Competence management for offshore wind

Competence management has been mandatory for the oil industry for some time in the UK. However, it is not quite so well known that competence management is as necessary to the renewables industry. In particular, competence programmes are used in the management of seabed power cables, which connect to offshore wind farms.

RenewableUK, the country’s leading voice for the renewable energy industry, showed its commitment to the area of competency in July 2011, when RenewableUK and the United Kingdom Cable Protection Committee (UKCPC) announced the agreement and publication of a new health and safety accord dedicated to addressing the specific challenges and opportunities for the offshore wind and marine energy sector. The Accord is not only the first of its type in the UK, but is also thought a global first for the renewable energy sector.

Maritime Training & Competence Solutions (MTCS Ltd) of Windermere is currently working with a number of contractors such as CTC Marine (now part of the Deep Ocean group), Canyon Offshore (part of the Helix group) and Osiris on both the installation and burial of seabed cables and running a competence management programme. In addition to the training procedures used in trenching to install and bury power cables, MTCS Ltd has taken a proactive stance on the issue of competency to prevent and minimise current and future risks.

Underpinning a commitment to make the renewables sector a safe and responsible jurisdiction in which to do business, MTCS Ltd delivers both training and competence services both in the UK and worldwide. The aim is to show the industry how a fully accredited, dedicated Subsea Competence Management Program should work for the offshore wind farm industry and other relevant industries.

Steve Start, operations director at engineering, procurement, construction and project management company Fluor Limited, which has recently undergone a renewables industry competence management programme said, “ I am impressed by the competence scheme run by CTC Marine (Deep Ocean group) and MTCS Ltd. If risks of accidents are minimised during the laying of cables, this can only be good news, and it also helps reduce the costs for client operations.”

Providing a full IMCA aligned Competence Scheme Management service, MTCS Ltd ensures personnel are demonstrating competence in the offshore workplace. The company provides a spectrum of operational, technical and supervisory training to the offshore wind farm industry. The majority of courses focus on subsea technology, including, remotely operated vehicles, as used in offshore wind farms and also in the oil & gas industry.