ROV vs Instrumentation offshore career?

ROV vs Instrumentation offshore career?

Author
Discussion

colgy

Original Poster:

21 posts

215 months

Thursday 19th July 2012
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Hey guys, I don't want to start another 'how do I get offshore' thread, but I would appreciate any input!

I'm leaving the Royal Navy after 10 years as a chief technician/engineer and find myself with a couple of options. I've had some interest from companies and am looking at Instrumentation technician or ROV pilot/technician. The Instrument technician job looks like it pays more initially (a plus, but not the over-riding factor) whereas the ROV path looks like it might be more interesting; does anybody have any knowledge of career prospects in these two sectors? From info on the web, ROV pilot looks like a structured career path but lacks info on timescales beyond initial training. I'd like to avoid the dreaded 'dead man's shoes' when it comes to advancement so it might pay to do research now!

Any thoughts/comments welcome! And a shameless plug if anybody's interested.... biggrin

http://uk.linkedin.com/in/craigmccolgan

frank hovis

456 posts

263 months

Thursday 19th July 2012
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Craig ,
Personally I would take the instrumention tiffy position , it's easier path in to offshore management in the long term . I have know a few tiff's that have went on to OiM
Rov pilot is possibly more interesting and are more likely to get jollies to all sorts of places but being ex RN you most likely have had that already !

IMHO go for instrument with a eye to getting trained up on the process side if it's a career you want with good prospects



chrisj_abz

807 posts

184 months

Thursday 19th July 2012
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ive done a bit of both, but work in ROV industry now so heres my tuppence worth!

tiffie will be more structured, more likely to have a steady rotation on a platform as well which is good nowadays as usually something like 2on 3off. not sure how much that pays nowadays but will probably be salary and will be the same each month. it will be fairly routine work however, lot of routine testing with the odd breakdown. guessing it will be in the north sea so not much travel time which is a bonus.

ROV work is really busy just now, shortage of trained guys but plenty folk wanting a start in the industry. the career path goes like this, you would start as a trainee, then go to a pilot/tech (some companies have 2 levels of this depending on experience) then sub engineer (usually acts as night shift supervisor) then supervisor. varied work you have to be an expert in many disciplines (electrical/hydraulic/comms) piloting the ROV is good fun unless its Bubble watching (supporting drilling ops where you are sitting watching for gas releases) or pipeline survey (following a pipe in a straight line, very easy to nod off!!)
can work anywhere in the world and the travel that entails which can be great but the constant airport visits are a bit annoying after a while.
usually not a steady rotation so you can be away for days or weeks and home for days or weeks. pay can be dayrate or a salary dependant on company.

any other questions just ask!

colgy

Original Poster:

21 posts

215 months

Thursday 19th July 2012
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Cheers guys, both very helpful replies!

Frank, when you say process, do you mean metering or production/control room operator? I had a look at that briefly, but the requirements seemed to be chemical/refining hydrocarbon qualifications rather than pure engineering experience. Metering seems to ask for experience in that field? The stability/time off for instrument tech appeals to me but would it be less challenging after a year or two? Just thinking out loud!

Chris, if I already had a decent knowledge of hydraulics and electrics what sort of timescale would be reasonable to progress to pilot tech I and ROV supervisor? I don't mind dropping my salary if I know there will be the opportunity to progress in the future.

Trips away would be a bonus in my book - don't mind the 120 hrs+ a week or going away just as long as I can get some time off after 6 or 7 months work!! rolleyes

Gazzas86

1,707 posts

170 months

Friday 20th July 2012
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Bookmarked, simply because i'm at my 8 year point in the same position as you and will be looking at leaving in the not to distant future.

chrisj_abz

807 posts

184 months

Friday 20th July 2012
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its a bit up in the air at the moment as the ROV industry is pretty busy, you could get in to one company where its a pretty quick promotion from pilot tech to supervisor due to lack of trained personnel.

i think it used to be about 3-4 years but may be less now, certainly heard of folk being promoted to supervisor after a couple years.

trips tend to be up to 4 weeks normally, sometimes 6.

frank hovis

456 posts

263 months

Friday 20th July 2012
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To get in the process side from uni usually involves a chemical eng degree but once you are in with a company and proved you are trustworthy you can move roles with relative easy
My mate was a materials co ordinator on the platform but was doing the modules that allowed him to move over to a production tech then up to a control room tech

My opinion is go for the instrument tech position and if you don't like it after a go try ROV pilot type role .


dingg

3,974 posts

218 months

Friday 20th July 2012
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I'd go the ROV route but work towards a subsea engineer role - always v well paid and in great demand.

ex commercial diver here who went into production (CRO)

phumy

5,671 posts

236 months

Monday 23rd July 2012
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Colgy, have you looked into the power sector, there are lots of opening to get into power plants for ex RN personnel, especially C&I trained. The Combined Cycle Gas Turbine site are the ones to aim for as you will have had GT training in the RN. The money is very good and normaslly there would be a choice of going on shift or day work, shift obviouslt carries a higher salary with it and its very good too.

I took on a couple of ex RN guys at my last power plant in the UK about 10 years ago as Technicians, within a year they had more than proven their worth and their skills and knowledge showed through at an early stage, they were both promoted to Engineer levels.

jshell

11,006 posts

204 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
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Having moved from CRO on platforms to subsea engineering, there's no contest in my mind. Go for the ROV position as it's a growth industry, pays well, great travel and career prospects.

Streetrod

6,468 posts

205 months

Thursday 26th July 2012
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Oil & Gas employer here, contact a company called Subsea 7, they operate over 175 ROV's within the SURF arena and are always on the look out for potential good guys, they also have a solid training program.

Or you could PM me your CV, not looking at the moment but could be in the near future

colgy

Original Poster:

21 posts

215 months

Sunday 5th August 2012
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Some good points here, thanks for that! I'm still very interested in the ROV side of things although research on a popular ROV forum suggests that the pay isn't great until you have some experience behind you.

Phumy, I did consider that as I have experience in GT installation/Set to Work/defect rectification as the propulsion/controls tiff (Artificer) and really enjoyed it, especially on the controls side, but the problem is that there are no power plants near me. I'm not too keen on relocating straight away (although wouldn't rule it out) which is why I'm considering the offshore-rotational jobs where I can work away for a few weeks and then travel home. Strangely, there doesn't seem to be many GT jobs advertised online! Appreciate the advice though!

Streetrod, thanks for the heads-up! I've been offered an interview with Subsea 7 and applied with ISS too, so I'm making progress at the moment. I'm still keen to keep my options open as I can keep getting paid up until January, so I'll take you up on your kind offer! smile

Ug_lee

2,223 posts

210 months

Monday 6th August 2012
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I work for Subsea7 within the ROV side.

Subsea7 have a massive array of jobs not all ROV as the subsea construction side is pretty lucrative. They may look at your skills set and propose a suitable job that may interest you? I'm currently within the I-tech side of Subsea7 which is more the drill support side of things.

Dependant on what you want in a job the I-tech side is steadier work (more regular rotations on the same system) but the construction side is more demanding from a flying and operational side of things. Be prepared to be very busy!

I was never wanting to be on the rigs and wanted construction but I'm lucky and got a role as Pilot Tech on a I-tech system based on a boat in Ghana so get a good mix of work. Overall I'm quite happy and as far as pay/conditions for the role and responsibilities I think it's a decent package. I certainly don't struggle anyway!
There are companies that pay much higher wages, but I'm salaried (with a day rate payment) and even if I didn't work a single day for a year the bills are covered and with other benefits of been a salaried worker (healthcare/pension/other stuff) it works out well.

Travelwise I have been to a lot of amazing and not so amazing places but the experience has far eclipsed been in the RAF. Just be prepared for a lot of air travel, airports really do become a massive headache!

As you're RN (I'm ex RAF) you'll probably be used to long times away from home just be aware that the industry is in high demand at the moment. So you'll be lucky to keep your days under 200 per year if you are decent. Promotion to Pilot tech can take 1 year to 3 years all dependant on the individual and the system you work on.

Hope that helps smile

colgy

Original Poster:

21 posts

215 months

Sunday 12th August 2012
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Thanks Ug Lee, every little helps! Not bothered in the slightest about having to work a lot, I would be pretty chuffed to get under 300 days for a change! Interesting the timescale you mentioned; I had previously been quoted 6-12 months to get qualified - are you talking about the 100 hours required to reach PT1? I'm not expecting to match my Chief's pay as a trainee, but taking a £15k pay drop for 3 years would require serious consideration.

johnfm

13,668 posts

249 months

Tuesday 14th August 2012
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Offshore/oil/gas does sound like a varied sector to work in. I bet you guys don't get too bored with work.

Gazzas86

1,707 posts

170 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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Colgy,

Just reviving your old thread rather than starting my own, how you finding ROV'ing since you left, Currently in my last 10 months and potentially have a start as an ROV PT Trainee with ROVOP next year.


jshell

11,006 posts

204 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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Gazzas86 said:
Colgy,

Just reviving your old thread rather than starting my own, how you finding ROV'ing since you left, Currently in my last 10 months and potentially have a start as an ROV PT Trainee with ROVOP next year.
Stick with it for the moment, there's a downturn coming fast.

Ron98

286 posts

155 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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If you go for the steady Tiffy job on a 2 and 3 week (pay is 52-72k) rota promotion to lead will take longer than ROV defo no timed promotion on a platform.

ROV pilot tech sounds more interesting I was a Aircraft Tech in the RAF, its just a A/C in the water with a umbilical instead of two Gas Turbines.

I was offered a platform job so jumped at it but have a few ExRAF mates ROV'ing.

Gazzas86

1,707 posts

170 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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jshell said:
Gazzas86 said:
Colgy,

Just reviving your old thread rather than starting my own, how you finding ROV'ing since you left, Currently in my last 10 months and potentially have a start as an ROV PT Trainee with ROVOP next year.
Stick with it for the moment, there's a downturn coming fast.
I wondered this, however after chatting with a mate who is an OCM, he said ROVOP is a new company with Huge financial backing, A lot of guys are jumping ship to them. It's either that or do my Compex as part of resettlement and go instrument tech. As much as i would love to stick with it, 9 months in the Gulf does not appeal to me one bit. With manning shortages across the fleet, covering 4 peoples jobs for only a pat on the back isnt worth it anymore, plus im a hands on guy and at this stage not interested getting my warrants just yet.

colgy

Original Poster:

21 posts

215 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
Yeah I heard about the extended deployments - and that there are planning on flying out people (who won't know the ship or the systems!) just for a maintenance period - that has disaster written all over it!

So I've been with the Subsea 7 for nearly 2 years and got promoted to PT after the 12 months (pretty straight forward if you've done hydraulics/mechanical/electronics before). The company isn't too bad, they don't pay the best, and a lot of people aren't to happy with the tax policy, but it's salaried and they have quite a few boats all over the world, so chances to get experience on varying projects and systems. Sub-Eng and beyond seems decent enough pay.

Job wise, it's not too bad - the construction can certainly be interesting. Only issue with ROV's is that you can be constantly busy; understandable, due vessel charter costs. Speaking to friends that work as production/instrument techs, those jobs may be slightly less busy on a day-day to basis? But having not done both, I can't really comment. As a Pilot Tech, you are very much bottom of the rung which may be a step-down, but as long as you have a decent attitude and remember that you're probably getting more money for less responsibility (compared to Chief's wage or 9-5 Aberdeen Project Engineer), it's not really an issue!

One thing I would say is, don't bother doing an ROV course, doesn't guarantee you a job and if the company want you, they'll pay for it. If you want to try ROV, you could always do it for a year or two to get qualified, do something else and come back to it if it didn't work out?

I'd quite like to get into Subsea Engineering, but haven't a clue how to do that without experience in the industry - does anybody have any suggestions on that front?