Be Successful Here

Booming Industry

One of the most promising industries of the moment is the offshore access industry. Companies in this business make it possible for clients to move personnel from a boat to a stable platform offshore. This can be an offshore wind turbine or an offshore oil platform, depending on the industry the client is operating in. It might seem attractive to start a company in this industry, but the industry is very complex for outsiders to grasp, so the purpose of this article is to provide some basic information about what you need to make a profitable in this industry.

The Method

First of all it is important to know which offshore access method you want to employ for your business. Do you want to transfer personnel by helicopters? A jack-up platform? Or does the Windcat Workboat appeal the most to you? This is an important choice, because each method has its pros and cons, and some market segments prefer one method over another.

The helicopter has a huge advantage because of its fast lead time. This is an important criterion for clients, because time is literally money in the offshore industry. However, the helicopter has many flaws. For instance, it is relatively unsafe. Moreover, the helicopter is very vulnerable to external conditions such as the weather, causing lots of downtime.

The Windcat Workboat is the most popular option in the offshore wind sector. The Windcat Workboat can be described as a small vessel that is used to navigate to offshore wind turbines. When it approaches the turbine, it goes full throttle, in order to ‘stick’ to the platform. Finally, the personnel can cross safely. The Windcat Workboat is a bit of an all-rounder in this industry.

The jack-up platform is a rather expensive construction. As the name implies, it is a platform with three or four legs that rises out of the sea. In this way it is possible to transfer personnel. This method is very inflexible and expensive, but offers a relative high degree of safety, which is one of the most important requirements for clients.

The last method that I want to discuss is the offshore access system (OAS). This is a machine with hydraulic legs that are able to compensate wave motions. The system also contains a gangway that is used to connect to platforms. The personnel then walk over the gangway to the other side. The system is relatively new and therefore not well-known yet in the market.

At many sales or employee events, there are incentive awards given to the top producers or achievers. As a funny motivational speaker, I speak at many of these events and prior to going on, oftentimes I will sit in the audience. Over the years, the comments that I have overheard from the “non-winners” have been interesting. Many have felt that the goals of the incentive program were unrealistic or that the people getting the awards “always win, so why bother…” etc. While such programs may increase profits, they – sometimes – do very little to increase teamwork or morale. In other words, any incentive program, whether it’s a sales incentive program or an employee incentive program, can either be productive… or counter-productive.

An example of a counter-productive program is where the goal is impractical or where only a specific number of participants will win and, therefore, the rest of the group will lose. Many in the group quickly give up or don’t get involved, because they don’t see how the goal can be reached or how they can win. Conversely, a productive incentive program establishes a realistic objective and rewards everyone in the department for reaching that goal. As opposed to the counter-productive program, this approach reinforces teamwork and increases overall morale.

The following 4 steps can aid you in creating a productive incentive program that enhances teamwork and morale, while simultaneously achieving an important goal. I call these steps the 4 D’s:

1) Define the Goal:
What do you want to accomplish? Who will be involved? What can you do to make the goal uncomplicated, include as many people as possible, and eliminate any obstacles to success?

2) Develop a System of Measurement:
How will you measure involvement and improvement? Allow those in the program to contribute their ideas with regard to the rules and the system of measurement, as well as the reward. Participation in the decision process greatly enhances a “team approach” and aids in increasing overall involvement.

3) Determine the Reward:
What reward can the company provide that acknowledges everyone’s contribution to achieving the goal? Consider a company-wide event where all can attend and have fun. Should you wish to reward individuals for specific achievement, think about something nice, but not “over the top,” such as plaques or certificates.