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Boels prepares maintenance crew for working at height
How do you train a team to safely operate an aerial work platform on a 220-metre-long vessel? That was the question when Heerema Marine Contractors brought ‘Sleipnir’ into the port of Rotterdam for maintenance. For the Malaysian welders on board, it was their first time using a self-propelled telescopic boom lift. So Heerema turned to Boels – for both the machinery and the training.
International crew, globally certified
Over two days, twelve crew members took part in an IPAF 3B aerial work platform training. With this certificate, they can now operate boom lifts – anywhere in the world. “We’ve worked with Boels before,” says Niels de Jong from Heerema Marine Contractors. “In the past, we used our crane for this kind of job. This time we chose boom lifts – a conscious decision that requires proper skills and knowledge. Especially in a dynamic setting like a crane vessel. Boels sorted everything out in a day. That’s the kind of service we count on.”
Safety standards at sea
Offshore safety rules are stricter than onshore, and even while docked, the conditions weren’t easy. “We had wind force 6 on Monday,” says De Jong. “That means you can’t use the boom lift. But the advantage of this huge vessel – 220 metres long and 102 metres wide – is that we could move to a more sheltered spot. There’s always a safe location on board.”
Theory and practice on board
Boels regularly provides aerial work platform courses in all kinds of locations. Boels trainer Damyam van Doornik spent two days on board to prepare the team. “This training comes with strict rules – especially on a vessel like this. In the morning we cover the theory together, and in the afternoon we head straight to practice. I explain what a boom lift must meet and how to use it safely – Boels keeps you going. Safely.”
