A Day at UBIT: My Journey to UBIT Hotel the External Platform
Why I Usually Skip Breakfast?
My day offshore starts early, with breakfast served at 0530 hrs. However, more often than not, I find myself
skipping it. The main reason? The boat ride. It’s a routine part of the job, but it tends to unsettle me,
making it hard to enjoy breakfast beforehand. So, I usually opt for a lighter start to the day, saving
my appetite for later when I’m back from the external platform.
0600 hours safety meeting, where we remind ourselves of the procedures and ensure everyone is on
the same page. Afterwards, we gather for the Surfer boat briefing. This short but crucial video
demonstrates how to safely embark and disembark from a Surfer boat, along with the safety rules
we must follow on board.
Once the video is over, we sign the register for personnel travelling to the external platform. While
waiting for the Surfer’s arrival, we prepare our tools, permits, and enablers for the day’s tasks.
When the boat is ready, an announcement rings out: “All passengers going to the external platform
should make their way to the boat landing.”
We head to our muster station, flip our T-cards (indicating we’ve left for the external
platform), don our life vests, and proceed to the boat landing. Boarding the Surfer involves
descending the ladder with our backs to the boat, and gripping the rungs tightly. At the right moment,
when the boat crests a wave, we jump aboard on the deckhand’s instruction. It’s both a nerve-wracking and thrilling experience! If the sea swells are too high, boarding is postponed due to safety
concerns.
Once on the boat, we log our names, boarding time, and company details, and the number of
passengers is relayed to the Control Room (CCR) for documentation. The journey to UBIT Hotel, our
external platform, takes about 10 minutes. Upon arrival, we disembark and begin our work for the
day.
We radio the control room during lunch to place our food orders, and the Surfer boat brings our
meals from the main platform. After a productive day, we radio the control room again, and they
arrange for the Surfer to pick us up for the return trip. It’s all part of the routine, but every trip has
its adventure