ROV Course

[EADC]

Hi all,

Has anyone done the ROV Course that’s run at Challenger TAFE in Fremantle, West Aust? I’m looking at getting into the industry and have the pre-requisite trade quals and experience in electrical/electronics, and am obviously considering doing the course.
How did you find the course and its content, and is it worthwhile doing? Do companies in Aust prefer you to have this course under your belt before they employ you? I have emailed a few companies in Perth regarding this and had a reply from one of them saying that having the trade quals plus the course is the best way to get into the industry.
Any feedback would be great.
Cheers lads.

[Christopher Tyson]

I’m not being sarcastic, but how about using Google to find out some info about the course first?

OK,… I’ve done it for you.

http://www.challengertafe.wa.edu.au/scripts/viewarticle.asp?NID=5012

There’s FAQ, course outline, and contact email for Bill Evans.

Good luck.

[EADC]

Cheers for that red but I’ve got all that info myself and have emailed Bill a few times already.
Just wondering what people that have done the course think of it.

[Hot Stab]

Hi EADC

Yes mate I did the course, and from the course, I got a job and travel the world.

The course in Fremantle is only a introduction to ROV’s. If you have never seen one, then it will familierise you with whats involved, safety, electrical, hydraulics and fibre optics.
Once you have done the course, you are not a ROV ledgend and walk straight into the job.

However what is different to the course’s I believe in other parts of the world, are
1/ You must have a electrical, electronics, hydraulic or mechancal trade.
2/ Your CV is handed around to about 5 different ROV companies and they grade you. The top 8 people are accepted onto the course.

This ROV course does not guarantee you a job, however five ROV companies have looked at your CV and graded you highly.
The ROV companies in Australia wanted TAFE to run this course, therefore they are going to back it up. This is why it is a pre-requisite to have a electrical/ mechanical trade because the ROV companies dont want bricklayers, accountants etc doing the course and waving the ROV course ticket saying give me a job when they have no suitable experience.

The course is a bit pricey, however one trip away does pay for it. The course also includes your HUET ticket.

At the end of the course, things went a bit slow, Bill was great in helping us get interviews, but there was no work. I was ringing around a bit with promises here and there, but still nothing.
Then it all just happened, they didnt want me in a week they wanted me yesterday. Before I knew it I was on a plane, travelling overseas to my 1st ROV job.
After a few trips the company had me flying to other parts of the world to do more specfic training.

The ROV industry is very healthy at the moment. The company Im working for ( and I beleive all ROV companies ) is very short on personnel.

Im currently overseas at the moment and not in Oz, however send me a private message if you want more info.

All the best

Hotstab

[EADC]

Thanks heaps for that Hot Stab, that all really helps.
By doing some research on the course I thought it looked pretty good, it’s just good to hear positive feedback on the course from someone who has done it and is now working in the industry.
Cheers for taking the time out to write, I’m still doing my research on the industry so if I’ve got any more questions I’ll drop you a line.

Thanks mate,
EADC.

[marley]

EADC, there is a new course started in Newfoundland, Canada at a place called the Marine Institute, a division of Memorial University of Newfoundland. Its approx 7 mths long and heard that it is quite crediable.
Appears that your have the required entry requirements. Bit pricey though, think around 15 to 18000cdn. This includes the offshore survival and some other courses. The first class graduates soon.

[EADC]

Thanks for that marley, I appreciate your input.
The course run in Fremantle is a bit closer to home for me mate!
All the best.

[ROVH]

If you have the right backgrround then dont rush out and spend your own money.

Companies are desperate at the moment so hunt round send cvs and tailor your experience.

You will be much better off getting on with a firm that will train you – and get you sent out – the money might not be dayrate porn star wages but it wont be far off and you wont get the run around.

offer some onshore time – they all need guys in base it might be a start.

some firms arnt keen on outside training, and its a lot of cash.

Good luck

[EADC]

Thanks ROVH,
Yeah I’ve been thinking about that a fair bit myself cause I’ve read quite a few posts from people on various forums here saying don’t do any ROV courses.
From what I can gather the industry in Aust seems slightly different as the ROV companies over here seem to support the course run at Fremantle(as mentioned by Hotstab and also on the Challenger TAFE website). I also read a post by Flybywire on another forum saying that the company he works for in Aust recruits trainees directly off the Fremantle course.
Correct me if I’m wrong here fellas, or if you’ve had any different experiences working for an Aussie company.
As you and many others have mentioned the main thing is to have the right trade background, and I do have the electrical/electronics experience.
Thanks for your advice mate, I’m definately taking it all on board.
Cheers!

[afternoon1440]

Hi Mate,

I have been very interested in your thread.
At the moment I’m looking for a way into the ROV industry and have come to the same conclusions as you.
I was told by a HR person here in Perth that you need to do the course before they’ll look at you.
I have an electronics back ground and have spent a lot of time installing and servicing computer systems for the shipping industry.
Keep an eye on the TAFE web-site as they update it often. I was planing to apply for the November intake but it has been cancelled.
More time to think about the future.

See Ya

[Sean]

G’day EADC,

Hotstab has given a pretty good summary of the course at Challenger TAFE in Fremantle.

Worth emphasising a few of the points made by hotstab:

The selection process is based on industry response to your pre-course CV/Resume. Bill is adament that he will only put individuals on the course if there is good positive feedback on their CV’s.

It is also true that all ROV companies with offices in Perth, Western Australia, look for new personnel who have done this course.

Bill is very pro-active in providing plenty of support for students and (in my own experience) that includes on going support for those who choose to keep in touch with him.

There is much divided opinion on the worth of this course. Although the demand for pilots (at least in Australasia) is so critical that people with the right technical backgrounds can get into this industry without doing such a course as that provided by Challenger TAFE, the course is recognised and is a great first step in the right direction for new pilot techs.
That you’re also prepared to fork out a reasonable amount of your own hard earned cash ($7350AUD last time I looked) is a good indicator to prospective employers that you’re fair-dinkum about an ROV career.

If people doubt the value of this course or how seriously ROV Companies credit this course it is worth noting that Challenger TAFE has recently installed a BRAND NEW Triton XL simulator.
At a cost in excess of $500,000AUD, this simulator was provided by one of the ROV companies.

I did the Challenger TAFE course back in January this year. At the end of the course I knew that Bill had sent my "updated" resume out to all his industry contacts.
This didn’t mean sit at home and wait for the phone to ring, but I did an immediate follow up to this (as Bill provided contact lists to students).
I haven’t been out of work since, and have enjoyed a good cross section of work that has included vessels large and small (5m to 92m), semi-subs and jack-ups.

Could I have got into ROV from last job (ex RAAF AVTECH) without the ROV course? Probably, but I personally think it was worth the effort, and would recommend it to potential newcomers.
Besides, I got the money back and then some from the first gig offshore.
Can’t do better than that.

Kind regards (from somewhere in the Timor Sea),
S

[EADC]

Thanks Phoenix79.

From everything you and Hotstab have told me, I’m definately going to apply for the course next year. Thanks for all your info, really appreciate it mate.
I’m an Army AVTECH myself, so its good to see that you’ve been able to get into the industry with the type of quals we hold. And I bet it’s nice and humid for you up in the Timor Sea! I’ve spent a bit of time up in that area over the years too.

All the best,
EADC.

[muhbae]

dear all,
😳 im new employe for indonesian oil contractor,..
maybe if there is possibilty, my company will send me to take rov course.
i have electrical & pnuematics background..

but, im still confidentless…

so if there is any sugestion for me, what must i learn most?

sorry for my writing, if there is many mistake..

thank you

[wecanfixit]

Hello good people’s

Hope you are all out there earning lots of spondula, peso’s, rupia, $, UKP, peanuts!!!

Have been away so long had to re-register, those B@#tards in white coats had me stuffed away for too long.

Now to the topic,

All these new schools popping up all over the place, still undecided if its a good thing or bad but not really for me to say.
I have worked with guys/gals who have come from several of the ‘known established’ schools with mixed results. I think alot of it comes down to previous background and attitude.
Anyway for all those out there is the land of the warm weather, cold SMB and lovely little brown fillies and those who want to be there, there is a new mob in Singapore running a ROV training school/centre. Apparently according to my sources just finished its first course and is looking at getting some more Wannabe rovers for courses next year.
The mob are a well established ROV services company Cynergetix in Singa’s. According to a good mate of mine they seem to be doing the right thing and promoting the course as an introduction to ROV’s and not telling lies like being endorsed by IMCA of claiming to make Nobodies into Supertechs in 3 easy steps/weeks.
They have a Perry XLS Simulator to give the kiddies some understanding of how a WROV flys around and goes about its business with different senarios in the programme.
I like many other who have been around for the odd year or 20 feel that on the job experience is the best way to become familiar with the job, but in saying this the industry needs guys especially with something like 62 ROV construction/survey vessels being thrust upon us in the next 3 years and if I for one can get some guys out who have even 3 weeks of ROV awarness then it has to be better than a complete numpty who can not even start the Black box.

For all those wanting to do a ROV course and unload a small fortune and can not decide who to give it apart from giving it to me cause I’m happy to take your money and show what an ROV is, you might want to check out this mob, maybe not as much fun as doing it in Flippo but I think its a little more proffessionaly run and all the players are in Sing’s after you do the course so you can go and see them once you have done the course.

www,cynergetix.com I think their website is being updated to include links to the training centre and to reflect the other aspects of the company as they have also recently become part of the Triton group who own Perry, Sub Atlantic, UKPS etc……

[ozsub]

Wecanfixit, you old dog thought you had dropped dead or one of those 6 ex wifes finally got you!!!

You are right about Cynergetix they do have a new training centre I have seen it and its been well set up, Credit to Cynergetix and co, from my understanding from talking to them they are giving guys an opertunity to get an awareness of what happens offshore giving them a basic understanding of different facits of the industry, a couple of days on fibres, electronics, hydraulics, and yes they have a XLS simulator which is not the real thing but does give newbies a chance to see what goes on and at least let them get familiar with a Perry control panel if nothing else.

They have a really good hydraulic test cart and being a services company the ‘kiddies’ can go down to the workshop and see ongoing projects that cynergetix is involved with with regard to tooling gear repairs and fabrication. They have a couple of different arms T4 and Preditor so one extreme to the other that they can have a chance to use along with an array of other things donated from companies and aquired from the Newly formed Triton group.

Im no fan of guys who have come from training schools as they come out seeming to be experts having done a 3, 4, or 6 week course and a log book that says they have X amount of piloting hours, but these guys seem to be doing things right so far, time will tell when we start to see the product out on the job with us.

As you say wecanfixit, training is needed with all the newbuilds on the way and if a couple of guys in the Philippines who dont want to go offshore but still need to pay their bar bill/fine can start a school then why not a company who has the backing of a big group with real input to the industry on a ongoing basis!
All wannabe’s if you want to part with your money these guys might be worth a look, and as the big man said you are right in Singas where all the big players are and Cynergetix deals with them all on a daily basis with their main concern, which is Services to all these companies, tooling rental, design and sales, Perry agent for the region and Sub Atlantic, so they might be helpful to place guys.

Worth looking into if nothing else.

Cynergetix if you are reading this, I’ll be expecting beer and lots of it

[Author]

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