The mechanical team have probably one of the most varied jobs.
As a technician you will carry out proactive and reactive maintenance on equipment such as turbines, drilling equipment and pump engines. As well as fault finding and repairs you will interpret technical drawings and prepare reports once your work is done.
As an engineer you will be more heavily involved in the design and development of procedures. You will take requirements from the Technical Authority (TA) and design or specify new equipment to fit. You will ensure that company standards are adhered to.
Both of these roles are vital to ensuring the constant efficiency of offshore operations and production. A failure in a mechanical system could be very costly for the company and as such a lot of emphasis is placed on preventive maintenance and rapid response to problems.
Salary and Progression
With a wide range of roles onboard an installation there’s an equally wide range of training and experience to be achieved. A company is more likely to employ a highly qualified person who can carry out many tasks than lots of different people. Your salary is likely to start from £20,000-£25,000 until you have gained some experience. As a technician you could earn up to £35,000 whereas an engineer could earn upwards of £50,000.
Training and Experience Requirements
For either role you would be expected to have relevant experience, this could be in refineries or petrochemical sectors onshore. You should also aim to have an NVQ or SVQ Level 3 and / or an OPITO / ECITB Technician Training Scheme. As an engineer, it’s more likely you’ll be asked to have an engineering related degree and in more senior roles to hold chartered status.
In addition, to work offshore, you will require valid basic offshore certificates including:
- BOSIET
- MIST
- CA-EBS
- Shoulder Measurements
- Offshore Medical
It is likely that an employer will ask for other certificates too. It’s always a good idea to look at a range of job posts to identify commonly requested training requirements.
