6 Specialized Training and Qualifications of Key Personnel

  6.1 General

  6.1.1 Every MOU should have sufficient key persons on board possessing the knowledge, qualifications, skills and experience necessary to ensure the safe operation of the MOU. It is recognized that the nature of MOUs and their operations necessitate the consideration of specialized training and qualifications. The Administration should determine the adequacy of the knowledge, qualifications, skills and experience of the personnel assigned the responsibility for essential safety and pollution prevention functions on the basis of the design, type, size, and operating parameters of each MOU. Administrations are invited to consider the essential functions listed below in determining the necessary knowledge, qualifications, skills and experience for key personnel.

  6.1.2 For personnel with STCW certificates, additional guidance on meeting the training requirements that are specified in this section is provided in appendix 2. The recommendations provided in appendix 2 are subject to the approval of the Administration.

  6.2 Offshore installation manager (OIM)

  6.2.1 The essential safety and pollution prevention functions for which the OIM is responsible and the related knowledge, competencies and qualifications required will depend on the type of MOU and its mode of operation:

• .1 The person in charge should be well acquainted with the characteristics, capabilities and limitations of the MOU and should have a full knowledge of the organization and actions to take in an emergency and the need to conduct and keep records of emergency drills and training; and

• .2 Persons delegated by him should possess the capability to maintain and operate all firefighting equipment and life-saving appliances on board the MOU and be able to train others in these activities.

  6.2.2 Subject to the more precise indications given in table 6.1, which relates to the training, knowledge, skill and competency requirements for particular types of MOUs, it is considered necessary for the proper discharge of the essential safety and pollution prevention functions assigned to the OIM for the OIM to have knowledge, experience and demonstrated competence in each of the following matters:

• .1 stability and construction:

  • .1 the general principles of construction;

  • .2 the static and dynamic stability of floating MOUs; theory and factors affecting trim and stability; measures to preserve safe trim and stability, including sufficient knowledge of stability calculations and the use of stability booklets; also the relationship with the regulatory requirements in respect of the stability curves for operating and survival conditions, taking into account the effect of the environmental conditions prevailing;

  • .3 the effect on the trim and stability of a floating MOU in the event of damage to, and consequential flooding of, any compartment; counter-measures to be taken; knowledge of the principle and importance of maintaining the watertight integrity of the MOU; procedures for maintaining watertight integrity;

  • .4 loading supplies and ballasting in order to keep the unit's stresses within acceptable limits;

  • .5 principal structural members and required periodical inspections; basic knowledge of the effects of welding; effects of corrosion on the structure;

  • .6 the effect of the mooring system on stability; and

  • .7 preloading and leg reaction stresses on self-elevating MOUs;

• .2 station-keeping, mooring and dynamic positioning:

  • .1 seabed composition and characteristics;

  • .2 behaviour of mooring systems and force distribution, including the effect of environmental conditions;

  • .3 consequences of failure of the mooring system;

  • .4 anchor placement and recovery, and working with anchor-handling vessels; and

  • .5 the principles of the dynamic positioning system, including capabilities and limitations of thrusters, power systems and maximum allowable position offsets;

• .3 transit operations:

  • .1 the 1972 Collision Regulations, as amended;

  • .2 navigation and electronic navigational aids appropriate to the type of MOU; and

  • .3 towing procedures, including recovery of tow;

• .4 emergency procedures and safety equipment:

  • .1 life-saving and firefighting procedures, including drills;

  • .2 maintenance and inspection of life-saving and firefighting appliances in accordance with the regulatory requirements;

  • .3 communication procedures in emergencies;

  • .4 precautions to be taken before the onset of heavy weather;

  • .5 evacuation procedures; and

  • .6 crisis management and crowd control;

• .5 personnel transfers:

  • .1 precautions to be taken during transfer of personnel;

  • .2 use of the personnel basket;

  • .3 helicopter transfers; and

  • .4 vessel transfers;

• .6 handling and stowage of supplies, including dangerous goods:

  • .1 safe handling, stowage and care of equipment, supplies and dangerous goods;

  • .2 cranes and lifting equipment and inspections; and

  • .3 procedures for loading and discharge of helicopters and supply vessels;

• .7 pollution prevention and control:

  • .1 pollution prevention systems and equipment; and

  • .2 pollution control procedures;

• .8 meteorology:

  • .1 the characteristics of various weather systems;

  • .2 ability to apply available meteorological information to ensure safety of the MOU and, upon request, supply other vessels or aircraft with information;

  • .3 sources of meteorological information; and

  • .4 the effects of weather on the environmental limits of the MOU;

• .9 safe working practices:

  • .1 occupational safety, health and hygiene;

  • .2 hazardous areas;

  • .3 permits to work;

  • .4 work over water;

  • .5 work in enclosed spaces (see resolution A.1050(27));

  • .6 personnel training;

  • .7 understanding of organization and communication; and

  • .8 understanding and inspection of safety equipment;

• .10 regulatory and certification requirements, including an appreciation of international and national regulations and recommendations affecting operations; and

• .11 industrial operations as they relate to maritime safety, including appreciation of the interrelationship between marine operations and specific industrial activities, including, where appropriate, the following:

  • .1 drilling and maintenance, where appropriate, of wells;

  • .2 construction and offshore maintenance and repair;

  • .3 production;

  • .4 accommodation support;

  • .5 lifting operations;

  • .6 pipe-laying;

  • .7 diving; and

  • .8 firefighting support.

  6.2.3 Methods for demonstrating competence and criteria for evaluating competence for OIMs are set forth in table 6.2.

  6.2.4 Every OIM serving on board a MOU should hold a CoC.

  6.3 Barge supervisor (BS)

  6.3.1 Knowledge, experience and competence in each of the following matters is considered necessary for the proper discharge of the essential safety and pollution prevention functions assigned to the barge supervisor:

• .1 stability and construction:
  the stability concepts specified for the ballast control operator plus a period of service in that capacity;

• .2 construction:
  principles of construction, structural members, watertight integrity and damage control;

• .3 emergency duties:
  responsibilities set forth in the emergency plan or operating manual relating to the safety of the MOU;

• .4 communications:
  communication procedures for normal operations and for an emergency;

• .5 safe working practices:

  • .1 occupational safety, health and hygiene;

  • .2 hazardous areas;

  • .3 permits to work;

  • .4 work over water;

  • .5 work in enclosed spaces (see resolution A.1050(27));

  • .6 personnel training; and

  • .7 understanding and inspection of safety equipment;

• .6 regulatory requirements:
  international and national regulations and recommendations affecting operations;

• .7 emergency first aid:
  provision of first aid to a casualty pending transfer to a medical facility;

• .8 transit operations:

  • .1 the 1972 Collision Regulations, as amended;

  • .2 navigation and electronic navigational aids appropriate to the type of MOU; and

  • .3 towing procedures, including recovery of tow;

• .9 seamanship

  • .1 heavy weather;

  • .2 store and bulk liquid transfer;

  • .3 manoeuvring and positioning;

  • .4 anchor handling; and

  • .5 dynamic positioning, if applicable.

  6.3.2 Methods for demonstrating competence and criteria for evaluating competence for BSs are set forth in table 6.3.

  6.3.3 Every BS serving on board a MOU should hold a CoC.

  6.4 Ballast control operator (BCO)

  6.4.1 Knowledge, experience and competence in each of the following matters is considered necessary for the proper discharge of the essential safety and pollution prevention functions assigned to the ballast control operator on column-stabilized MOUs:

• .1 basic stability:

  • .1 understanding of general terms, i.e. displacement, draught, trim, heel, freeboard, buoyancy, reserve buoyancy, etc.;

  • .2 understanding of centre of gravity, centre of buoyancy, position of metacentre, righting lever and its effect on transverse stability;

  • .3 stable, unstable and neutral equilibrium;

  • .4 theory of moments applied to stability including the effects of heavy lifts and movement of same;

  • .5 effect of adding, removing and shifting weight; calculation of vertical, transverse and longitudinal shift of centre of gravity;

  • .6 understanding of the inclining experiment report and its use;

  • .7 effect of free surface on stability and factors affecting same;

  • .8 general understanding of change of trim, trimming moments, longitudinal metacentre and longitudinal stability;

  • .9 use of hydrostatic curves, deadweight scale and hydrostatic tables;

  • .10 use of cross curves to produce a curve of statical stability and information from curve;

  • .11 dynamic stability; synchronous rolling and angle of loll; stability criteria for MOUs;

  • .12 effect of mooring system on stability; and

  • .13 daily loading calculations;

• .2 application of stability knowledge, where the following should include the relevant theory and calculations:

  • .1 deck loads and effect on stability; change in lightweight;

  • .2 examination of ballasting systems and procedures;

  • .3 response to systems failures including station-keeping systems, damage to structures and subsequent action;

  • .4 damage control procedure, watertight compartments counter-flooding, use of pumping systems and cross-connections;

  • .5 environmental conditions and their effect on stability;

  • .6 unit and environmental limitations and criteria for changing to survival condition;

  • .7 zones of reduced stability, precautions to take, unsymmetrical ballasting/deballasting and importance of sequence with regard to stress;

  • .8 theory of calculations carried out on daily loading sheet, variations in chain deployed and effect on vertical moment; and

  • .9 emergency procedures;

• .3 supplementary training:
  having successfully completed the formal training, as indicated above, no individual should work in a ballast control room without the supervision of a competent person for a period of time to enable him to become fully conversant with the ballasting systems of that MOU. Before being left in sole charge and being required to react alone in the event of an emergency, the individual should receive experience of simulated emergency situations.

  6.4.2 Methods for demonstrating competence and criteria for evaluating competence for BCOs are set forth in table 6.4.

  6.4.3 Every BCO serving on board a MOU should hold a CoC.

  6.5 Maintenance supervisor (MS)

  6.5.1 On self-propelled MOUs, the person assigned responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the main propulsion and auxiliary machinery should meet the appropriate knowledge requirements of chapter III of the STCW Convention (see section 4.1 on self-propelled MOUs).

  6.5.2 On non-self-propelled MOUs, the person assigned responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the power plant and auxiliary machinery should have knowledge, experience and competence in each of the following:

• .1 operation and maintenance of engines.

• .2 operation and maintenance of auxiliary machinery including pumping and piping systems, associated control systems and, if appropriate, jacking systems;

• .3 detection of machinery malfunction, location of faults to prevent or minimize damage;

• .4 maintenance and repair problems;

• .5 operation and maintenance of systems for fire prevention, detection and extinction;

• .6 safe working practices;

• .7 maintenance of survival craft and launching appliances; and

• .8 pollution prevention procedures.

  6.5.3 Methods for demonstrating competence and criteria for evaluating competence for MSs on non-self-propelled MOUs are set forth in table 6.5.

  6.5.4 Every MS serving on board a MOU should hold a CoC.

  Table 6.1
Knowledge and Training Requirements for an OIM for Different Types of MOU

  Table 6.2
Specification of Minimum Standard of Competence for Offshore Installation Manager

  Table 6.3
Specification of Minimum Standard of Competence for Barge Supervisor

  Table 6.4
Specification of Minimum Standard of Competence for Ballast Control Operator

  Table 6.5
Specification of Minimum Standard of Competence for Maintenance Supervisors on Non-Self-Propelled MOUs