The ocean is one of the world’s most dangerous working environments. It is not surprising, then, that the maritime industry has its safety challenges. Crews work on open seas, sometimes on wind turbines the size of the Eiffel Tower. To get to the turbines, workers must cross over open water from a service operation vessel (SOV), sometimes in extreme weather.

Onboard SOVs, search and rescue and muster are usually registered manually, and human error can occur. If crew members are injured in a remote place, they could end up lying there with limited chances of getting help.

ScanReach has launched a groundbreaking wireless IoT platform for the maritime and offshore wind industry. Able to operate in complex steel environments, the wireless solution connects all personnel onboard the SOVs. The result is highly effective Personnel On-Board (POB) control without the need for cables.

ScanReach removes multiple barriers to safer wind farms. The solution solves the problem of complex steel environments and makes the sea a safer workplace. It’s also easy to install and highly cost efficient.

In addition, ScanReach has developed a safer gangway system that provides automated POB mustering count and gangway registration when crew members use walk-to-work gangways. The automated system replaces the traditional watchman who would be stationed at the gangway for safety and security purposes.

In some cases, no watchman would be available for this post, but the new gangway system ensures that workers are accounted for at all times.

The offshore wind solution pinpoints the location of workers in real time, from the farthest ship bulkhead to the highest wind turbine. It also gives full POB control on walk-to-work gangways. This ensures better emergency response and reduces search and rescue time from hours to minutes. Wearables allow workers to communicate one-to-one as well.

ScanReach also improves vessel efficiency. With a real-time overview of personnel, SOV captains can make sounder logistical decisions about who to pick up, where and when. This reduces the distance sailed within the wind farm, which in turn reduces energy consumption, environmental pollution and operating costs.

By 2050, the offshore wind industry is projected to reach USD 1 trillion, with 120 000 wind turbines deployed around the world. Due to the inherent dangers, wind farm operators will need to put worker safety front and centre to protect their crews and recruit enough new personnel for such high-risk jobs.

After years of development, ConnectPOB Wind is already in use on numerous offshore wind SOVs. The company is gaining contracts at a rapid pace and sees a bright future for safety in the wind power industry.

ScanReach also delivers a general ConnectPOB solution for all maritime vessels.