relevant background at the moment to apply for jobs.

Can the kind people on the forums give me their opinions on which would be the best way to go? I have been trying to workk-out which is the best thing to do and here are some of my options so far:

a) ROV/Electronics course, e.g: the underwater centre at FW (apparently Subsea7 now use this place exclusively to train their ROV guys

b)HNC in electrical engineering, electronics, hydraulics etc

Thing is if I were to go the HNC route it will take 2 years as opposed to 7weeks. In addition there will be lots of non ROV relevant stuff taught in the HNC/HND

Which of the HNC courses is most relevant for an ROV pilot? Electronic, electrical or Hydraulics?

Many thanks in advance, looking forward to your opinions!

Wump

[temp]

wump

Probably better off doing an HNC – opens up possibilities of going into many other jobs and industry sectors, including of course ROV. However an HNC course at a tech college, while useful and almost a pre-requesite for applying for many technician-level jobs nowadays, does not actually contain a huge amount of practical work in itself. For that an actual company traineeship/apprenticeship with structured practical technical training, in addition to the college qualifications is probably a better combination, if you can get it.

A short ROV induction course is only of any use for just that, and even then the one that you mention is demonstrably not actually much use for its stated purpose! Expensive and no guarantee of a ROV job at end of it if self-funding and not sent on it by a company taking you on as a trainee.

As for what (HNC etc) subject, well I would have thought the most important criteria is that you study a technical subject which actually interests you and that you have a natural aptitude for, and will enjoy doing a job in that area. You can get combination courses (called ‘mechatronics’ or something like that).
If the prospect of 2 years at college and not earning is not feasible, you can do a distance learning HNC (web-link below), which includes some practical tutorials and support etc., whilst still working and earning at another job.

http://www.colu.co.uk

temp

[Ray Shields]

Wump,

SClub7 are exclusively sending all their guys to Fort William? Ah well lets see how many subs they lose in their first 6 months offshore 😆

I’m a bit behind what qualifications are what these days – and Scottish system is different from English one – but what you could do is do individual NVQs (SVQs in Scotland) which, if you do the appropriate core units plus a series of other ones, something like 12 units total. Once you have them, you can then apply for an overall HNC certificate.

That way, you can do smaller units when you have the time/money, while still working or looking for work. I got my HNC in Electrical/Electronics that way over 5 years.

Get in touch with local colleges or online ones and see what is available.

[Wump]

Hi Ray/Temp!

Thankyou for replying!

Apparently so Ray yes. I am awaiting some paperwork I requested from FW Uwater centre as they say 62 of the 64 candidates last year were employed within around 3 months of doing the ROV/Electronics course. I have asked for evidence of this but nothing yet!..hmm

Thats basically what I am thinking at the moment, have the skinny on an electronics HNC distance learning course but since I have no idea what modules are relevant then I cannot ‘tailor’ the course specifically to ROV work! thankyou for the link Temp! will take a look

Not sure how i go about getting this info, called a couple of companies that employ ROV pilots but none would help me in terms of what is the most relevant stuff to learn. mechatronics, sounds interesting.

Many thanks

Wump

[Wump]

Hi Temp

I checked out the link you gave me and some of the modules look very good, looks like a great idea actually. 😀

Prob I am having though is also: Do I train in normal electrical stuff including domestic so I have something to fall back on when the ROV ind go’s quiet or do I go the whole hog and just do units like mechatronics, fault finding, maintenance, hydraulics etc? tough one.

Many thanks

Wump

[Andy Shiers]

Go electronic / electrical Wump , The hydraulics you will pick up along the way , unless you are a complete muppet which by the sounds of things you aint 😯 the mechanics is just common sense with a bit of offshore knowledge
Good luck 😀

[Anonymous]

try and get a job without doing the course at fw, it will cot you lots of dough,
if a company wants you they wont care if you have been to fw or not

knock on doors and get on the phone, thats how i would do it,
(did it 10 years ago) 😉

but lost boy is bang on, if you have electronics its a big help

[TheBaron]

WUMP: Thing is if I were to go the HNC route it will take 2 years as opposed to 7weeks. In addition there will be lots of non ROV relevant stuff taught in the HNC/HND

That’s not a good way of looking at the value of a HNC/HND with regards to ROV’s. It is ALL relevant, I’m afraid.
The ‘ROV courses’ are akin to get-rich-quick schemes you see advertised in tabloids. Yes, somebody does get rich quickly………but it ain’t you! What they can provide is a very gereral overview of what goes on offshore; about the same amount of info you would pick-up in a day or two offshore.

[Ray Shields]

The ROV training courses are comparible with an intensive Driving course. You can turn up having never seen a car in your life, learn to drive and pass your test in 2 weeks.

Does that mean you are a fully competent driver, or even just a competent one??

Peanuts – meet monkeys.

OK, dont do a full 2 year full time HNC, do individual NVQs or modules while you continue to work.

[Andy Shiers]

Interesting equation there , Ray ,
Peanuts meets monkies 😀

[Ray Shields]

Well, thats it.

You cannot expect to have enough knowlege or experience from doing a short few weeks course compared to a 2 year course. You get what you pay for.

OK, the FW course is not enough on its own, and the 2 year HNC is maybe too much to get you started.

As long as people realise there is no such thing as a shortcut. Im not saying Wump is trying to do it too quickly, he is asking for people advice. And I feel the best advice is to do some vocational qualifications such as NVQs etc. rather than doing the Fort William (or any other similar ROV training course) but agree that spending 2 odd years on an HNC is maybe more than is needed (as a minimum that is – obviously an HNC would be better).

[Northseahero]

I disagree with the direction this industry is heading in.

Originally, when I came into the ROV industry you had to have a trade, either Mechanical or Electrical, and correct me if I am wrong but this is still what IMCA promotes.

I know the industry needs people at the moment, but to fill it with people who have come off 2 – 4 week in house training courses is not the way to go.

If companies were prepared to pay the money, then they would attract good trade qualified personel.

[Mike Kidd]

If i get a trainee, i want someone who is pro-active, will look for work when its quiet. understands that there is not a RS components or MOD store that has every spare part ever made.
The best guys from the forces in general and this is only from my experience seem to come from the navy especially the artificers, these guys generally are able to weld, do a bit of fitting and turning and can make n mend. RAF tend to be a bit more specialised.
If someone new joins my spread i would prefer a jack of all trades with a indentured apprentiship from heavy industry, the intricisies of ROV engineering and piloting can be learnt but you need a good base to build from.

[crusty]

so wump are you asking what course you can do over the next few months so you can sell yourself as an electrical or hydraulic specialist?
I think electrical/electronic is the go, hydraulic stuff you can pick up out there, better to do some hydraulic study as well, but burns up a bit of your time off
still think you should be a tradesman to start in ROV

[mickfromwestoz]

Hi All

I’m fortunate in that I may be working as a trainee ROV pilot/tech soon.
I was an RAAF radio tech and also did an Associate Diploma of Engineering(Electronics). I’m starting to learn a bit more of the hydraulics side but I can’t find any technical info on ROV systems tin general that would help me when I start working. I’ve seen ROV books however I may be going offshore next week and they’re not availabale in Perth (Aust), is there anything available that i can download that doesn’t cost a fortune – I’ve got a lot of brochures and sales stuff but I’m after technical info so that I have a better understanding before I go.

If anyone could help that would be muchly appreciated.

Thanks for your help. 😆 😀

Mick

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