The Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has conducted an audit of logistic (material handling, lifting appliances/equipment and lifting operations) on board the mobile drilling facility Rowan Gorilla VI. Six non-conformities and four areas of improvement were identified.

The verification activity on board the RG6 was performed by the PSA during the period 23–24 September 2009, while the facility was in yard stay in Dundee UK, for 5 years class survey and upgrades on the rig.

Background The audit was related to Rowan’s application for an Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) for the mobile drilling facility Rowan Gorilla VI.

Purpose of the audit The purpose of the audit was to verify compliance with relevant requirements in the regulations and verify the implementation of the company management system in relevant areas.

Result As a general observation, Rowan has made considerable improvements regarding the management system for lifting operations and the lifting appliances and equipment compared to the situation experienced during the previous verification in December 2007.

During the verification on board the RG6, six non-conformities and four areas of improvement were identified.

Non-conformities: Lifting Operations manual: Incomplete Lifting Operations Manual

At the time of verification the manual was not yet complete. Prior to operation the manual must be complete and issued for operation Management system documentation: Incomplete procedures

There was not accordance between the offshore organization chart and the Lifting Operations Manual. During interviews job positions were referred to, i.e. “responsible for mechanical department”. However such positions were not included in the organization chart. Regarding roles and responsibilities described in Lifting Operations Manual Appendix A, the Technical Responsible Person had not been defined with reference to job position. Deck cranes – Operator view to load and loading areas: Limited view or no view to load and laydown areas from the operator cabins.

Rowan Drilling has prepared a Blind Zone mapping document, RC75-06-970. During the PSA verification it was confirmed that the deck crane operator has limited or no view to the handled load in certain positions during the lifting operation and limited view or no view to some of the loading position. Knuckle boom crane cabin: The knuckle boom crane operator’s cabin is not in compliance with regulations

The verification revealed discrepancies within the operator’s cabin. Training: Outstanding training

Training on new and upgraded lifting appliances and equipment was at the time of the verification not completed. Training for emergency operation and lowering of deck cranes and lifting equipment: No routine was established for regular training for emergency operation/lowering of deck cranes and lifting equipment

Based on information from personnel on board it was evident that a routine/system for regular training for operation and lowering of cranes and lifting equipment had not been established and implemented. Areas of improvement In addition the following areas of improvement were identified:

Deck crane training: Special training for deck cranes has not been provided.

The arrangement and the design of the deck cranes on RG6 are completely different from other cranes on installations operating in the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). On RG6 the crane operator cabins are placed apart from the crane itself and installed in an allocated deck area. For crane operators not familiar with this type of cranes it will be a challenge to operate these cranes. Traditional cranes in NCS have the operator’s cabin located on the crane itself. The deck cranes and operator’s cabins on RG6 move independent of each other and in some positions the crane will move opposite of the control functions. Since the cabins are located apart from each other, the operator will not feel or hear the movement and noise from the cranes, which make the operation very different from traditional deck cranes.

Training programs: Lack of training programs

Programs for internal/onboard training of the installation’s specific lifting appliances and equipment were not available at the time of the verification. Such programs need to be prepared and available to ensure an adequate and uniform training of personnel. The content and the duration of such training need to be included in the programs. Hinged deck hatches and shafts: Offshore cranes used for lifting of hinged deck hatches and lifting in shafts with obstructions.

The offshore cranes are used for lifting the hinged deck hatches. The use of the cranes may represent a danger for personnel involved in the operation, and large cranes are not suitable equipment for the purpose. The shafts are designed with obstructions. This may cause the handled load to get trapped and result in the load to be knocked over or pulled off from the crane hook, resulting in free fall down the shaft. Visibility of boom: Inadequate visibility of the offshore crane boom

Due to the location of the crane operator cabin apart from the crane, the operator may be blinded by the light from the lamps onboard during the dark hours, especially when the boom/load is a position between the operator cabin and the lamps. This will make it difficult to see the boom, hook and load.

Tags: Petroleum Safety Authority