What are accommodation barges?
Accommodation Barges are vessels designed to accommodate work personnel and crew with a degree of comfort and safety, It is usually fully fitted with equipment to undertake a variety of offshore tasks.
Some of these tasks include :
- lodging
- dining
- leisure space for workers
To know more about accommodation barges, check out our article about them here.
What is it like to live on an offshore oil rig?
It’s difficult to comprehend what it’s like to live and work on an open-air rig in the middle of the ocean, yet many people find it appealing.
On UK offshore oil and gas rigs, over 26,000 people are employed, largely off the east coast of England and Scotland.
Because of a skills deficit and an ageing workforce, it’s an attractive profession for school leavers and graduates, but what’s it like to work on a rig?
How to Get There
Offshore survival and emergency training, generally a three-day course, is provided before leaving for the rig, preparing for the perilous circumstances ahead.
The only route onto the rig is via a 45-60 minute helicopter trip over the open ocean.
Patterns of Work
Rigs are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The usual working schedule is two weeks on, two weeks off, or two weeks on, three weeks off for some higher-level professions.
Typical shifts are 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
Even if you have two weeks off every month, the hours mount up over the course of a year, this working pattern entails working about 400 hours more than a 9-5 job.
Living Conditions
Many rigs house about 200 people who live and work on board, and the interiors resemble a mix of a hotel and an office.
Cabins are communal, with 2-4 people per room and shared bathrooms.
All cooking and cleaning are taken care of for you, and meals and snacks are provided by a cafeteria.
Modern rigs frequently feature gaming areas, gyms, and theatres, among other amenities.
Making Contact with Family and Friends
Workers could only phone home once a week for 6 minutes before the existence of the internet
Although cell phones are frequently restricted and phone signal is scarce, most rigs now offer wifi for social media, and emails on tablets and computers.
Salary
You’ll be highly compensated if you can cope with being away from family and friends, have the proper attitude and temperament for sharing living quarters, and have the necessary talents.
Graduate jobs typically start at £30,000, with an average salary of £65,000, more than double the national average.
Occupations on accommodation barges
Work as a Barge Worker falls under the category of Sailors and Marine Oilers, which is a larger professional group.
This information will generally apply to all occupations in this category, although it may or may not apply particularly to this job title.
What do sailors and marine oilers do?
As instructed by the captain, mate, or pilot, keep a lookout for
- impediments in the vessel’s route,
- gauge water depth
- turn the bridge wheel
- or utilise emergency equipment.
Cargo-handling equipment, stationary rigging, and running gear should be separated, rigged, overhauled, and stored.
Performing a variety of maintenance activities is to keep the ship’s painted surface in good condition and to keep the line and ship equipment in good working order.
When operating onboard liquid-carrying boats, you must have government-issued certification and tankerman certification. There are two types of seafarers, which are competent seamen and ordinary seamen.
Sailors and marine oilers also have tasks such as
- Splice and repair ropes, wire cables, or cordage, using marlinespikes, wire cutters, twine, and hand tools.
- Handle lines to moor vessels to wharves, tie up vessels to other vessels, or rig towing lines.
- Break out, rig, and stow cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging, or running gear.
- Examine machinery to verify specified pressures or lubricant flows.
- Relay specified signals to other ships, using visual signalling devices, such as blinker lights or semaphores.
- Record data in ships’ logs, such as weather conditions or distances travelled.
- Stand by wheels when ships are on automatic pilot, and verify accuracy of courses, using magnetic compasses.
- Steer ships under the direction of commanders or navigating officers or direct helmsmen to steer, following designated courses.
- Load or unload materials, vehicles, or passengers from vessels.
- Attach hoses and operate pumps to transfer substances to and from liquid cargo tanks.
- Overhaul lifeboats or lifeboat gear and lower or raise lifeboats with winches or falls.
- Measure the depth of water in shallow or unfamiliar waters, using leadlines, and telephone or shout depth information to vessel bridges.
Barge certification
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) offers the marine sector classification, technical, and regulatory services.
ABS creates safety regulations, guidelines, standards, and other criteria for the design, building, and survey of all materials, equipment, and machinery used in maritime vessels and constructions.
ABS then accredits businesses that provide services related to safety systems and equipment, such as
- measurements
- testing
- maintenance
Additionally, through a technical examination and audit of manufacturing conformity, ABS certifies specific materials, components, products, and systems utilised on the boats.
ABS is made of
- Surveyors
- engineers
- researchers
- regulatory experts
The International Association of Classification and ABS personnel establish the rules, guidelines, and standards, which are then authorised by committees made up of people involved in the global maritime sector as well as
- naval architects
- marine engineers
- shipbuilders
- engine builders
- steelmakers
Conclusion
In conclusion, we have discussed what is an accommodation barge as well as what is it like living on an offshore oil rig.
We also talked about occupations on accommodation barges as well as barge certifications.
These are everything you need to know about accommodation barges.
Business Director
A graduate (Business) from KDU, Jason Tan, is the current Business Director (Sales) for MGS Icestorm and has been associated with the company for the past 10 years.
With over 13 years in the shipping industry, he has had a significant contribution to Malaysia’s oil and gas industry in the engine and boat supply sector.
His expertise includes managing offshore catering business, offshore reefer containers, AI technology, offshore gas tanks, A60 pressurized cabins, etc. His contributions have helped establish MGS, in partnership (joint venture) with Thermo King and Honeywell to produce state of art Offshore Reefer Container products.