Offshore

Support Vessel Activities v1 20/5/19

OFFSHORE SUPPORT VESSEL ACTIVITIES

An Operational Guide (or A Practical Guide)

CONTENTS

COMPILATION NOTES ............................................................................................ 7

1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 11
1.1 THE INTENT OF THE DOCUMENT ................................................................................................... 11
1.2 CONTENT OF THE DOCUMENT. ........................................................................................................ 11
1.3 ROADMAP ................................................................................................................................................... 11
2.0 FLAG STATE, CLASSIFICATION AND REGULATIONS .......................................... 12
2.1 FLAG STATE ............................................................................................................................................... 12
2.2 CLASS NOTATION .................................................................................................................................... 12
2.2.1 A Sample of DNV Class Notations .................................................................................................. 12
2.2.2 A Sample of ABS Class Notations ................................................................................................... 15
2.3 REGULATIONS .......................................................................................................................................... 17
2.3.1 General ...................................................................................................................................................... 17
2.3.2 SOPEP ........................................................................................................................................................ 18
2.3.3 ISM Code ................................................................................................................................................... 18
2.3.4 ISPS ............................................................................................................................................................. 18
2.4 AUDITS AND INSPECTIONS ................................................................................................................ 19
2.4.1 General ...................................................................................................................................................... 19
2.4.2 DP FMEAs ................................................................................................................................................. 19
2.4.3 DP Annual Trials ................................................................................................................................... 19
2.4.4 CMIDs ......................................................................................................................................................... 19
2.4.5 OVIDs .......................................................................................................................................................... 20
2.4.6 Suitability Inspections ........................................................................................................................ 20
THE MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY ....................................................... 21
DEALING WITH MAJOR ACCIDENTS ...................................................................................................... 21
Risk Assessments .............................................................................................................................................. 21
Collision ................................................................................................................................................................ 21
Grounding ........................................................................................................................................................... 21
Loss of Stability ................................................................................................................................................. 21
Major Fire ........................................................................................................................................................... 21
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY ............................................................................................................................. 22
Risk Assessments .............................................................................................................................................. 22
Working on Deck .............................................................................................................................................. 22
Carrying out Repairs ...................................................................................................................................... 22
Cooking ................................................................................................................................................................ 23
HEALTH ON BOARD SHIP ............................................................................................................................ 23
Food ....................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Leisure .................................................................................................................................................................. 23
Fatigue ................................................................................................................................................................. 23
THE APPLICATION OF CODES AND STANDARDS ............................................................................. 23
General ................................................................................................................................................................. 23
MCA Advisories ................................................................................................................................................. 23
IMO Standards .................................................................................................................................................. 23
THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ............................................................ 24
THE PREVENTION OF OIL SPILLS ........................................................................................................... 24

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General ................................................................................................................................................................. 24
Spills Due to Collision ..................................................................................................................................... 24
Spills Due to Grounding ................................................................................................................................ 24
THE USE OF FUEL IN OPERATIONS ........................................................................................................ 24
General ................................................................................................................................................................. 24
LNG ......................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Batteries .............................................................................................................................................................. 24
Economic Steaming ........................................................................................................................................ 25
EXHAUST GASES AND THEIR PROBLEMS ............................................................................................ 25
General ................................................................................................................................................................. 25
NOX Emissions ................................................................................................................................................... 25
SOX Emissions ................................................................................................................................................... 25
MOVING MOORED SEMI-SUBMERIBLES ............................................................... 26
FUNDAMENTALS ............................................................................................................................................ 26
The Semi-Submersible Drilling Unit ........................................................................................................ 26
Ships ...................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Management ...................................................................................................................................................... 26
The Provision of Survey Equipment ......................................................................................................... 27
A CONVENTIONAL RIG MOVE ................................................................................................................... 27
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 27
Recovering Moorings using Chasers ........................................................................................................ 27
Deploying Moorings Using Chasers ......................................................................................................... 28
Dealing With Buoyed Moorings ................................................................................................................. 28
A RIG MOVE WITHIN SUBSEA ARCHITECTURE/AT A PLATFORM .......................................... 28
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 28
Preparing Vessels for Insert Deployment .............................................................................................. 29
Deploying Moorings with Inserts .............................................................................................................. 30
Recovering Moorings with Inserts ............................................................................................................ 30
Decommissioning In Port ............................................................................................................................. 30
A DEEP WATER RIG MOVE ........................................................................................................................ 30
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 30
The Provision of Detailed Procedures ..................................................................................................... 31
Load Sharing ..................................................................................................................................................... 31
MOVING JACK-UPS ............................................................................................... 32
FUNDAMENTALS ............................................................................................................................................ 32
Ships ...................................................................................................................................................................... 32
The Drilling Jack-up ........................................................................................................................................ 32
Jack-up Activities ............................................................................................................................................. 32
Jack-up Problems ............................................................................................................................................. 32
AN OPEN WATER JACK-UP MOVE ........................................................................................................... 33
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 33
Preparation at the Location – Surveying .............................................................................................. 33
Preparation at the Location – Preloading ............................................................................................ 33
A WORKOVER OR DEVELOPMENT DRILLING JACK-UP MOVE .................................................. 33
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 34
Positioning In Shallow waters ................................................................................................................... 34
Positioning in Deeper Water ...................................................................................................................... 34
TOWING ............................................................................................................... 35
FUNDAMENTALS ............................................................................................................................................ 35
Ships ...................................................................................................................................................................... 35
Preparation In All Cases ............................................................................................................................... 36
Procedures .......................................................................................................................................................... 36

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TOWING MANNED SEMI-SUBMERSIBLES ........................................................................................... 36

The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 36
Special Considerations .................................................................................................................................. 37
Towing on the Anchors ................................................................................................................................. 37
Towing on the Bridle ...................................................................................................................................... 37
TOWING UNMANNED SEMI-SUBMERSIBLES ..................................................................................... 37
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 37
The Limitations ................................................................................................................................................. 38
Weather Considerations ............................................................................................................................... 38
Routing ................................................................................................................................................................. 38
INFIELD JACK-UP TOWING ......................................................................................................................... 38
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 38
The Ships ............................................................................................................................................................. 39
Weather ............................................................................................................................................................... 39
OCEAN TOWING OF JACK-UPS .................................................................................................................. 39
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 39
Ensuring the Availability of Sufficient Bollard Pull .......................................................................... 39
Weather Limitations ...................................................................................................................................... 39
Watertightness of the Tow .......................................................................................................................... 40
BARGE TOWING ............................................................................................................................................... 40
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 40
Supporting Heavy Lift Operations ............................................................................................................ 40
Handing Over Towed Objects ..................................................................................................................... 40
PRE-INSTALLING MOORINGS ................................................................................ 41
PILING SYSTEMS ............................................................................................................................................. 41
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 41
Installing Suction Plies .................................................................................................................................. 41
Connecting up the Moorings ....................................................................................................................... 41
Recovering the Piles ........................................................................................................................................ 41
ANCHOR SYSTEMS ......................................................................................................................................... 41
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 41
High Holding Power Anchors ..................................................................................................................... 41
Calm Buoy Moorings ...................................................................................................................................... 41
FPSO Moorings .................................................................................................................................................. 42
SUPPLYING OFFSHORE INSTALLATIONS ................................................................ 43
FUNDAMENTALS ............................................................................................................................................ 43
The Ships ............................................................................................................................................................. 43
CARGOES ............................................................................................................................................................. 43
Containerised Cargo ....................................................................................................................................... 44
Bulk Cargo .......................................................................................................................................................... 44
Tubulars ............................................................................................................................................................... 44
WORK IN PORT ................................................................................................................................................ 44
Getting Alongside ............................................................................................................................................. 44
Making Use of the Deck ................................................................................................................................. 44
THE VOYAGE ..................................................................................................................................................... 45
On Passage .......................................................................................................................................................... 45
At the Edge of the Safety Zone ................................................................................................................... 45
Approaching the Installation ..................................................................................................................... 45
TYING UP ............................................................................................................................................................ 45
The Process ......................................................................................................................................................... 45
Techniques .......................................................................................................................................................... 46
SNATCHING ....................................................................................................................................................... 46

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The Process ......................................................................................................................................................... 46

Using the Controls ........................................................................................................................................... 46
Using the Joystick ............................................................................................................................................. 46
Joystick Assist .................................................................................................................................................... 47
Dynamic Positioning ...................................................................................................................................... 47
DISCHARGING CARGO ................................................................................................................................... 47
Containers ........................................................................................................................................................... 47
Tubulars ............................................................................................................................................................... 47
Liquids .................................................................................................................................................................. 48
Powders ................................................................................................................................................................ 48
BACKLOADING CARGO ................................................................................................................................. 48
Containers ........................................................................................................................................................... 48
Tubulars ............................................................................................................................................................... 48
Liquids .................................................................................................................................................................. 48
Powders ................................................................................................................................................................ 48
THE PROVISION OF SAFETY SUPPORT ................................................................... 49
FUNDAMENTALS ............................................................................................................................................ 49
The Ships in UK ................................................................................................................................................. 49
The Ships – Norway ........................................................................................................................................ 49
The ships –Rest of the World ...................................................................................................................... 49
SUPPORT IN EMERGENCIES ...................................................................................................................... 49
Helicopter Ditching ......................................................................................................................................... 49
Offshore Installation Evacuation .............................................................................................................. 50
Man Overboard ................................................................................................................................................. 50
Training and Validation ............................................................................................................................... 50
WELL RELATED ACTIVITIES ................................................................................... 51
FUNDAMENTALS ............................................................................................................................................ 51
Ships ...................................................................................................................................................................... 51
WELL STIMULATION AT PLATFORMS .................................................................................................. 51
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 51
Special Equipment on Board ...................................................................................................................... 51
WORK0VERS AND DECOMMISSIONING AT SUBSEA COMPLETIONS ...................................... 51
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 52
Special Equipment on Board ...................................................................................................................... 52
EARLY PRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 52
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 52
Special Equipment on Board ...................................................................................................................... 52
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE ................................................................... 53
FUNDAMENTALS ............................................................................................................................................ 53
Ships ...................................................................................................................................................................... 53
DP Systems .......................................................................................................................................................... 53
GENERAL IMR ACTIVITIES ......................................................................................................................... 53
The Tasks ............................................................................................................................................................. 53
Special Equipment on Board ...................................................................................................................... 54
PUTTING DIVERS ON THE SEABED ........................................................................................................ 54
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 54
Special Equipment on Board ...................................................................................................................... 54
Precautionary Measures ............................................................................................................................... 55
LAYING FLEXIBLES ........................................................................................................................................ 55
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 55
Special Equipment on Board ...................................................................................................................... 56
Precautionary Measures ............................................................................................................................... 56

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TRENCHING AND BACKFILLING .............................................................................................................. 56

The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 56
Special Equipment on Board ...................................................................................................................... 57
SEISMIC SURVEYING ............................................................................................. 58
MULTISTREAMER SEISMIC ........................................................................................................................ 58
The Ships ............................................................................................................................................................. 58
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 58
SHALLOW SEISMIC ......................................................................................................................................... 58
The Ships ............................................................................................................................................................. 58
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 58
4D SEISMIC ........................................................................................................................................................ 58
The Ships ............................................................................................................................................................. 59
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 59
DOWNHOLE SURVEYS .................................................................................................................................. 59
The Ships ............................................................................................................................................................. 59
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 59
CHASE BOATS ................................................................................................................................................... 59
The Ships ............................................................................................................................................................. 59
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 59
ACCOMMODATION MONOHULLS ........................................................................ 60
SHIPS .................................................................................................................................................................... 60
WALK TO WORK SHIPS ................................................................................................................................ 60
FPSO SUPPORT, CALM BUOYS AND OFFTAKE OPERATIONS .................................. 61
OFFTAKE TANKERS ....................................................................................................................................... 61
HEADING CONTROL OPERATIONS ......................................................................................................... 61
ASSISTING CALM BUOY OPERATIONS .................................................................................................. 61
PIPELAYING OPERATIONS ..................................................................................... 62
FUNDAMENTALS ............................................................................................................................................ 62
The Pipelayer ..................................................................................................................................................... 62
SUPPLY ................................................................................................................................................................ 62
The ships .............................................................................................................................................................. 62
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 62
ANCHOR-HANDLING ..................................................................................................................................... 63
The Ships ............................................................................................................................................................. 63
The Task ............................................................................................................................................................... 63
Precautionary Measures ............................................................................................................................... 63
PERSONNEL TRANSFER OFFSHORE ....................................................................... 64
THE SWING ROPE ........................................................................................................................................... 64
THE BILLY PUGH ............................................................................................................................................. 64
THE ENHANCED BILLY PUGH ................................................................................................................... 64
THE FROG ........................................................................................................................................................... 64
SUPPORTING EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION IN ICE ......................................... 65
GENERAL ............................................................................................................................................................ 65
CANADIAN WATERS ...................................................................................................................................... 65
SAKHALIN .......................................................................................................................................................... 65
THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC ................................................................................................................................... 65
THE NORTH CASPIAN ................................................................................................................................... 65
SUPPLY BY CREW BOAT ........................................................................................ 66
PIRACY AND PROTESTERS .................................................................................... 67

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BOARDED BY PIRATES ................................................................................................................................. 67

Precautions ......................................................................................................................................................... 67
Protection ............................................................................................................................................................ 67
PROTESTERS ..................................................................................................................................................... 67
Precautions ......................................................................................................................................................... 67
Protection ............................................................................................................................................................ 67
SALVAGE .............................................................................................................. 68
APPENDICES ......................................................................................................... 69
SHIP HANDLING .............................................................................................................................................. 69
Fundamentals .................................................................................................................................................... 69
Driving Facing the Stern .............................................................................................................................. 69
Moving Sideways .............................................................................................................................................. 69
Multiple Thrusters ........................................................................................................................................... 69
Inward and outward Turning Screws .................................................................................................... 69
The Joystick ........................................................................................................................................................ 69
The Enhanced Joystick ................................................................................................................................... 69
Podded Propulsion .......................................................................................................................................... 69
Voith Schneider Propulsion ......................................................................................................................... 69
DP REQUIREMENTS ....................................................................................................................................... 69
DP1 – The Enhanced Joystick ..................................................................................................................... 69
DP2 ......................................................................................................................................................................... 69
DP3 ......................................................................................................................................................................... 69
Personnel Manning ......................................................................................................................................... 70
Personnel Training ......................................................................................................................................... 70
CHECKLISTS ...................................................................................................................................................... 70
Departure from Port ...................................................................................................................................... 70
At the 500m Zone ............................................................................................................................................. 70
ACCIDENT REPORTS ..................................................................................................................................... 70
Sedco Helen ........................................................................................................................................................ 70
Stevns Power ...................................................................................................................................................... 70
Bourbon Dolphin .............................................................................................................................................. 70
Highland Pioneer ............................................................................................................................................. 70
Samudra Suraksha .......................................................................................................................................... 70
Big Orange XVIII .............................................................................................................................................. 70
Maersk Detector ............................................................................................................................................... 70
Kulluk .................................................................................................................................................................... 70
Transocean Winner ........................................................................................................................................ 70
GLOSSARY OF TERMS ................................................................................................................................... 70
REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................................................... 70

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