FortBill

Member Joined: Jun 08, 2004

Training contract win for the Underwater Centre
by: OilOnline
Thursday, February 12, 2009

The Underwater Centre in Fort William has secured a 12 month contract, worth more than £275,000, to provide ROV pilot and technician courses to employees from Fugro.

This is the third year running that The Underwater Centre, an internationally renowned subsea training centre has been chosen to deliver the courses to Fugro personnel. In 2009, 75 students from the company will undergo ROV training - bringing the overall total of Fugro employees trained at the Underwater Centre to more than 200 since 2007.

Fugro, which is the world's third largest ROV operator, will send its staff from across the globe to The Underwater Centre.

Based at the head of Loch Linnhe, the Centre offers a unique sheltered, seawater site with a large private pier extending into the loch. The waters plunge to depths of 150 metres, which are ideal conditions for ROV training, as well as commercial diving.

Demand for ROV training at the Centre has rocketed - last year, 70% more courses were delivered compared with 2007.

The worldwide growth of ROV operations was highlighted in a recent report by analysts, Douglas-Westwood, which revealed that expenditure on work class ROV operations had more than doubled since 2002 and by 2011, $1.458billion will have been spent in this field.

Paul Bury, Head of ROV Operations and Training, at The Underwater Centre, who will be in charge of delivering the courses, said he is delighted to be working with staff from Fugro for a third successive year.

"We are very proud to be continuing our relationship with Fugro as they are one of the world leaders in the ROV industry," he said.

"Their confidence in our facilities, our training programmes and the expertise of our instructors' to assist and support Fugro in the delivery of part of their training programme underlines our success in delivering industry relevant training and standards.

"Our Centre offers students the chance to train in an industry specific environment so they are able to experience first hand the challenges and demands of being an ROV pilot technician."

George Robertson, Fugro Academy's ROV training manager, added to this: "We have been very impressed with the facilities and professionalism at The Underwater Centre. What makes it so special is the unique conditions for training which means that our newly-recruited ROV personnel, on completion of the course, are extremely well equipped to start working in the ROV industry."

The three week training courses, comprise electronics, electrical and hydraulics modules as well as intensive practical training on how to ‘fly' ROVs.

Member Joined: Feb 16, 2008

....

Member Joined: Jan 15, 2009

And your point is ? - - - - continue MechTech

ROVworld Webteam Joined: Dec 26, 2003 Location: Scotland

Quote:

Looks like old Fugeroo support the UWTCFW!!!

Or maybe good old George does.

Member Joined: Aug 09, 2007 Location: Thailand etc

That will be good for all the painters, waiters, wallpaperers ,carpenters and ex bankers that Fugro have recently had trained there and are often next to useless once offshore.

Member Joined: Jan 15, 2009

liddelljohn wrote:

That will be good for all the painters, waiters, wallpaperers ,carpenters and ex bankers that Fugro have recently had trained there and are often next to useless once offshore.

Oh dear, one opens mouth without knowing details.

Member Joined: Nov 05, 2004 Location: Philippines

There has to be commercial reasons for them doing it?

That is fugro using Fort Bill

Member Joined: Oct 08, 2005 Location: Inversnecky

Yep.

Fugro get a bit of paper from an 'independant' training establishment to give to prospective clients saying their trainees have had a certain level of training before being let offshore. Invaluable in today's climate of 'competancies' and 'continuos development'.

S-club and Sonsub have jumped on the same boat.

Member Joined: Oct 09, 2007

Member Joined: Jun 08, 2004

Good on them

Member Joined: Jun 08, 2004

MrSilent wrote:

liddelljohn wrote:

That will be good for all the painters, waiters, wallpaperers ,carpenters and ex bankers that Fugro have recently had trained there and are often next to useless once offshore.

Oh dear, one opens mouth without knowing details.

as alway

Member Joined: Feb 16, 2008

.....

Member Joined: Oct 08, 2005 Location: Inversnecky

You really have to look at this from a clients perspective.

Since the year dot, they have had to put up with made-up CVs and fake 'inhouse' training from the ROV companies.

Some years ago, some well known Operators took to puting trainees into their workshop for 2 months to sweep the floor and get the teas, then presenting them with 'certificates of competance' and sending the offshore. Great for their tea making skills, not so great for their ROV skills.

A certificate from an independent school, with no affiliations, gaurentees the client that the trainee coming onboard has at least seen an ROV before. Not gaurenteed if relying on the ROV companies to provide training, especially if it's busy.

12 hours flying an eyeball in lochness has to be better than 'julie andrews for me' and 'we'll get you on the simulator once it's fixed/working/ the engineers have finished playing'.

Member Joined: Aug 09, 2007 Location: Thailand etc

Problem is that many of these EX fort bill guys with no previous tech experience are a waste of space on the job,,, I have just spent 3 months on Fugrpo jobs and we had 4 guys who did not know one end of a spanner from another but had passed the course at fort bill.Some are floundering and will drop out quick one guy was a good learner an ex waiter and i reckon he will do well eventually.
The strain on the experienced guys is harming many jobs ,I wont go into details but you know what I mean , clients notice these things too which also will rebound on Fugro and the other companies.

ROVworld Webteam Joined: Dec 26, 2003 Location: Scotland

MechTech wrote:

I would love to hear Mr Shields view on this topic.....

As an established man in the industry and with the like can you tell/inform us of whats going on here??

No. Not really. I have my own views which would probably break Forum rules Smile