Offshore safety training at a new level

As South Africa continues its journey towards energy security, the exploration of natural gas options has become an important focus – and with it, the need for safe and responsible exploration practices. The offshore training centre based in Cape Town recently marked a major milestone in its efforts to support this drive for safety.

OATC in Cape Town has launched a new training course to support safety in offshore gas exploration. 

“The need for skills and expertise in the energy sector has become more pressing in South Africa,” said Gary Concar of OATC (Offshore Africa Training Centre). The centre celebrated its tenth anniversary in February and. At the same time, introduced a new survival training course that will equip its students to a higher level.

“We were honoured to have Joe Meanen, one of the legendary 61 heroic survivors of the 1988 Piper Alpha disaster, as a speaker at our event,” said Concar.

Meanen shared his inspiring account – a harrowing reminder of the importance of safety offshore, and a deeply moving story of human resilience in the face of one of history's most catastrophic gas rig disasters ^[1].

As exploration ramps up and new fields are discovered, South Africa’s southern seas will see increasing numbers of drill ships and floating production storage and offloading units. This growth will raise demand for internationally approved energy sector workforce members, especially for professionals who are trained according to the most rigorous safety standards. It is this demand that the OATC facility aims to meet with its new training course.

Meanen spoke to guests at the launch about his experience during the fire at Piper Alpha, an event that claimed 165 lives back in 1988. His message, he explained, is about the need to realise that this can happen to anybody at any time.

“It is important to be prepared as best you can be, especially if you are working offshore or in oil and gas or chemical plants. You need to make sure you have the right equipment and machinery so you can cope with any situation.”

Government has emphasised the importance of accelerating the energy transition as an element in economic stability and energy security. In a shifting energy paradigm, with hydrocarbons forecast to account for half of the global energy mix by 2030, natural gas and renewables in particular have emerged as key resources in facilitating the energy transition.

The OATC facility – the first in South Africa to offer OPITO-accredited training – runs courses covering key topics like rigging, lifting, slinging, banksman duties, and LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) and now OPITO Survival Courses. OPITO is the global, not-for-profit, skills body for the energy industry.

“Liverpool-based SAFER Training has been a key partner in OATC’s ten-year journey and has been instrumental in its establishing a competitive edge and its growth in SA. SAFER Training provides a range of internationally recognised courses to the various energy sectors globally,” said Ian McMillin of SAFER Training.

With the launch of the new training course, OATC reinforces its commitment to the highest standards of health and safety at this transitional time for the energy sector in South Africa and southern Africa.  

For more information visit: https://oatc.co.za/