What is the minimum safe crewing level for a Work Class ROV

[James McLauchlan]

The full question was:

What is the – minimum – safe crewing level for a Work Class ROV system – 24hr Ops?

There is a poll running, on that very question, to left hand side of the main website.

What surprises me is that some people (in fact 7 out of 49 votes so far) have voted for 2 persons.

I fail to see how two people can operate a work class ROV for 12hrs without compromising safety at some point in a shift/trip. Just launching and recovering, with only 2 people on shift, must surely raise some safety issues.

Anyone feel differently?

[Scott Beveridge]

I’ll friggin’ put a stop card on that one! What drugs are these ops. / proj. mgrs. on now????

[Savante]

I’m one of those tw"ts James…. sorry I didn’t read the question properly.

I worked panthers last year with only one other guy on shift – running 12 hour shifts. We had exception on recovery and deployment using up to 2 AB’s from the vessel.

It was hard work especially for keeping up with maintenance on a leaky vehicle or getting meals, but it did work after a fashion. But then again, panther is more of an inspection kite with a pish manip. It was not my preferred method of operation though by any stretch of the imagination and paperwork was a total bugger. We definately felt like we’d been tossed into the meat-grinder by the end and earnt our dollars.

24 hour ops, we ran two groups of two. I didn’t so much as sleep off-shift as wait with closed eyes……

[Stephen Black]

It depends on what the job is and what type of LARS system you have

I have done plenty of Drill rig support jobs with a LARS that needs 1 person to put the entire system overthe side. I have also worked on Eyeball jobs where the Garage was not much smaller than a small work class ROV and operated by 2 people per shift

I have also worked on plenty of systems where you need serveral people to land the ROV on deck

It realy depends on the equipment you have got to work with. Look at modern day plans and how they no longer need the 1/2 the flight deck crew as say 25 years ago

[AssWhole]

❓

[Anonymous]

According NORSOK standard that will be:

Manning level
The system manning level shall be based on the planned tasks and duties that are required to perform the
work.
The manning levels for basic ROV operations are:
12 h/ 24 h
Class I system 2/ 4
Class II system 2/ 4
Class III systems 3/ 6
Class IV systems (trencher) 4/ 8
Furthermore, job specific requirements may demand additional crew members due to
requirements for maintenance and repair of additional tooling packages,
specialised personnel for operating temporary sensors and equipment,
overall offshore management of ROV operations,
maintenance of eventual stand-by systems.
Sufficient, qualified personnel shall be allocated for scheduled maintenance work that shall take place
outside the operational team’s normal working hours.

[Rons_ROV_Links]

What is the – minimum – safe crewing level for a Work Class ROV system – 24hr Ops?

Depends on the size of the control container… 😉

For operating a vehicle, 2 persons per shift should be enough.
During launch/recovery operations you might need a 3rd person.

[Scott Beveridge]

Then there’s the companies that have 2 systems and one 3 man crew (or less)…. Doesn’t the maintenance schedule fall behind??? Or what about the crews disciplines / trade? Do they possess: 1 x electrical / electronic guy, 1 x hydraulic guy, and 1 x supv. that has both trades (one usually learned on the job)? Safety: working w/high volts and high pressure hyd….. Hmmmm, better to have 4 eyes on the ROV when doing either deck checks and / or maintaining / repairing either….

[James McLauchlan]

First off it’s a work class system. Invariably that means it’s a hydraulic/electric system with two manips and all the bangs and whistles on the sensor front. Just looking after that little lot is enough to keep two people busy, let alone operate it for 12 hrs on a daily basis.

Other than the typical issue of maintenance which, if carried out badly or was lacking in some respects could create safety issues, there is one of simple operational safety.

I would suggest that there should always be two competent people with the system (shack/workshop area)at all times when the ROV is carrying out operations subsea.

Anyone agree or disagree with that?

[Scott Beveridge]

James,

I agree with that 100%…

[James McLauchlan]

The Fugro Egypt ROV manager and the Fugro Aberdeen ROV manager at the time, just said that they could not find anyone to man-up and we had to just get on with it and stop moaning! 😯
The Supervisor quit not long after that – (no loss IMHO) 🙁

This one gets to me every time. An onshore ROV manager who does not suffer any extra work load nor compromises his safety simply turns around and says: they could not find anyone to man-up and we had to just get on with it and stop moaning

Running work class system with 2 people when normal manning is accepted as three is not acceptable.

It is never a case of not being able to get anyone. It is only ever a case of not being able to get anyone for the rate being offered. Offer £1500/day rate and I’m sure the slot would have been filled instantly! That’s never going to happen but, between the day rate they feel is enough and the one I mentioned, there is a compromise that would have filled the slot. So rather than pay a little more to keep the show running smoothly they would rather not bother and simply put pressure on the people offshore to solve a problem they created in the name of profit.

So the next time onshore management tells you they cannot get anyone think about that. Because it will be you covering them to ensure that they make more profit for the company at your expense.

[Scott Beveridge]

The simple way out… And scapegoat – they just love to use the "Fickle Finger of Blame". 🙄 🙄

[Andy Shiers]

I’ll put my one pence worth in 😀
Minimum three per shift
That’s medium workclass included ( Panthers or any vehicle for that matter doing a workclass job )
Trainees sometimes but not all the time.
Small vehicle – two men , Trainee on platform inspection extra.
🙂

[tinchicken]

The question was minimum ‘SAFE’ manning level not what cheapskate companies or dingbat managers think they can get away with.

Surely to safely man a workclass ROV you need three guys per twelve hour shift. One guy should not be left on his own at any point. Meals/toilet breaks etc alone dictate that this means three.

I note the remarks about Fugro and have to say that no they have not improved, certainly not in the Middle East anyway. It is pretty much the norm that they will send a supervisor (not always a true supervisor) on a job and make up the rest of the crew with trainees, often with no technical or offshore experience at all. Trainees (whom I have nothing against) should be extras not part of the core crew. To get round this problem with clients they have createed pt 3 & 4’s. Does safety cross their mind when doing this???????

Getting a relief is another matter entirely and as jamesmc wrote just because they dont want to pay the going rate not because there isnt anybody

[liddelljohn]

for a full workclass machine with hydraulic/electrical systems 3 men is minimum to keep all things tiptop and safe.

There is no excuse for not being able to man up …..there are plenty of competant agency guys available at short notice …I did 3 such short notice call outs this year with no problems , the Ops managers are being stingy and maybe careeless if they cant get the crew levels safe and sorted …okay maybe visas might be a issue on some jobs …but thats bad planning if they cannot think ahead .

some eyeballs it OK for 2 man crew .

jerry

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