Oil And Gas Courses At Regional Maritime University

What is it about?
The Oil & Gas Safety Training Centre at the Regional Maritime University (RMU) has been established to conduct safety mandatory courses for the Offshore Oil & Gas Industry.  There are only a couple of such centres in Africa.
It is worthy to note that the RMU has been able to achieve this feat in collaboration with {Sibrima Maritime Training Centre} SMTC Global, a world-renowned maritime training concern with 22 years experience, which has training centres in Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and now, Ghana.  SMTC has plans to train Ghanaians to partake in the training of participants.
 
Significance of the Training
The establishment of the safety training centre will ensure Ghanaian participation in all sectors of the nation’s Oil & Gas Industry, i.e. the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors.
Oil Companies in Africa, hitherto, have been sending their staff to Europe and elsewhere for such specialized training, obviously, at great expense.
 
Benefits 
ü      Create employment opportunities;
ü      Easy and cost effective to train the local manpower requirement for the oil industry;
ü      Less prone to cause accidents which would be costly and damaging to the marine environment;
ü      No need to wait in long queues in Europe for such specialized training;
ü      It is mandatory for visitors to the offshore oil platforms to do the HUET training;
ü      To ensure nationals participation in all sectors of the Oil & Gas Industry;
ü      The training programme will satisfy the Government’s quest to introduce local content into the nation’s Oil & Gas workforce.
 
Who Qualifies for Training?
–          Policy and law makers visiting the oil rigs;
–          Rig & Barge Engineers/Technicians/ Movers;
–          Platform Managers/ Offshore Installation Mangers;
–          Stability & DP Operators;
–          Mechanics, Engine Room Operators, Crane Operator/Deck Foreman;
–          Rig Superintendents, Offshore Toolpusher, Drillers, Roustabout, Roughneck;
–          Technical Section: Engine Room Operator, Motorman, Welder, Rig Mechanic, Radio Operator
–          Electronic Technicians, etc. etc.
 
Training covers ALL Upstream workers: those engaged in exploration, drilling and operation.
–          Midstream: transportation of Oil & Gas from the exploration site to refineries
–          Downstream: final processing, distribution and marketing of oil-related products.
 
Training Content:
For a start, participants will be trained to OPITO approved Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) and Tropical-BOSIET (TBOSIET).
 
This course involves:

1. Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) with emergency Breathing System [EBS]
2. First Aid
3. Sea Survival
4. Fire-fighting & Self Rescue
5. Offshore Safety Induction

 
Duration of Courses:

• 2½ days for BOSIET and TBOSIET

 
When Will Training Commence?
The RMU in partnership with SMTC Malaysia is ensuring that Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) course starts in middle of August, 2010 after successfully going through OPITO (Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization) audit.
 
Minimum Industry Safety Training (MIST) is an introductory safety training programme designed to introduce the fundamental safety elements of the offshore oil & gas industry to new starts, giving an appreciation of the potential hazards and controls that might be encountered by personnel offshore. Each unit has been designed to focus the delegates’ attention on their personal responsibility for safety thus influencing their behavior and attitude towards their co-workers, the installation and the environment.
The course modules include:

• Introduction to the Hazardous Offshore Environment
• Working Safely Including Safety Observation Systems
• Understanding the Risk Assessment Process
• Tasks that require permit to Work
• Personal Responsibility in Maintaining Asset Integrity
• Using Manual Handling Techniques Everyday
• Controlling the Use of Hazardous Substances Offshore
• Knowledge and Practices of Working at Height
• Being Aware of Mechanical Lifting Activities