5 Standards of Training and Instruction

  5.1 Categories of offshore personnel

 Offshore personnel are, for practical reasons, divided into four categories:

• Category A: Visitors and special personnel not regularly assigned who are on board for a limited period of time, in general not exceeding three days, and who have no tasks in relation to the normal operations of the MOU.

• Category B: Other special personnel without designated responsibility for the safety, security and survival of others.

• Category C: Regularly assigned special personnel with designated responsibility for the safety, security and survival of others.

• Category D: Maritime crew members.

  5.2 Safety induction training and instruction

  5.2.1 Personnel (Category A) should receive safety induction training or instruction in accordance with established company policies on their first attendance on board a MOU, and repeated within the frequency requirements established by the company. The company should maintain documentary evidence of this training or instruction.

  5.2.2 Such safety induction training or instruction should ensure, as a minimum, that personnel are able to:

• .1 Understand elementary safety matters, safety information symbols, signs and alarm signals; especially with regard to knowing what to do if:

  • .1 a person falls overboard;

  • .2 fire, smoke, or hydrogen sulphide is detected; or

  • .3 the fire, abandon ship, toxic gas, or other general alarm is sounded (including recognition of each alarm type on board);

• .2 Locate and don lifejackets and, if provided, immersion suits and emergency escape breathing devices;

• .3 Identify muster and embarkation stations and emergency escape routes; and

• .4 Understand section 7 (Fitness for Duty) of these recommendations.

  5.3 Familiarization training and instruction

  5.3.1 Before being assigned to duties related to the regular operations of the MOU, all offshore personnel (categories B, C and D) should receive offshore orientation, familiarization training or sufficient information and instruction in personal survival techniques, security and workplace safety. Such safety familiarization training, information or instruction should ensure that personnel are able to:

• .1 communicate with other persons on board on elementary safety matters and understand safety information symbols, signs and alarm signals, especially with regard to knowing what to do if:

  • .1 a person falls overboard,

  • .2 fire, smoke, or hydrogen sulphide is detected; or

  • .3 the fire, abandon ship, toxic gas, or other general alarm is sounded (including recognition of each alarm type on board);

• .2 locate and don lifejackets and, if provided, immersion suits and emergency escape breathing devices;

• .3 identify muster and embarkation stations and emergency escape routes;

• .4 raise the alarm and have a basic knowledge of the use of portable fire-extinguishers;

• .5 take immediate action upon encountering an accident or other medical emergency before seeking further medical assistance on board;

• .6 close and open the fire, weathertight and watertight doors fitted on the MOU, other than those for hull openings;

• .7 follow the unit's basic safe work practices and permit-to-work system; and

• .8 understand the unit's basic organizational structure and chain of command.

  5.3.2 A generalized course of offshore safety training or instruction obtained onshore may satisfy this requirement provided it is supplemented with the training, information or instruction specified in 5.3.1.3 and 5.3.1.8 above.

  5.3.3 Safety familiarization training should be provided at intervals not greater than five years.

  5.3.4 Individuals should hold a CoP or provide documentary evidence of having received safety familiarization training within the previous five years, as required.

  5.4 Security awareness training or instruction

  5.4.1 All offshore personnel (categories B, C and D) should receive security awareness training or instruction so as to acquire the knowledge and understanding as it relates to their MOU and their assigned duties in order that they may contribute to the enhancement of maritime security. The company should maintain documentary evidence of this training or instruction.

  5.4.2 All offshore personnel (categories B, C and D) without designated security duties should receive security awareness training or instruction at intervals not greater than five years. Revalidation of this training or instruction may be satisfied if the person has met the security-related familiarization requirements of STCW regulation VI/6 and participated in the drills and exercises required by the ISPS Code. These personnel should hold a CoP or provide documentary evidence of having received security awareness training or instruction within the previous five years, as required.

  5.5 Training for all regularly assigned personnel, maritime crew and other special personnel

  5.5.1 Before being assigned to duties related to the regular operations of the MOU, all regularly assigned personnel, maritime crew and other special personnel without designated responsibility for the safety and survival of others (i.e. categories B, C and D) should receive training in personal survival, fire prevention and firefighting, elementary first aid, personal safety and social responsibilities, and security awareness training and instruction as set out in tables 5.5.1 to 5.5.6. Every effort should be made to provide such training prior to proceeding offshore.

  5.5.2 The following training should be provided either on shore and/or on the MOU, as appropriate, by qualified and experienced persons:

• .1 Familiarization and orientation on general arrangements of the MOU, central processes, operating systems, equipment and procedures, organization, safety philosophy and contingency plans, as well as preventive safety systems such as permit-to-work procedures, company health and medical services, and other matters related to safety.

• .2 Practical familiarity with emergency duties.

• .3 Understanding the critical need to bring any abnormal situation to the attention of a responsible person.

• .4 Knowledge of available evacuation methods and procedures.

• .5 Knowledge of alarm procedures for emergency situations.

• .6 Knowledge of safety procedures.

• .7 Hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) training, where applicable.

• .8 Operations and emergencies involving divers, where applicable.

  5.5.3 A regular programme of drills and exercises should be established in order to provide and/or supplement training and provide for evaluation and assessment. Guidance regarding drills and exercises is provided in appendix 1.

  5.5.4 Individuals should hold a CoP or provide documentary evidence of having achieved the required standard of competence to undertake the tasks, duties and responsibilities listed in column 1 of tables 5.5.1 to 5.5.6 within the previous five years as required through demonstration of competence, examination or continuous assessment as part of an approved training programme, in accordance with flag and/or coastal State requirements. However, in the absence of these, a recognized industry standard should be achieved. Guidance regarding the use of drills for assessment of competence is provided in appendix 1.

  5.6 Specialized training

  5.6.1 Specialized training, as appropriate to the individual duties assigned on the muster list, should be provided to personnel in categories C and D.

  5.6.2 Depending on their assigned duties, personnel should receive instruction and training as specified in, or equivalent to, the following:

• .1 for those in charge of survival craft, proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats as specified in table A-VI/2-1 of the STCW Code;

• .2 for those assigned to operate fast rescue boats, proficiency in fast rescue boats as specified in table A-VI/2-2 of the STCW Code;

• .3 for those in charge of the MOU, and those designated to control firefighting operations, proficiency in advanced firefighting as specified in table A-VI/3 of the STCW Code;

• .4 for those designated to provide immediate first aid, proficiency in medical first aid as specified in table A-VI/4-1 of the STCW Code;

• .5 for a person designated to take charge of medical care on board the MOU, proficiency in taking charge of medical care as specified in table A-VI/4-2 of the STCW Code;

• .6 for a person designated security duties on board the MOU, proficiency in security duties as specified in section A-VI/6-2 of the STCW Code;

• .7 for MOUs with helidecks, the designated helicopter landing officer (HLO) should have completed an accredited HLO course, which should include basic meteorological observer training; and

• .8 for MOUs with dynamic positioning systems, the dynamic positioning operator(s) (DPO) should gain the appropriate training and experience in accordance with the guidance provided by industry and recognized by the Organization.^footnote

  5.6.3 Since specialized training may not be provided on the MOU, care should be taken to ensure that newly assigned personnel with designated responsibility for the survival of others have sufficient experience, instruction, information or training on the equipment they are to use.

  5.6.4 Individuals should hold a CoP or provide documentary evidence of having received specialized training or instruction within the previous five years, as required.