Walk to work systems as an enabler of reduced maintenance and manning
David B. McCarthyGranherne Australia, Level 15, 300 Murray Street, Perth, WA 6000, Australia. Email: David.McCarthy@Granherne.com
The APPEA Journal 59(2) 799-802 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ18110
Accepted: 4 April 2019 Published: 17 June 2019
Abstract
Recent technological advances in the areas of personnel transfers and remote operations have opened opportunities for new and existing facilities to move towards minimum manning operating philosophies. This paper will discuss the benefits and challenges of moving from a permanently manned model with helicopter transfers to an unmanned or minimally manned facility with vessel-based support and walk to work transfers. Potential impact on manning and accommodation philosophy will be addressed, focusing on an operator’s typical decision criteria, including: workability of transfer operations; emergency response capability; maintenance workload; health, safety and environment risk; marine support vessel requirements; and compliance with safety regulations. While assessments can be made of each operating philosophy change in isolation – reduced manning, remote operations and personnel transfer method – this paper will seek to address a holistic approach potentially providing greater impact than the sum of each change. This is possible through the interdependence of manning, life support system requirements and maintenance workload; reduced manning allows reduced number and complexity of systems, which reduces maintenance workload and, in turn, further reduces manning requirements, potentially allowing a step change in operating and manning philosophy to one of a not normally manned with vessel-based accommodation.
Keywords: equipment rationalisation, individual risk, not normally manned, operating costs, OPEX, potential loss of life, safety, transfers, vessel-based accommodation.
David McCarthy, Principal Marine Engineer, Granherne Pty Ltd, Perth, Australia. After graduating from the University of Western Australia (UWA) with an Honours Degree in Civil Engineering and Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and IT Applications, David has spent 16 years in the offshore oil and gas industry. During that time he has completed a Graduate Certificate in Oil and Gas Engineering at UWA, lectured at UWA, and been recognised as a Chartered Engineer with the Engineering Council with membership of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. David’s career has been based primarily in Perth and London across naval architecture, offshore installation, structural engineering, field development planning and project delivery roles, with projects covering concept development through to detailed design, delivery and installation. His work has taken him to the UK, USA, Canada, The Netherlands, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and South Korea. |
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