Working Offshore

Overview

The offshore diving industry in Australia comes under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 and associated regulations.  This Act and the regulations are regulated by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).

If you are interested in a career working on an offshore vessel or rig, there are certain requirements that you need to meet before you can begin an offshore job.  The information below is a guideline to those requirements.

More information about the offshore Act and Regulations, and NOPSEMA can be found on the NOPSEMA website.

ADAS Certification

Divers and Diving Supervisors

In order to be a diver or diving supervisor working offshore, you are required to hold an ADAS certification.  For divers this is the ADAS Part 3 (SSBA to 50m) as a minimum, or Part 4 (Closed Bell) if you are undertaking Closed Bell work.  For supervisors this is the ADAS Offshore Air as a minimum, or ADAS Offshore Bell for Closed Bell work.

Diver Medical Technicians (DMT)

While you do not have to hold a DMT certification in order to work offshore, it is something that may improve your chance of gaining employment.

Each offshore dive team is required to have a member who is a current DMT.  While it’s not mandatory that the DMT certification is issued by ADAS, the certification does need to be current and you have to refresh it within the required time frame.

More information about ADAS certifications can be found on the Training Courses page of the ADAS website.

Non-ADAS Certifications

Other types of certification which offshore workers will need to have as a minimum include:

• Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET)

This course provides safety and emergency response training and includes the Helicopter Underwater Escape Training component.

BOSIET certifications are recognised by the Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation (OPITO) and more information can be found on the OPITO website.

• Maritime Security Identification Card (MSIC)

This card is required for anyone working within a secure area of a Port, Ship or offshore oil and gas facility, and confirms that the holder has met the minimum background checking requirements to work in a maritime and/or offshore security zone. 

The MSIC is controlled by the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs, and more information can be found on the Criminal Justice page of Department’s website.

• Construction White Card

This card is required for anyone carrying out construction work.  White Card training includes OHS/WHS legislation; hazard identification and control; reporting processes; and incident response procedures.

White Cards are issued by the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulators in each Australian state.  More information can be found on the Safe Work Australia website.

• Current Occupational Diving Medical (for offshore divers)

Occupational diving medicals have to be issued in accordance with AS/NZS 2299.1:2007 and the medical examination is to be carried out by doctor specifically trained in underwater medicine to ensure you are medically fit to dive.  More information about occupational diving medicals can be found on the Medical Fitness page of the ADAS website.

• Current First Aid Certifications

All divers and diving supervisors are required to hold current First Aid certifications which include:
– General First Aid (refreshed every 3 years)
– CPR (refreshed or demonstrated every 12 months)
– Oxygen Administration (refreshed or demonstrated every 12 months)

More information about First Aid certifications can be found on the First Aid page of the ADAS website.

• Legal Ability to Work in Australia

Anyone who wishes to work in Australia (regardless of the industry) must have a Visa issued by the Australian Government which allows them to do so.  There are different types of Visa which may be available for you, depending on your circumstances.  More information can be found on the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs website.

Other Useful or Sought-After Certifications

While the certifications shown above are required for working offshore, the below list shows types of certifications which are useful and sought-after by offshore contractors.

• Rigging and Dogging Certification

Rigging is the use of mechanical load-shifting equipment to move, place or secure a load using plant and equipment, or the setting up and dismantling of crane or hoists.

Dogging is the use of slinging techniques to move a load or directing a crane/hoist operator in the movement of a load.

White Cards are issued by the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulators in each Australian state.  More information can be found on the website of each regulator and links to these sites can be found on the SafeWork Australia website.

• CSWIP 3.1 or 3.2 Certification

The CSWIP 3.1 or 3.2 certifications allow you to undertake tasks as a welding inspector.  While there are many trianing providers who offer this certification, the internationally based CSWIP organisation oversees the certification process.  More information can be found on the CSWIP website.

• Kirby Morgan Hat Technician Certification

The ability to maintain and repair a Kirby Morgan hat is a highly beneficial skill to have in the offshore industry.  There are many training providers in Australia who offer this certification.  More information about the Kirby Morgan brand itself can be found on the Kirby Morgan website.

• Forklift Licence

Forklift licences are issued by the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulators in each Australian state.  More information can be found on the website of each regulator and links to these sites can be found on the SafeWork Australia website.