M.K.Simpson

Marine Seismic Consultant (38 Years Offshore Experience)
At the end of May 2015, I was the Senior ION Geo Ventures Representative on-board the SOPGC vessel Discoverer 2, the vessel was anchored at Coatzacoalcos, Mexico. I can confirm that Karl Bradbury from Work Boat Safety International joined the vessel on the 18th May.

 

As soon as Karl arrived he started reviewing and inspecting the on-board equipment, during this initial period he started interacting with the crew and building a strong working relationship. Karl was introduced to the Chinese crew to be trained on the 19th May, and from this point onwards, Karl scheduled, instructed and supervised all the training received by the crew.

 

The purpose of Karl’s visit to the vessel was to train the SOPGC seismic crew up to a level where they could safely deploy, operate and recover the vessels current work boat. To this end Karl had to evaluate all the crew that was available for training and assign positions to the crew that were competent to handle the vessel and had the awareness to operate the vessel in a safe manner.

 

All though I was not directly involved in the training I observed the training, and in the evenings discussed the days training with Karl. I found Karl to very level headed, and professional throughout his time on the vessel. He gained a good response from the Chinese crew, I would put this down to several things,

• Karl has a vast amount of experience working with small boats, and has proved himself to be a competent trainer to all levels of workboat usage.
• Karl has a personality that allows him to gain the respect of the crew members he is training, it is a no nonsense attitude and where necessary, for their own safety, Karl will reject trainees that do not show awareness of the dangers involved in the day to day operations of small boats, after all small boat operations is not everyone,s cup of tea.
• Karl understands all the safety aspects of operating small boats, this is not limited to the small boat crews, but also the managerial side of the vessels operation, the vessels senior personnel need to be instructed in the workable limits of the small boats and proficiency levels of their crews. Karl’s final reports and discussions with the vessels management left no doubts as to the deployment and recovery weather limits that the newly trained crews could be expected to operate in.

 

By the time Karl left the vessel, the Discoverer 2 had two fully trained rescue crews for their specific work boat. It had been hoped that Karl could have sailed with the vessel to continue the training of the crew, so that they could work on deployed streamers, unfortunately mechanical failure on the work boats drive train stopped this.

 

I personally found Karl to be very open and he showed a clear understanding of all the operational needs and restrictions of work boat operations on this vessel. Karl also found time to inspect the on-board lifeboats and life raft installations at the request of the Captain, several improvements we initiated on the results of these inspections.

 

I have no hesitation in recommend Karl Bradbury and Work Boat Safety International if you are looking to train or refresh a crew in the operation of small boats at sea.

 

Regards
-Michael Kevin Simpson