Page 14: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Mar/Apr 2021)

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INTERVIEW KEN CHAPMAN

Maersk Training “By the Numbers” ferent forms – which is now Transocean. I was passed over with the MPMS to the

Employees 637

With Transocean, I held a variety of new company. The transition was not the

Course days 2019 80,000 posts BCO, Barge Supervisor, Rig Safety easiest for me or Maersk Training, but in

Training locations 18

Training Coordinator. In 2000, I was ap- time they learned from us, and we from

Vendors 500+ pointed as HSE Advisor for the North them, and I am still here and proud of

Onsite locations 50+

Sea; this job was to bring me ashore and what we do. In Maersk Training, I have to be honest, I was ready for it. It also al- also developed and gained accreditation lowed me to join a brilliant training team to develop what with certain bodies for the courses I deliver. I have developed some people call my ‘baby’, the Multi-Purpose Marine Simu- courses such as the OIM Controlling Emergencies for other lator (MPMS), now known as the Operational Training Sim- companies assessed in Europe as well as the middle east and ulator in Maersk Training. developed courses like the Assisted Position Mooring Man-

During my time as an HSE Advisor we started this proj- agement Course for Premier Oil. ect to build the simulator, and it involved a team of people I intended to retire this year, but after discussion with my from Transocean and a software frm based in Aberdeen called manager, we decided that I will instead work on reduced hours.

Pisys. Pisys were superb in putting delivering the vision to A gentle easing into retirement is better than the prospect of bring the various aspects of the Marine side of training in me being at home full time - my wife’s words, not mine!

the drilling industry into one complex, rather than farming

I can understand how something as dramatic and training out to training providers who delivered a generic set traumatic as Piper Alpha would be formative in your of courses. In 2001, after a $1million investment, my ‘baby’ passion for training.

was born. It was used to deliver Stability courses on Semi Sub

Drilling rigs and some basic Jack Up courses, and of course, As mentioned before, the Piper Alpha was a point in my life

Major Emergency Management (MEM) courses. that changed me. Then, joining Transocean and being given

This is where the Piper Alpha’s infuence really came home the opportunity to develop the MPMS simulator confrmed to roost, and training became my passion. Over the years, we that training was what I needed to do. I knew this from train- developed the simulator to include more semi-subs and Jack- ing I gave in HM Coastguard, but now this was a chance to

Up models, and under Maersk Training, it can also simulate do it full time. I believe it is one of the main reason ways can production platforms, a gas terminal, FPSO, and has the fa- really prevent incidents; how we train people is a key factor. I cility to provide training in rig moves. The simulator also, I also believe that if we can get people to do the actual practical believe, was the frst to demonstrate and train personnel in training on simulators, it is one of the best ways of learning. handling Rack Phase Difference on Jack-Up installations. I Sitting in class and doing theory work is a vital part of it, but believe that Transocean and all the companies that came to- if we can get people to do practical work or exercises, it will gether to make up the group were way ahead of some in their always reinforce the theory much better than sitting in a class wish to train their own personnel in their training centers, and doing a written exam. Of course, there has to be a balance, but

I was part of that for nearly 15 years. if you ask people if they would prefer eight hours day sitting

During that period in the training department, I developed in class or a balance of theory with practical exercises, I think and trained in various subjects from Marine Operations for the majority will go for the latter.

Jack-Up installations, Stability for MODU’s, MEM, Ad-

Using the start of your career to today as bookends, vanced courses for Jack-Up such as Jack-Up lessons Learned can you discuss how ‘training’ is most the different, and was involved in the introduction of assessing all the com- panies OIM’s and Captains worldwide in the management of and most the same?

major emergencies, this we called the PIC Assessment. And The use of computers and simulators, without a doubt, has this was all driven by Transocean’s aim to be the best drilling been the biggest step forward, and I believe the best improve- contractor in the world, and I was part of that with my per- ment. There were not many simulators, possibly radar simu- sonal wish to make my training the best and prevent another lators, and a few ship handling simulators in my early days. incident like the Piper Alpha. These usually made of model ships rather than the high-end

In 2015 Transocean divested itself of its training centers graphics we see today on modern computer-based simulators. and handed its training over to Maersk Training globally, and But as I mentioned, there is still a lot of training that needs to 14 OFFSHORE ENGINEER OEDIGITAL.COM