About This Course
Offshore wind operations require regular transfer between shore, vessels and wind turbine installations. Personnel are exposed to marine risks including vessel movement, harsh weather, cold water immersion and emergency evacuation scenarios.
The BST Sea Survival Module, delivered in accordance with GWO BST V19, provides both theoretical understanding and practical survival training required for safe offshore operations. The course focuses on prevention, situational awareness and correct behaviour during normal operations as well as emergencies.
Participants are trained in:
- Cold water immersion risks, including cold shock, hypothermia and drowning
- Proper use of personal and collective lifesaving appliances (LSA)
- Search and Rescue (SAR) principles and GMDSS awareness
- Safe vessel travel and transfer procedures
- Man overboard (MOB) awareness
- Hazard identification during crew transfer operations
A major part of the training is practical. Participants perform controlled water entry, swimming techniques, life raft exercises and emergency descent using constant rate descenders. Practical transfer exercises simulate safe movement between crew transfer vessels (CTV) and wind turbine generator (WTG) transition pieces.
The training aligns with industry guidance, including G+ recommendations such as Working at Height in the Offshore Wind Industry and Safe Management of Small Service Vessels Used in the Offshore Wind Industry.
Upon completion, participants can act safely and responsibly at intermediate ability level, taking responsibility for their own and colleagues’ safety in offshore work and emergency situations.
Learning Objectives
After successful completion of the GWO BST Sea Survival Module, participants will be able to:
- Act safely and responsibly in an offshore wind work environment
- Take responsibility for their own and colleagues’ safety
- Recognise risks associated with cold water immersion
- Identify symptoms of cold shock and hypothermia
- Use personal protective equipment and lifesaving appliances correctly
- Demonstrate correct controlled water entry from a transfer platform ladder
- Perform individual and group survival swimming techniques
- Board and use a life raft correctly
- Understand SAR and GMDSS principles
- Identify hazards during vessel travel and transfer operations
- Demonstrate safe transfer procedures between crew transfer vessel and WTG transition piece
- Understand man overboard (MOB) awareness procedures
All learning outcomes are achieved at intermediate ability level in accordance with GWO BST V19.
Requirements
Participants must:
- Be medically fit for offshore work and water-based training
- Be physically capable of participating in pool exercises and transfer drills
- Not have medical conditions incompatible with water survival training
- Have a valid WINDA ID prior to certification
Participants must be able to swim.
Target Audience
This module is intended for personnel who:
- Work or will work offshore in the wind industry
- Travel by vessel to wind turbine installations
- Perform duties on offshore installations, vessels or WTGs
- Have job functions risk assessed by their employer as requiring GWO Sea Survival training
This includes offshore wind technicians, service crews, installation personnel and supervisors.
Certification
Upon successful completion, participants will receive:
- Official GWO Basic Safety Training (BST) Sea Survival certification
- Registration in the WINDA database
- Certification validity: 24 months, in accordance with GWO requirements
