How to Survive in the Offshore Access Industry
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.
