The provision of a wind farm support vessel (WFSV) service involves year-round operation of a fleet of craft in often onerous conditions, and includes operations that require significant consideration from a safety management perspective, such as daily personnel transfer from the WFSVs to the turbines. Longitude has been contracted to help develop a suitable safety management system for WFSV operations, and then to regularly audit that system. Longitude based the Safety Management System closely on the International Safety Management (ISM) Code, tailored to the specific operations. Longitude (and its parent company LOC Group Ltd) is experienced in developing and auditing ISM Code systems for shipping and offshore applications, and has a number of ISM Code qualified auditors.
In the context of this case study, Longitude carries out the management audit service on an annual basis, and supports the promotion of a continuous improvement process. Each audit requires three site audits, as well as a head office audit. Key management, training and safety personnel are audited, and results collated in an annual safety management report, through which Longitude provides independent external verification of the safety system. Recommendations are produced as to possible changes that could be made to the Safety Management System and feedback is provided for on-going improvements. Longitude personnel are suitably qualified and experienced to carry out safety management work.
