Offshore is probably the safest industry to be in because we are regulated by so many bodies, before a finger is lifted pages of paperwork and meetings have to be completed. when you compare it to the construction industry or even the forces, we are leading the way in health and safety. I started as ROV when i left and know that most of the guys i work with are ex military normally a mechanical or electrical background is needed but most is learnt on the job.

What is life like on the rig when you're off shift? Are there gym facilities, internet access TV and the like?

Originally Posted by NorthSeaTiger

Depends as some jobs are on a fixed dayrate and some are paid hourly .. when I was doing the Industrial Cleaning the rate was between [/b]£11 and £14 an hour with over[b]time being a bit higher.

You can get that driving a supermarket wagon out of Brum. It,ll probally be cheaper geting the licence than your survival ticket aswell !!!! & you,ll be home every night. I,ve never worked on oil rigs but I would like to comment on peoples keeness to do so. WHY is the question. After a carear in the Army being sent away for months on end etc & alot of guys bitch about it, Would you want to carry on that lifestyle & work the rigs ? If your single or have an understanding wife (bet you she,ll be pissed with the idea ) then good luck to yer. If your not in that position I personally would,nt bother. Theres money to be made onshore if you scratch around a bit !! It may sound good money on the rigs. But is it ?

Good luck to the guys working the rigs. They are an important trade in our Countrys future. They are a rare breed just like the professional soldier. But if you value your family life, especially after a military carrear . I,d give the rigs a wide berth. This is just my personal opinion.

Regards LT.

Sorry Lt, completely pointless post there, no offence but I imagine that people who would like to work on the rigs have possibly considered your comments. I for one would happily do 3 weeks on 3 weeks off for 10-15 years, I've been doing 6 months on 2 minutes off for the past 23! (ok maybe not that bad) and I've quite enjoyed it. The fact is that this kind of job appeals to some, as does any type of employment, not everyone. There are thousands of jobs I COULD do, driving a supermarket wagon out of Brum is one of them, but I don't want to. I could even fly the taxi's to the rigs, I don't want to do that either. Pay is just one factor in the big picture and if you are prepared to put the effort in then I'm sure the rewards will follow (whichever career path you choose). For myself (and a few others that I know that are interested in working offshore) it is something that has always appealed to me and something I've always wanted to try. My wife is very supportive of the idea and the 3 weeks off is something that can be used to good effect.

Thanks for the advice to all those that have contributed.

working offshore is ideal for me, i am married with a family but i reckon i see more of them than if i was to have a regular job onshore. A friend of mine works onshore and he is away to work before the kids wake up and by the time he gets home they are in bed added to that his overtime at weekends he is lucky if he has 1 day a week with his family. Although i go away for a month my month at home is all my own i take the kids to school and i pick them up. i can take them out during the week and there isnt a job i could get onshore that pays even close to what i get. on top of that there is no daily commute, free food most rigs/boats have email/internet and free or very cheap phone calls.
obviously it isnt for everyone and it takes a special wife to put up with it but it certainly suits me and i really couldnt go back to a 9-5 regular job

Milkybar, the offshore focus isn't just off Aberdeen - there are plenty of (mainly) gas production platforms in English waters feeding to terminals at:

Teesside; East Yorkshire (Easington/Dimlington); Lincolnshire (Theddlethorpe); Bacton, Norfolk; Point Of Ayr, N Wales (for Liverpool Bay);

and Barrow in Furness (Cumbria) for Morcambe Bay.

Originally Posted by LoneTree

Originally Posted by NorthSeaTiger

Depends as some jobs are on a fixed dayrate and some are paid hourly .. when I was doing the Industrial Cleaning the rate was between [/b]£11 and £14 an hour with over[b]time being a bit higher.

You can get that driving a supermarket wagon out of Brum. It,ll probally be cheaper geting the licence than your survival ticket aswell !!!! & you,ll be home every night. I,ve never worked on oil rigs but I would like to comment on peoples keeness to do so. WHY is the question. After a carear in the Army being sent away for months on end etc & alot of guys bitch about it, Would you want to carry on that lifestyle & work the rigs ? If your single or have an understanding wife (bet you she,ll be pissed with the idea ) then good luck to yer. If your not in that position I personally would,nt bother. Theres money to be made onshore if you scratch around a bit !! It may sound good money on the rigs. But is it ?

Good luck to the guys working the rigs. They are an important trade in our Countrys future. They are a rare breed just like the professional soldier. But if you value your family life, especially after a military carrear . I,d give the rigs a wide berth. This is just my personal opinion.

Regards LT.

Think you have made a good point about being married or heavily involved with someone then maybe it isnt for you .. I have worked with guys who spent all weekend offshore worrying what the wife or missus was doing .. and these guys were just about hanging off the roof by their fingernails !! .. but if you are single ( or cant stand your wife !! ) its a good life as the sense of humour is like the militairy and when out here its good scoff and your bed made and laundry done for you .. easy .. all you have to do is work .. but it is just a job at the end of the day and the reason I do it is the time off .. three whole weeks off to do what you want and spend your dosh.

Speaking of dosh .. it is good money .. I got between 11 and 14 quid an hour as an industrial cleaner (mostly 14 as the 11 quid mob were an accident looking for a place to occur and my time there was short ) but that was an 84 hour week with three hours a day overtime at time and a half on most jobs plus a 20 quid a day retainer (so they didnt have to pay you for being at home !! .. basically about a grand a week. Radio Op is about the same. Most of the guys I know are out here as it is good money (undoubtedly not as good as it used to be .. my old man has been working out here for 26 years and remembers wages being SIX times the average when he started) .. but for most guys it is the clear periods of time off.

And thanks for the Arrser who reminded me that I havent been out here long enough to be a North Sea Tiger .. North Sea Pussycat sound better ??

Now is the time to start offshore, there is a shortage of staff at the moment. It is a boom or bust industry but generally if you get in during a peak and are a good worker you will be kept on during the quiet periods. The time off is fantastic i know my dates well in advance, sometimes you will miss out on events like christmas or birthdays but coming from the forces you will be used to that (one of the reasons that they like ex-forces).
I have seen the guys that NST refers to. the ones that constantly worry that their wife/girlfriend is getting shafted each night, If thats you then give the rigs a miss.
Whilst on the rigs life is easy, you get up breakfast is made for you, walk to work. then finish. No daily commute to add a few hours to your day. Offshift most rigs will have Internet and telephones for you to use. normally 2 cinemas (smoking and non-smoking) well equipped Gyms and games rooms. The social side is very good, no alcohol but a good craic. Food is free and generally good, there will be a shop on board for you to buy cigarettes, sweets and toiletries.
Pay is generally good, i only get paid for the days i work. I started in 2001 on £8 an hour but it has quickly risen and now i am on £35 an hour, which is good money in anyones books.
Do a search on google There is a load of advice there
2 jobs that do regularly take new starts from the forces is Remote operated vehicles (ROV) and Rope Access Technician (RAT)

ROV pilots operate the mini submarines that are used, generally you will need to have come from a Job that involed mechanics or electrics, I was RAC Tank Crew and this is the trade i went into. You normally work in 3 man teams and the scope for promotion is very good, You are just as likely to work on a boat as a rig, In my opinion boats are far better as you get to go ashore occasionally.

RAT's are used on the rigs to carry out work at heights or over the side, by using robes to access the worksite, One advantage with this job is that you can always work onshore if offshore isnt for you

Both trades have training courses which can be done for resettlement

Hello just a quick question about the medical exam. Would an MCA Seafarers Medical Certificate do for that?

Just to reiterate, think oil industry rather than oil rigs and the north sea, there are Seismic jobs, production jobs, support and infra structure jobs eg road building, surveying etc, offshore and onshore Russia, siberia, eastern europe, south america, middle east, far east, canada..................................

The oil industry is Gi-knockerpod

The opportunities are endless, the work is generally X on X off, and work can be varied and interesting

theGimp