Offshore crane operators work in one of the more specialised and consistently well-paid roles in the platform workforce. The skills required are specific, the training is substantial and the demand for qualified operators is ongoing.
What Platform Crane Operators Do
The offshore pedestal crane is the primary piece of equipment. Sitting on the edge of a platform or the deck of a vessel, it lifts cargo between supply vessels and the installation, moves equipment around the platform and supports maintenance and construction operations.
Lifting from a supply vessel in motion is the most technically demanding regular operation. The vessel is moving in the swell, the crane load needs to be timed with vessel movement, the suspended load must not be allowed to swing uncontrolled. Crane operators who do this well have developed a skill that takes time to build and is difficult to replicate quickly.
Construction lifts on large platforms, moving heavy equipment during shutdowns and modifications, require lift planning, rigging competency and crane operation working to a lifting plan approved by a competent person.
Certificates Required
UK Offshore Competency Standard for Crane Operators, formerly known as LEEA/OPITO standard: this is the recognised competency framework for offshore crane operators in the UK sector. It involves training and assessment covering crane operation, rigging, banksman operations and the specific requirements of offshore lifts.
OPITO offshore safety certificates are required for anyone working offshore: BOSIET, Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training, covers helicopter escape, sea survival, fire fighting and first aid. This applies to crane operators along with everyone else working offshore.
Specific offshore crane manufacturer training is common where operators use particular crane types.
Pay
Offshore crane operator pay reflects the specialisation and demand.
North Sea: $4,000 to $7,000 per month for experienced crane operators on active platforms. Senior or lead crane operators on major installations can earn above this range.
The rotation schedule at two weeks on, two weeks off means the annual income from a $6,000 monthly rate is approximately $36,000, since operators are working roughly half the year. The total compensation package including offshore allowances varies by operator.
Demand
Crane operators on offshore platforms are consistently in demand. The work cannot be automated in the same way some platform roles have been. Physical presence and skilled judgment are required for lifts that no remote system currently handles.
The offshore wind sector has added to demand. Installation vessels and offshore substations require crane operators. The expansion of offshore wind in the North Sea and elsewhere has created additional employment for qualified offshore crane operators that did not exist a decade ago.