Section 4 Activities prior to use
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Clasifications Register Rules and Regulations - Code for Offshore Personnel Transfer Systems, July 2022 - Chapter 2 Annex Recommendations for Safe Operation of the OPTS - Section 4 Activities prior to use

Section 4 Activities prior to use

Parent topic: Chapter 2 Annex Recommendations for Safe Operation of the OPTS

4.1 Pre-use risk assessment

4.1.1 A risk assessment should be carried out prior to every use in relation to hazards associated with the following:

  1. suitability of environmental conditions (e.g. wind speeds, significant wave heights, snow, ice, visibility, currents, water temperature, lightning, etc.);
  2. suitability of SWLs or UDL for the intended operation(s);
  3. transfer of only the absolutely necessary personnel;
  4. duration and frequency of intended transfers;
  5. potential mothership inclinations (heel, trim);
  6. potential mothership motions (sway, surge, heave, roll, pitch, yaw);
  7. capability to control mothership and target unit movements (e.g. by means of dynamic positioning);
  8. suitable condition of the OPTS and associated and/or remote equipment, e.g.
    1. state of OPTS in general and its components;
    2. status of indicating devices and warning messages signalling the state of the OPTS (e.g. wind speeds, state of hydraulic system, state of power supply, state of control system, etc.);
    3. correctly functioning indicators;
    4. correctly functioning control devices and system;
    5. correctly functioning limiting devices and systems;
    6. correctly functioning protection devices and systems;
    7. maintenance status, documentation status, certification status, etc.);
  9. effects of green sea or similar;
  10. adequate lighting provided;
  11. all accessible areas free of slip and trip hazards;
  12. suitability of conditions on the mothership and target unit (e.g. sufficient space available);
  13. suitability and functioning of communication facilities;
  14. operational limitations of the OPTS and associated and/or remote equipment;
  15. operations taking place in parallel with the potential affecting the personnel transfer operation and its safety (e.g. crane operations);
  16. availability of life-saving equipment/appliances and equipment aiding personnel rescue (e.g. for man-overboard scenarios);
  17. personnel and Operator suitably trained;
  18. experience of personnel to be transferred;
  19. direct visual contact and communication between Operator and personnel to be transferred;
  20. direct visual contact and communication with mothership and target unit and structure;
  21. potential dropped objects and protection against dropped objects;
  22. required PPE provided;
  23. rescue of injured personnel;
  24. rescue/recovery of personnel falling from the OPTS; and
  25. consideration and establishment of necessary escape routes.

4.1.2 Any relevant findings of the design risk assessment concerning operation should be considered. For the methodology of the design risk assessment, see Ch 1, 10 Risk assessment.

4.2 Pre-use briefing

4.2.1 The pre-use risk assessment should be followed by a general and situation specific briefing of the transferring personnel and the Operator and should include the following:

  1. standard operating procedure for safe transfers;
  2. specific hazards and mitigation as a result of the pre-use risk assessment;
  3. behaviours and safety procedures in case of an emergency;
  4. observations, wishes and questions from the personnel to be transferred; and
  5. roles and communication.

4.3 Pre-use inspection

4.3.1 Before any personnel transfer operation commences, an inspection of the OPTS and associated gear/equipment/components is recommended prior to each consecutive use following stowage, in order to ensure that the system is in suitable condition as per the requirements of the designer’s/manufacturer’s instructions for use and maintenance. The results of the pre-use risk assessment should be applied in the pre-use inspection. The inspection/examination should be documented and made available if necessary.

4.3.2 For fully passive OPTS (e.g. systems bridging a ‘Floatel’ and an FPSO) or dual mode systems which are in passive mode for a long time (e.g. more than a day) the inspection should be carried out daily prior to each consecutive use. The inspection/examination should be documented and made available if necessary.

4.3.3 For systems which are fully actively compensated and/or need to be manoeuvred into position prior to (active or passive) use, it is recommended that the system functions are tested in a ‘dry run’ in an area above the mothership without personnel on the gangway and OPTS. This could mean to carry out all motions (e.g. slewing, luffing and telescoping) in order to verify that the arrangement functions correctly. During such operations no persons should be on the OPTS or in the hazardous zone around the OPTS.

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