Who’s at sea and where do you work?

^^^^ that 'pipe and casings' process has alwasy fascinated me and seeing a team really pulling together is a joy to watch. Is it still so 'manual' and risk strewn in a modern world?
(sorry for diversion)

Yeah for sure. No doubt his qualifications will get him onto a cadet programme fairly easily, however I meant more achieving the CoC - previously an engineer or electrician with a shoreside degree could do a ‘fast track’ cadetship - basically just ticking off the short courses at college and getting a year or so sea time inbetween to complete a training record book… then they could apply for their NoE and do their orals all within 18konths. Nowadays though, I’m not sure if that route still exists? So would he have to do the 3 year cadetship in full before he could get the necessary ticket?

Either way, it’s possible! There were 40yo cadets in my class back in the day, they done well too, the maturity over a 16yo school leaver is a huge advantage, many of the really young ones didn’t appreciate the opportunity they had.

Some years ago—never mind how long precisely—having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off—then, I account it high time tozz get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.

The Captain of the ship I'm on failed the breathalyser at check in, and was immediately dismissed (not the only one), so it does happen!

20+ years offshore. Currently Arabian Gulf on this jackup. Been international about 6 years now after 14 years in the North Sea. Trying my absolute best to not get dragged back to the cold / wet / helicopters that I hate so much.

Weather good, food OK, internet crap but banter good. Crewchanging by boat takes a huge chunk of time but rather that than a flying coffin tbh.

Thank you for that content - post and video.
I agree : poetry in motion

The spinning chain was attached to drive of the drawworks ( winch ) and was used to spin in the drill pipe / tubular until the tool joints met , and then the tongs used to torque up the pipe to the required setting.
The chain was initially replaced by a stand alone hydraulic pipe spinner and then latterly an “iron roughneck” ( an all in one pipe spinner ,and tong machine ) which significantly reduced finger and hand injuries and meant that Roughnecks could then count to ten without having to use their toes as well
I’ve been away from the job now for a few years, so what they are now installing to current drill floors will have advanced even more, but I suppose there is only so far you can go and can’t totally reinvent the wheel. However a good crew on manual was still quicker tripping pipe than a “remote” system.

Those guys are in the zone.

Looks pretty intense and potentially quite dangerous if you lose concentration.

How long would a team have spent doing that without a break? A whole shift, or just an hour or so?

Another one working for this firm, in the greasing dept though not a chief greaser! Can concur, good T&Cs, though the company can seem like it forgets its core business is running a fleet of ships and not being a catering firm or tourist board.

Have worked on oil and gas support vessels (anchor handlers, platform supply, dive ROV), cruise ships and done a bit of tall ship sailing, and did other 'stuff' prior to getting my ticket. I've done a few jobs in a yard/office, which has just highlighted how much better (to me) it is to work a rotational job rather than the '9-5'.

Not me, but my nephew. Engineer on some kind of cargo boat that the MoD keeps using to transport stuff to hotspots.

Pic is when they lost power in a North Sea storm.