Pier Head with Lifeboats and Davits
The pier head facility houses two Totally Enclosed Motor Propelled Survival Crafts (TEMPSC) on outrigger davits fitted on a purpose built steel structure. These craft are mainly used for OPITO approved training for the offshore Oil & Gas Industry. A Selantic Escape System (the vertical net escape chute) is also fitted to the steel structure for training Offshore Course delegates on its practical use.
A Partially Enclosed Lifeboat (PELB) is also located on the pier on a gravity type davit in addition to a slewing single arm davit used for Davit Launched Life Raft (DLR) operations and the launching & recovery of RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats). The Academy’s training vessels also include two open lifeboats that are kept on moorings and used for delivering practical aspects of the Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSCRB) and other courses. A 6.0m Fast Rescue Boat, normally kept on a trailer, is launched from the academy’s own slipway located on the bank of the river and kept alongside pontoons during Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boat Courses.
Attached to the pier is a walkway to a floating pontoon which is used for mooring the vessels used for training as well as for housing the Academy’s RIBs when not in use. In addition, the pontoons are also used for exercises involving throw-over type liferafts.
The academy also utilises a pool facility for training students on the STCW Personal Survival Techniques (PST) and Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boat (FRB) courses where a number of ‘in water’ skills are taught before practical training is undertaken using a variety of liferafts and survival equipment. Those undertaking Offshore Safety courses have to undergo a number of simulated Helicopter waterborne landing and ditching scenarios in both the Dry Helicopter Escape Trainer (DHET) and the Helicopter Underwater Escape Trainer (HUET), as well as being winched from a liferaft in a simulated rescue by helicopter.
