How to Get Offshore

With up to six months off every year, working offshore can seem an attractive option for many scaffolders. But before you reach for the pen to apply for your first offshore position, there are a number of important considerations.

People with a trade have a better chance of securing offshore work – so holding a scaffolding card is a given. As well as a CISRS COTS Course, you’ll need CISRS Part 1 & 2 scaffolder, NVQ level 2 and a CISRS skills test but as a minimum you must have a CISRS Basic Scaffolder’s card.

Mandatory training

To work offshore there are a number of mandatory safety certificates required by the oil and gas sector and approved by OPITO, the industry’s official training body.

First off, you’ll need a valid and in-date Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) medical certificate and a valid and in-date Fit to Train certificate. These certificates are prerequisites for basic training and show you’re medically fit to work in the offshore sector and OK to use an emergency breathing system (CA-EBS).

After that you’ll need the Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training certificate (BOSIET). This three-day course is compulsory for everyone working offshore and covers the specific safety issues and regimes on offshore installations, including travelling offshore by helicopter. During the course, you’ll learn how to deal with an emergency helicopter ditching and how to survive at sea, so be prepared to get wet! Anyone travelling by helicopter to an offshore installation, needs to have their shoulders formally measured by a specially trained person as seats are allocated according to size. If you don’t have your shoulder-width measured, you’re automatically classified as Extra Broad (XBR) which means you might not be allowed on certain flights, restricting your work opportunities.

In addition to a BOSIET, many offshore oil and gas operators require new entrants to have OPITO Minimum Industry Safety Training (MIST). This two-day training course provides the basic knowledge and understanding of the key safety elements of working offshore.

For those looking to work in the North Sea or in Norwegian waters, you’ll need a Norwegian Escape Chute course to learn how to use this particular evacuation system and an OPI- TO Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System (CA-EBS) certificate to show you are competent to use the CA-EBS system. For all these mandatory training courses expect to pay anywhere between £1,100 to £2,000 plus VAT. Most training companies bundle these into a package for you.

Top tips

Scooping your first offshore position can seem like a Catch 22 situation with many employers asking for existing offshore experience, as well as your certs, before they’ll take you on. Luck and timing can play a big part in success so make sure you contact recruiters regularly to make sure your name is high on their radar. Being successful can be as simple as being in the right place at the right time. The more course certificates you hold also pushes you up the pecking order, making you more employable.

The work

Depending on your employer and the platform, offshore shift patterns tend to be two weeks on, two weeks off or threeweek rotations. A typical day starts at 6am and finishes at 6pm and may include night-shifts as rigs operate 24 hours continuously. You’ll work in a gang of four and could be doing anything from towers to outboard and overside structures. Scaffolds tend to be more complex and take longer due to the demanding environment. As a scaffolder you should already have a head for heights but the distances offshore can be eye-watering with work often taking place 400 feet plus above sea level.

After your shift, you’ll hand over to the next team and enjoy some much-needed downtime. Oil platforms have everything from gyms to TV rooms, saunas and reading rooms with wi-fi commonplace, so there’s always plenty to do when you’re not working.

One of the biggest draws for offshore work is the amount of time off you get. Although day rates are generally slightly lower than onshore work, expect to earn between £40-£65k basic a year for six months work, giving you lots of quality time to spend with the family.

However, there can be a flip side and offshore life isn’t for everyone. Being away from friends and family for extended periods of time and living in close proximity to dozens of men can prove challenging for some. Just make sure you’re well aware of the pros and cons beforehand. SM