Work boats

Open Ocean Mercury Determinations. In our initial studies concerned with the marine geochemistry of mercury, we obtained open ocean smrface samples by hand from a small work boat away from any adverse influence of the oceanographic research vessel. The concentrations of mercury in the open-ocean surface waters (western Sargasso Sea) were small (ca. 10 ng/1.) and rather imiformly distributed (26). However, to collect seawater to determine the concentrations of mercury at other depths, we needed an artifact-free sampling procedure. 

Categorisation of waters and areas of operation Work boats - Categories of certification at sea (Moth, 1998) Example of risk mitigation measures for lifting operations employed by one contractor... 

Construction activities covered by the HSE/MAIB/MCA agreement include construction, repair or demolition of marine structures (e.g. bridges, piers, jetties, link spans and coastal and flood protection works, piling, dredging, lifting, and also the construction of non-marine works which are adjacent to navigable waters, when the work involves support from vessels such as work boats or rescue craft). 

A work boat is a general term which applies to boats used to undertake a wide range of functions including the support of marine construction work. Many are standard in design but there are many variations. 

Multicats, powerful motorised barge/pontoons complete with a hold and engine room, bridge, clear working deck and some form of mechanical lifting equipment, are frequently employed in most marine/harbour works. Work boats can be used as a shuttle vessel, tug, ferry or floating working platform. They tend to be extremely flexible and can carry out work which would otherwise tie up major items of marine plant. 

A code of practice has been developed by a number of organisations to assess and set standards of safety and protection for all on board. Moth (1998) provides an easy to use guide to this eode of practice for vessels under 24 m in length. The Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Work Boats and Pilot Boats does not apply to vessels operating on inland waters where such waters form part of a river or are completely self-contained such as a lake or reservoir. In such circumstances, further advice should be sought fi-om the river and/or water authority or the local authority regarding any local requirements that might apply. 

The Safety of Small Work Boats and Pilot Boats (Brown Code). 

Publication of this new code was scheduled for the autumn of 2004 (see www.mcga.gov.uk for latest information). Current legislation covers the certification of work boats to operate in different waters. These categories are described in Box 5.1 (MCA (2003)). 

Moth (1998) provides guidance based on the legislation on the protection of personnel on work boats with respect to the following areas ... 

A summary of the life-saving equipment appliances required for work boats is given in Table 5.1. Further guidance should be sought on the detail of the legal requirements from the MCA publications. 

A vessel may be considered for issue of a work boat certificate allowing it to operate at sea within one of the following areas. The categories basically define the type of work boat. 

Table 5.1 Indicative summary of life-saving appliances for required work boats (from Moth, 1998)...

Some contractors prefer the Billy Pugh or Wor Geordie as it can be used on small modular jack-ups and accessed from a RHIB or small work boat. They consider that the Frog is more difficult to access from small vessels. They also consider that the Billy Pugh is more easily and more quickly accessed on the deck of a tug or multicat meaning that the vessel has to hold position for a shorter period of time. Those contractors also considered that the time taken to sit down and strap into the Frog could be detrimental under certain circumstances. 

A beach nourishment scheme was imdertaken at a location where no local quay was available to provide ready all-tide access for work boats or safety boats. The nearest such access was several hours steaming away. Local site communications between shore and floating plant developed initially by using a beach-launched work boat. Tragically, the work boat was overturned during launching in unexceptional conditions and both of the crew drowned. 

Moth, P. (1998). Work boat code of practice - An operational guide. Foreshore Publications. 

IMCA (2002). Marine inspection checklist for small work boats... 

An estimate regarding the number of trips to be made by helicopters, work boats, and other forms of transportation is required. The consequence of accidents should be estimated. Assumptions having to do with ship collisions (including pleasure boats that may be present) should be made clear. Factors to consider include the speeds at which colUsions may occur and whether collisions occur while boats are maneuvering or drifting. 

Guidance should be provided as to the percentage of drops that occur over the deck, over the side (into the sea), and onto a work boat. 

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