PETROFAC Training launched its fourth UK major-emergency management (MEM) simulator at a ceremony at its Altens training centre in Aberdeen last night.
The £120,000 investment has provided the firm, which provides competence-led training and consultancy to the international energy industries, with a second simulator at Altens.
A further two MEM simulators are located at its Montrose training centre.
The new simulator was built in response to increased demand for its MEM courses and assessments for offshore installation managers (OIMs) and control room operators (CROs). The simulator will be accredited to provide formal assessment of OIMs and CROs to Opito standards.
Petrofac Training can link the control room in the simulator to Petrofac’s fire-training ground at Montrose or its emergency-response service centre in Aberdeen. By doing so, realistic potential scenarios can be created and used to assess delegates.
Mike Comerford, Petrofac Training’s regional director – Europe, said: “We have invested in this new facility in response to recent contract work from existing and new oil and gas customers. This has also resulted in the need to recruit three additional experienced members of staff.”
Chris Allen, Oil and Gas UK’s health, safety, social and environment director, who spoke at the launch, said: “The requirement to carry out realistic emergency-management training and competence assessments for OIMs and their teams stems directly from recommendations made by Lord Cullen following the Piper Alpha enquiry. I very much welcome the additional training capacity that this new simulator will provide.”