Golden Rules for Marine Transfer

Expert in marine personnel transfer Reflex Marine has joined forces with Seacor Marine and Sparrows Offshore to create a set of ten 'Golden Rules' for the safe transit of employees in the offshore oil and gas industry.

The Golden Rules, which were developed following a process of detailed consultation, incorporate the experience and learning of the three companies derived from millions of safe crane transfers performed over more than ten years. It is hoped they will become recognised as a global standard in transfer best practice.

The Golden Rules are:

•             Understand your risks

•             Be familiar with your conditions

•             Know your vessel

•             Know your cranes

•             Know your transfer device

•             Be familiar with your crews

•             Plan your lift

•             If in doubt – stop

•             Recognise complex operations

•             Emergency planning

Reflex Marine CEO Philip Strong said: “Marine personnel transfer is one of the safest forms of offshore transit there is, but, while the helicopter industry has internationally recognised procedures, the marine industry currently does not. We, and our industry partners, felt it was time to share our best practice with the industry, to make crane transfers even more safe and to unify procedures globally. One of the most important issues is awareness of risks, as unless data is collated and shared, operators may be simply unaware of the issues they may face.

“It should also be recognised that each transfer situation is unique and should be assessed on its own merit. Prevailing weather and sea conditions need to be checked, a thorough understanding of the vessel, cranes and transfer device is essential, crews need to be properly trained, competent and adequately equipped.

“Thorough planning and clear communication to avoid collision and snagging hazards are important. Trial runs without passengers are an excellent way to build confidence where there are any doubts about safety.

“Finally, although there are hazards associated with crane transfers, they can also save lives, as they are an essential tool for managing emergencies and performing evacuations. Crane transfers should be integrated into emergency planning, with performance drills to confirm competence of personnel.

The Golden Rules video will be released to the public in April, links will be available on the websites of Reflex Marine and the other sponsoring companies.  The video will be released on an ‘open-source’ basis, to benefit all in the industry who perform such operations, regardless of supplier preferences.

Said Strong: “Our industry has a very good safety record, but by creating a widely applied guidance and standards across the globe we believe we can make it even safer. Between us we have produced a set of rules which we believe will do that.”