ECTS First in UK to Launch Unique Quay Side Offshore Turbine Transfer Training

Later this month East Coast Training Services (ECTS) will launch a professional training course to support the fast growing offshore wind energy sector.

ECTS, based at Trinity Quay in Great Yarmouth will provide a unique facility which will be used to train offshore wind farm maintenance and services crews to transfer safely between vessels and offshore turbines and minimise the risk of accidents and injury.

Earlier this year, ECTS installed a full scale 14 tonne, 3.5m diameter offshore wind farm turbine foundation constructed by Richards Dry Dock and Engineering.

The turbine transfer course which will use this quayside turbine is a first for the industry as it is the only location in the UK to provide a facility which simulates the conditions experienced by the crews and it is anticipated that technicians from around Europe will be visiting the site for training.

The intensive turbine transfer course is a full day event. The trainees – which are limited to a maximum 8 per course – will learn the theory of safe transfer in a fully equipped classroom. However, the majority of the day will be at the quay side learning the correct transfer techniques using a fully operational crew transfer vessel of the type used offshore and the purpose built turbine foundation. In addition, delegates will participate in Man-Over-Board and lifeboat drills at sea.

ECTS Centre Manager Allan Tucker said: “We are proud to be the first in the UK to provide the course.

ECTS is part of the Gardline group of companies and has been operating offshore for over 40 years. We currently provide turbine transfer services for a number of offshore windfarms in both the UK and Europe and therefore we have considerable experience in these types of procedures. Developing an in-house capability for training technicians to transfer safely between a crew transfer vessel and offshore turbine is a natural progression.”

The course has been developed in association with Petans which has been providing professional safety training for over 30 years from its bases in Norfolk and Suffolk. Delegates will be assessed by Petans’ OPITO accredited trainers.

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Source: gardline, July 19, 2011