Chapter 21
Women Offshore
I was contracting on the same platform for 2 years, and truly had a most remarkable experience, tales too many to tell. I am an offshore female. No day was ever the same, I got on very well with all the guys. I started from the hook up and commissioning right through to start up phase. It was a real eye opener and I had the opportunity to cover a variety of jobs from RP Assistant to Production administration, IT Support and materials, so as you can see I was all over the place.
On a typical day, I would often be told, walk, don't run, but as I was careful, I would say I'm not running just walking very fast. The reply would be oh, ok then, on you go. I enjoyed making the guys laugh. They could be guys around me because I feel it is really a males' environment and they should be able to behave as they would without a female present. If a female cannot cut it or accept the language or the way the guys behave then they must up and chuck. Although I found the guys were generally well behaved, at times I would come across a fella from the old school who hated females offshore. Some I managed to swing around and accept me and I didn't bend over backwards for anyone. After a tongue lashing from me, I guess they were feared not to be a wee bit friendlier... kidding. I don't honestly remember any that I couldn't swing around.
My trips were made up of 3 weeks offshore and 1 week onshore leave, which I loved, as I am also a South African so I knew no one onshore. The week was just enough to stock up and catch up on a bit of R&R. My days were normally from 7 to 7, but I usually called it a wrap at about 10 at night. I was also a day rater, so no overtime. I was truly dedicated to the Platform.
The tables were turned on me cause some of the guys lose their marriages when working offshore, I lost mine as well. Originally I decided to go offshore to see for myself if I would let my ex work offshore. I was hooked 5 years ago, he since gave it up. I can now go ahead and pave my way in the patch.
The offshore sound effects were great. I would walk through the MCR (main control room) and miaows (meows) would follow me, due to my accent. Because I sometimes speak tannoys (announcements over the intercom, again my accent would come into play) they would echo the number for whoever it was that I was calling for.
Other times I would go out onto the decks if I was covering materials and work alongside the deck crew, just baby stuff you know. I don't have my banksman / slinger ticket, but am going for it. I feel it is important for guys and gals out there to be able to muck in.
I'm looking forward to my next project and have been told I will be expected to muck in, oh for sure! At last, I'm going to be treated as almost an equal, one of the guys. I'll be doing fire watch duties and all the rest of the stuff alongside everyone else.
I am proud of what I have achieved, not a great deal, but just being out there is an achievement in itself. I was broken hearted when I left but I guess that is what the offshore industry is all about. It is a very small world as I realized when my new back to back actually worked with me for a couple of trips previously.
At the moment because I am still fresh and green, I've decided that offshore is where I want to be. Everyone is natural, and aren't afraid of being peed off because they are where they don't want to be. Get out is what I say to them, be a landlubber because there are a lot of people who really want to be offshore and just aren't able to make it.
A lot of people who bring sunshine into the tea shack but are paid off, while the sad dreary chaps hang around. I saw them come and go over the 2 years. I fought to keep my job for almost a year, hanging on by my fingernails which is why I ain't got none left. At the end I was just tired and kinda gave up. Even thought that door slammed shut, new ones have opened.
I had a lot of good people on my side, and for that I thank them.
Sorry, it's not a day story, more like an abbreviated 2 year story. There was always something to laugh about out there, even if I had to act the clown to catch that laugh. Everyone laughed from the OIM right down and through the ranks.
Cheers
Leanne
Aberdeen, Scotland
Hi
I just started my new contract on the Piper Bravo, great atmosphere, friendly and am being shredded to bits as there are only 2 females on board, one stewardess and myself. I'm doing materials an it is really great! I am outside most of the day, and will share all the tales with you. The guys gave gave me a cream egg just to see how I would eat it. Cheeky bunch for sure.
See ya later and have a good leave.
Cheers
Lee-anne
Working offshore is like nothing you have ever experienced before! It is similar to working a construction job except instead of constructing something, your job is to punch a hole in the earth's crust. Rigs work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The only time they shut down operations is during bad weather, when they experience equipment failure, or make a rig move.
People who work on rigs are called hands. They work 12 hour shifts called towers. Sometimes they work longer than 12 hours, up to 24 hours if the need arises. I've worked many 18 hour days. You will be working in an isolated environment which might even be hostile. In many cases you will not even be in sight of land, much less anything else. The people you will be working with will come from all walks of life. You will meet all kinds of people, mostly good, some bad. But that's true of all areas of life, isn't it?
Your first few weeks offshore will be very lonely. You will get homesick and wonder what in the world you are doing there. Don't despair. Everyone experiences the same feelings. You might be referred to as a squirrel or a worm by some of the more experienced hands. This will pass in time, once you've proven yourself. Everyone was a worm at one time or another. Not surprisingly, many still are! Even with their years of experience.
You will probably hear a lot of screaming and hollering which will seem to be unnecessary. In most cases it usually will be. It's just part of the job, so accept it as that. You may be subjected to occasional poor quality supervision. People who became supervisors in the oil industry usually possess the necessary technical skills to perform their job, but human skills is where a lot of them are lacking. They simply do not know how to lead people effectively. They sometimes abuse their authority because they don't know how to handle it.
If it happens that you wind up under one of these mental derelicts, you will simply have to do the best you can. Learn all you can, get the experience you need, your key to the future, and then move on. Don't waste precious months of your life trying to change someone else's attitude. The odds are against you. Change jobs instead. It's unfortunate, but there's a jerk in every crowd. On the other hand, you could just as easily find an excellent example of what ideal supervisors should be like. People who are extremely competent, not only in the technical knowledge, but also possess highly commendable leadership qualities. Their crew is run with the precision of a fine Swiss watch; morale is high, and men are excited about doing their work because they have someone who will appreciate their efforts and individuality. If you wind up with one of these men as a boss, then stick with him! Try to learn to deal with people as he does. If you can learn to master motivational and leadership skills, you will be in great demand!
You will find the work to be muddy, greasy, hot, cold, wet, and never-ending. People get hurt working on rigs and boats. Eye injuries, back injuries, and smashed fingers are the most prevalent causes of pain. Rigs sink. OCECO's Ocean Ranger sank during rough seas southeast of St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. More recently, Global Marine's Java Sea sank off the coast of China while trying to weather out a typhoon. There were no survivors. Helicopters crash, and boats sink, but 122 people die every day on our nation's highways. When your appointed time has come, whether it be offshore or in the safety and comfort of your own home, then it has come. Why worry about it?
Do you like adventure? You'll find plenty of it offshore! Just getting to the rig is sometimes an unbelievable experience. Adventure is watching a skilled crane operator off-load a boat of casing, equipment, and personnel safely and efficiently in 8 to 12-foot seas. Adventure is watching 285 foot supply and towing vessels lift your 40,000 pound anchors out of 2,000 feet of water, hang them off your side, and then tow you halfway around the world. Adventure is helping divers place underwater charges to clear obstructions from a drill site, then gathering up 200 pounds of fish that are floating everywhere and having one heck of a fish fry! Adventure is having the President of the United States visit your drilling rig!
However, the real adventure is working with the greatest people in the world, working with the most modern equipment available, drilling deeper wells in deeper water faster and more safely than anyone has ever done before. Adventure is being part of an elite team doing something critically important for the survival of our country, helping to decrease America's dependence on foreign oil and helping to create jobs for people like ourselves at the same time. Yes, working offshore can be very adventuresome indeed!
You'll either love it or hate it, and you will decide your first hitch. One thing I can promise... you'll never forget it!
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