The practise in oil & gas eLearning is growing rapidly, with many oil companies now using eLearning as part of their competence management programmes.
Several oil giants such as, BP, Shell and Statoil are keen on competence-based management, because it is an effective way for managers to ensure their workers are capable of making the workplace decisions they need to make. Although companies have focused on competences for some time, the practice is growing in eLearning, and more companies are making formal attempts to tie eLearning to competence management.
Because the oil and gas business is so competitive, senior executives realise that knowledge, and the application of knowledge, is key to business success. Oil and Gas executives therefore tend to see learning as a strategic priority. And because the major oil companies have a variety of proprietary processes and technologies that require bespoke learning solutions, it often commissions third-party vendors, such as British company, Maritime Training & Competence Solutions (MTCS Ltd), to develop bespoke content. Both, Shell, Statoil and BP use competence management within learning and training, and this process plays a role in defining the need for eLearning content.
Competence programmes run by Maritime Training & Competence Solutions (MTCS Ltd), Windermere, UK, currently manage the largest independent assessment and certification programme for people involved in Subsea Operations such as ROV, Diving and Hydrographic Survey.
Providing a full IMCA-aligned Competence Scheme Management service, MTCS Ltd ensure personnel are demonstrating competence in the offshore workplace. In addition, MTCS Ltd provide a spectrum of operational, technical and supervisory training, with the majority of their courses focussing on subsea technology, remotely operated vehicles, as used in the oil and gas industry and in Renewables.
Richard Warburton, Managing Director for MTCS Ltd, says:
“The oil and gas industry is a global, highly competitive, and knowledge-intensive business with a high demand for eLearning and the use of competence management in eLearning continues to be popular. The global nature of the oil and gas industry also creates demand for network-based tools, such as eLearning, that can deal with highly distributed workforces. Fortunately, unlike any other training provider, MTCS Ltd is able to offer fully accredited Competence Management frameworks that allow delegates to continue their professional development and gain certification in the work place. No matter where in the world they are, candidates can use distance learning methods (eLearning) most appropriate to their needs, whether it be through the internet or the office intranet.”
Competence programmes for the offshore oil & gas, wind and marine energy sector are well underway in the UK, with further plans for MTCS Ltd to rollout training and competence services internationally. Currently delivering training in Nigeria and in Singapore, with the next ROV Induction Course in Singapore running from 11 to 22 March 2013, MTCS Ltd aim to show the industry how a fully accredited, dedicated Subsea Competence Management Program should work. All the MTCS competence programmes can be delivered at the company’s worksite, making it easier for candidates to attain their accreditation. Programmes will be launched to the subsea industry, focusing on International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) disciplines.
Rapidly expanding, subsea training company, MTCS Ltd, Windermere, is giving the local economy a much-needed boost over the winter months.
Maritime Training & Competence Solutions Ltd (MTCS Ltd), whose head office is based in Windermere, is an internationally recognised and world leader in Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and underwater technology training. As MTCS Ltd are currently running their autumn courses from Windermere, attracting course candidates from around the globe, they are able to place significant business with both accommodation providers and local food suppliers.
Gail Bartolf, Marketing Coordinator for MTCS Ltd says:
“MTCS Ltd is delighted to be supporting local businesses, both in terms of business we give to local food suppliers and for the accommodation bookings we organise for our course candidates, which has been 80 bed nights booked in local B&Bs throughout October and November. Contracts given to local food suppliers such as McClures of Windermere, provides us with coffee and biscuits for our course candidates throughout the year, plus we are also supplied with mintcake and handmade chutneys, which we take all over the world, whether it’s for training purposes, or for use on exhibition stands at national subsea exhibitions.
“As we are a rapidly expanding company, with the intentions of taking on extra technical instructors to cope with the demand for ROV training, we are also pleased that we are able to support local businesses all year round, particularly in the winter months when many of the accommodation businesses tend to be quieter and will welcome the extra trade.”
Debbie Lupton and her husband, Dave, are Guest House proprietors of Cambridge House, Windermere, where Debbie said:
“We have six MTCS course candidates staying with us at the moment from Nigeria, and we had several course candidates staying with us in October too. We welcome receiving the extra business from MTCS Ltd, at what is traditionally a quieter time for many B&Bs. The candidates staying with us are all very pleasant and come from all over the world, where our informal and friendly approach works well for us in breaking down barriers, particularly when English is not their first language. And we find a full English breakfast is always popular no matter where people come from! The extra income received through the winter means we can get jobs done in the Guest House, which gives work to local tradesmen, so this has to be a good knock on effect for the local economy. I find MTCS staff delightful to work with and know that the accommodation bookings received from them will result in good business for us.”
MTCS Ltd is a fully accredited assessment and training centre providing a spectrum of operational, technical and supervisory training to the offshore industry. The majority of their courses focus on Remotely Operated Vehicles as used in the oil & gas, nuclear and renewables industry.
The discovery is reported in the journal Deep Sea Research Part I by the team from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), California, US.
They made their discoveries in underwater mountainous areas, known as seamounts, off the coast of California.
The species Chaunacops coloratus belongs to the family of fish known as anglerfish because of their unique method of predation.
In the same way an angler uses a baited line to catch fish, anglerfish dangle a fleshy lump (the esca) from their head on a long filament (the illicium) which lures prey towards their mouth.
“[Our results] reveal a little more information about an animal that lives 3200 metres below the ocean’s surface that no one has ever seen before,” said Senior Research Technician at MBARI Lonny Lundsten, “and we’ve got gorgeous HD video of it!”
The study has extended the fish’s known depth by 1500m and distribution by a further 5500km north.
“Nobody knew these existed off California or north of Costa Rica for that matter,” said Mr Lundsten.
Images were captured by the team’s submersible vehicle equipped with scientific instruments and underwater recording equipment.
Blue and red specimens were recorded, as well as those between the two colours
The fish, described as “rarely encountered” by experts, was recorded swimming, retreating from a threat, deploying its lure and “walking” on the sea floor.
According to Mr Lundsten, “walking” is common among anglerfish which use their fins to manouevre across solid surfaces.
Scientists were also intrigued by the observation that smaller fish were steely blue in colour compared to the bright-red adults.
That suggests that colour change is part of the developmental process of the fish as they mature.
Forum Subsea Technologies, a business line of Forum Energy Technologies (USA), has placed a Sub-Atlantic Mohawk observation class remotely operated vehicle (ROV) on permanent display at the Titanic Belfast Museum to help tell the story of the RMS Titanic.
The newly opened Titanic Belfast Museum, the world’s largest Titanic visitor attraction, is located in the heart of Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
Saturday, 1 September marks the anniversary of the discovery of the wreck of RMS Titanic. On this date in 1985, Robert Ballard, Jean-Louis Michel and their French-American team finally located the wreckage of one of the most famous and tragic ships in history. The discovery was made possible due to the development of ARGO-Jason, a remotely operated system to locate and videotape underwater objects. The ARGO-Jason was primitive by today’s standards and was towed on a sled underwater by a ship.
In contrast, the fully electric Mohawk ROV is a compact, high-performance ROV system which can be used for a variety of underwater tasks including observation, survey, NDT inspections and other mission tasks. Those black and white images transmitted by ARGO back in 1985 have been replaced by full-colour high-definition images taken by multiple cameras and sensor interfaces. The Mohawk features auto-heading and depth, AC propulsion thrusters, and hydraulic or electric manipulators, and is capable of several tooling skid options.
The bell of sunken World War II battle cruiser HMS Hood could be returned to Portsmouth if a new recovery effort is successful.
Experts will attempt to recover the bell which was on the ship when it was sunk by the battleship Bismarck in the North Atlantic in 1941.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said US philanthropist Paul G Allen had offered to recover the bell at no cost.
If recovered, it will go on display at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in 2014.
A yacht owned by Mr Allen, who is a co-founder of Microsoft, will be equipped with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for the operation.
Shipwreck investigation company Blue Water Recoveries, which found the wreck 2,800m underwater in 2011, will co-ordinate the recovery and film the wreck.
HMS Hood was sunk by the battleship Bismarck in the North Atlantic
‘Courage and personal sacrifice’
The bell is known to be lying on the seabed well away from the ship’s hull which will not be disturbed by the recovery operation.
If the recovery mission is successful, the bell will be put on display at a new exhibition hall due to open at the Royal Navy Museum.
Rear Admiral Philip Wilcocks, president of the HMS Hood Association, said: “Future generations will be able to gaze upon her bell and remember with gratitude and thanks the heroism, courage and personal sacrifice of Hood’s ship’s company who died in the service of their country.”
The government has licensed the recovery of the bell – as well as providing a memorial, the recovery will prevent it being taken by any illegal operation for personal gain, an MoD spokesman said.
Portsmouth-based Hood was the largest Royal Navy vessel to have been sunk.
With 1,415 killed, it was the biggest loss of life suffered by any single British warship and a major shock during the war.
It was the flagship of the fleet and part of a force ordered to engage the Bismarck off Greenland, which was finally sunk by Royal Navy ships and the Royal Air Force on 27 May 1941.
The sinking of the Bismark
The sinking of HMS Hood on 24 May 1941 sparked a huge Royal Navy pursuit of the Bismarck, which ended with her destruction three days later…
British company, Maritime Training and Competence Solutions (MTCS Ltd) claims the subsea industry is one of the fastest growing niche markets in the oil and gas industry – and no where is this more evident than within Southeast Asia. One area in which MTCS Ltd has identified a marked growth, is in the use of remotely operated vehicles and the demand for qualified ROV Pilot technicians.
Fuelled by the search for oil in ever deeper waters and utilising numerous strands of technology, the world of ROVs is breaking new ground to develop ever more sophisticated vehicles – meaning an increased need for pilot technicians. The global demand for ROVs was recently highlighted in a report from analysts, Douglas-Westwood, which revealed that expenditure on work class ROV operations had more than doubled since 2002. The energy analysts predict that by 2012, $1.458billion will have been spent in this sector.
MTCS Ltd, an internationally recognised, fully accredited Assessment and ROV training centre, whose head office is based in the Lake District of the UK, is all too familiar with the demand for ROV training. As they prepare to launch a series of open courses this October from their new facility in Loyang, Singapore, they will be including an ROV Pilot Induction Course, High Voltage Safety Awareness Skills and Hydraulic Systems. All Offshore ROV courses are in line with the trade association (IMCA) guidelines. MTCS Ltd hold numerous key industry accreditations and have a solid track record, making them a world leader in ROV and underwater technology training.
MTCS Ltd is looking to grow their business investment in Southeast Asia – encouraged by the figures from the Indonesian Energy & Mineral Resources Department, who state:
The Indonesian oil & gas sector for 2012 is projected to rise by 23.7% to $18.3 billion (approximately $14.9 billion in 2011).
Commenting, Richard Warburton, Managing Director of MTCS Ltd said:
“On the back of client demand, we have been investigating the potential in Southeast Asia for some time and are pleased to have delivered some excellent training courses at our facility in Loyang.
“ROV pilots are in huge demand in the oil and gas industry and this is set to continue over the coming years. In recent months we’ve seen many companies recruiting, plus agencies have been putting out calls for ROV Pilot Technicians for their clients. We will be using high-calibre trainers with proven experience in the ROV field, to drive forward our operations in both Malaysia and Singapore.”
Richard concluded:
“Estimates are that by the end of 2012 there will be almost 6000 subsea wells in operation, with opportunities to work not only in Asia, but also Norway, the Middle East, South America, Africa, Australasia, China and in the UK”
MTCS’s Andy and Michelle made an appearance at the Career Transition Partnership fair in Harrogate last week, despite a low turnout, what we assume to be because of the need for Forces to be used at security at the Olympics, we made a few friends; after luring them in with Kendal Mint Cake!
Maritime Training & Competence Solutions (MTCS Ltd) claim the whole subsea industry is getting busier all the time, with companies investing and expanding – and one area in which this has been particularly noticeable is in remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). As the demand for ROVs increases, so does the need for qualified ROV Pilot technicians.
Fuelled by the search for oil in ever deeper waters and utilising numerous strands of technology, the world of ROVs is breaking new ground to develop ever more sophisticated vehicles – meaning an increased need for pilot technicians. The global demand for ROVs was recently highlighted in a report from analysts, Douglas-Westwood, which revealed that expenditure on work class ROV operations had more than doubled since 2002. The energy analysts predict that by 2012, $1.458billion will have been spent in this sector
With this in mind, technician engineer, James Barrett (ex RAF) enrolled himself on to a recent ROV Induction course with MTCS Ltd in Windermere.
Barrett served in the RAF for 12 years (1998 to 2010), as a Junior Technician Eng tech airframe. He was stationed at Odiham (Chinook Aircraft servicing flight), Brize Norton (216sqn) and latterly, Lossiemouth (Aircraft Maintenance Fight and 14 sqn).
Barrett said:
“I found the MTCS course a very good introduction to the ROV sector. Although the first week of the course was very interesting, for me the practical sessions in the second week were brilliant. The highlight being driving the ROV down at the dive centre in Capenwray and using the simulator.”
MTCS an internationally recognised ROV training company, is all to familiar with the demand for ROV training, as it prepares to put on additional courses to keep up with the increasing requirement for ROV pilots.
The next 10-day ROV Induction Course will run from Monday 8th to Friday 19 October.
MTCS Ltd is a fully accredited assessment and training centre, whose head office is based in the Lake District. They provide a spectrum of operational, technical and supervisory training to the offshore industry, both in the UK and abroad. With a new training facility now open in Singapore, MTCS will also be delivering a range of bespoke courses throughout the year. A High Voltage, safety awareness open course is planned for July in Aberdeen, along with a new ROV awareness half-day course for office-based personnel. The majority of their courses focus on ROVs as used in the oil & gas, nuclear and renewable industry.
Richard Warburton, Managing Director for MTCS Ltd commented:
“ROV pilots are in huge demand in the oil and gas industry and this is set to continue over the coming years. In recent months we’ve seen companies such as Canyon Offshore, CTC Marine, Subsea 7, Saipem and DOF Subsea all recruiting, plus agencies such as Advance Global Recruitment and EuroSearch have been putting out calls for ROV Pilot Technicians for their clients. In addition to these advertised posts, here at MTCS, we have been inundated with requests for student CVs – almost four times as many as we had for the same period last year. Estimates are that by the end of 2012 there will be almost 6000 subsea wells in operation, with vacancies in the Scottish sector of the North Sea, plus opportunities to work abroad, in Norway, the Middle East, Asia, South America, Africa, Australasia and China”
Barrett concluded:
“I was delighted with how the course helped me to get the position of Pilot Technician at Canyon Offshore. It was one of the instructors at MTCS that handed my CV to Canyon, giving me an introduction to the company and getting me started in a new career. Canyon uses the MTCS competency programme too, so I haven’t quite finished the course yet!”
Damning findings in the oil and gas industry, show that drilling companies focus on speed, often at the expense of worker and environmental safety.
The track-record in the UK for offshore competence is better than most. However, the Macondo blow-out in the Gulf States in 2010 was the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. The explosion killed 11 men working on the platform and injured 17 others. Following a ruling in the U.S on 15 November 2011, where competence certification is now mandatory throughout the oil industry, British company, Maritime Training & Competence Solutions (MTCS Ltd) and their team now plan to overturn the unfortunate track-record of the industry.
Richard Warburton, Managing Director for MTCS Ltd, Windermere, UK, says:
“The safety issues surrounding the oil industry have been poor and no more so than at the Macondo disaster, so the mandatory competence certification ruling in the US is long overdue.
“Although the new competence mandatory requirement applies to the oil company operators, they will insist on it being implemented by the contractors too. And this will not just be limited to the US; it will no doubt affect the rest of the world. As you can imagine there is some concern amongst the contractors on how they go about getting competence certification. However, we have made the competence programme incredibly flexible, where candidates are assessed in their workplace. No matter where in the world they are, candidates can use distance learning methods most appropriate to their needs, whether it be through the internet or the office intranet.”
Competence programmes for the offshore oil & gas, wind and marine energy sector are well underway in the UK, with further plans for MTCS Ltd to rollout training and competence services internationally. Shortly to be delivering training and competence programmes in Nigeria and opening new offices in both Houston, Texas and in Singapore, MTCS Ltd aim to show the industry how a fully accredited, dedicated Subsea Competence Management Program should work. All the MTCS competence programmes can be delivered at the company’s worksite, making it easier for candidates to attain their accreditation. Programmes will be launched to the subsea industry, focusing on International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) disciplines.
Clearly defined in the American Petroleum Institute directive is that competence management is now mandatory, where all operators are required to have a Safety Environmental Management System (SEMS). IMCA provides a competence framework from which members can develop their own schemes across a common format that aids cross industry recognition. It is with this in mind that MTCS Ltd will be setting up an office in Houston, Texas to deliver the training needed to ensure everyone is prepared for the required competency certification.
Maritime Training & Competence Solutions Ltd provide a full IMCA-aligned Competence Management service to ensure personnel are demonstrating competence in the offshore workplace. MTCS is a fully accredited assessment and training centre providing a spectrum of operational, technical and supervisory training to the offshore industry. The majority of their courses focus on subsea technology including, remotely operated vehicles, as used in the oil & gas, nuclear and renewables industry.
For further information on MTCS competence courses, and other training opportunities, please contact Richard Warburton, MTCS, Tel: 015394 48233 or email enquiries@mtcs.info.
