Webinar: Transfer & Access: Managing crew transfer safety in offshore energy and port operations by Mercator Media

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About This Webinar

This third session will focus on 'Transfer & Access: Managing crew transfer safety in offshore energy and port operations.' Join our panel of experts and learn about improving safety and boarding for crew transfers in the wind farm sector, with pilot transfers at sea, and from ship to shore.

Agenda

Welcome Address by the Workboat Association
Presentations from three expert speakers
Panel discussion with moderator
Live audience Q&A

Presenters

Kerrie Forster

CEO, The Workboat Association

After 17 years working both on/offshore within various maritime industries, Kerrie is an industry Consultant and CEO of the Workboat Association - “The trade association for Workboat Owners, Operators, Stakeholders and Professionals.”

Once a workboat vessel Master, he has substantial offshore experience onboard CTVs, Survey Vessels, Dive support and Anchor Handlers. Kerrie spent a number of years managing a fleet of workboats for an International company based in the Netherlands and has gained experience from working across the globe.
Kerrie has a strong background in promoting a well-accepted safety culture, responsible work ethics and cross organisation understanding. He has designed QHSE documentation, systems/ controls and has led significant incident and accident investigations. Organising and providing training and technical advice to on/offshore workforces, he is an ISM lead auditor, certified in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods code and has developed and implemented ISO/OHSAS/IMO certification of various company Safety Management Systems.
Currently living in Rotterdam NL, Kerrie actively represents the Workboat Industry and wider Offshore Contracting Sector speaking at and Chairing working groups and conferences, providing guidance and research to many National and International publications, campaigns and Government strategies. Kerrie is motivated in supporting all industry stakeholders from Regulators to Apprentices.

Andy Page - Moderator

Managing Director, Chartwell Marine

A Chartered Engineer, Andy Page is Managing Director of Chartwell Marine, a Naval Architectural consultancy business which supports boat builders and vessel operators worldwide. In addition to this, Andy Page is the Chairman of the Workboat Association Technical Working Group, responsible for leading the way in industry decarbonisation.

For several years, Andy worked for a large high-speed vessel boat builder and repairer as head naval architect and general manager. The design organisation supported both their UK South Coast & East Coast Facilities as well as providing design services to the wider market. Andy headed up the design team, which at its peak had multiple naval architects and marine engineers working worldwide. The team were responsible for designing several craft ranging from small commercial ribs to large high-speed offshore catamarans. Their work took them across the world, with projects in Australia, Brazil, Taiwan and most significantly the USA.

Following these exciting years Andy formed Chartwell Marine Ltd, to operate independently. Chartwell Marine are an award-winning pioneer in next generation vessel design and are responsible for a number of innovative and market leading projects including, but not limited to, the Chartwell 24 hybrid scanwell survey, and, partners in the design of the BARTECH30 and BARTECH50.

Bastiaan Spruit

General Manager, ZBridge BV

Bastiaan Spruit, has been working in the Offshore industry for over 20 years.

In 2017 he joined Z-Bridge B.V. as General manager. In this role he has been in charge of the development of the Z-Bridge Bring-to-Work system, overseeing the certification, the safety and the operational concept. The system is currently deployed on its 2nd commercial project.

Philip Taylor

Managing Director, PICT Offshore

Philip is a business graduate of Edinburgh University and has held senior strategy roles in technology companies such as Nokia, Strategy Analytics and Reuters in London.
In 2012 he returned to Edinburgh to head the commercial development of Limpet Technology, a height safety engineering innovator. In 2019 he led the spin-out of the ‘Get Up Safe’ R&D project into a new company – Pict Offshore – and secured Orsted as an investor and engineering collaborator. Since then, he has steered the Company to its first major contract, to supply 165 GUS systems to Hornsea 2, the largest offshore windfarm in the World, and is positioning Pict Offshore as a new, innovative force in UK high-value manufacturing for the Renewables sector.

Captain Kevin Vallance

MNM, Marine Pilot & Author

In 1974, aged 16, Kevin ran away to sea with Shaw Savill and Albion Co. Ltd and today although semi – retired still enjoys ‘standing a watch’. Since 2006 Kevin has been a self-employed Trinity House licensed Deep Sea Pilot in the North Sea; accepting work on a wide variety of vessel types through George Hammond of Dover
In 2014 following two near misses when boarding vessels from pilot launches, Kevin started researching problems with pilot transfer arrangements and co-founded the ongoing #dangerousladders safety campaign on social media. This culminated with authoring ‘The Pilot Ladder Manual’; published in November 2017 by the Witherby Publishing Group.
As a honorary life member of the United Kingdom Maritime Pilots Association, Kevin has represented them on the MCA’s United Kingdom Safety of Navigation Committee for a number of years, being particularly active on the Pilot Transfer Safety Working Group.
In November 2020 Kevin was awarded the prestigious Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service, presented by Her Highness the Princess Royal, in acknowledgement of his efforts in promoting safety at sea.