Life aboard a Service Operation Vessel (SOV) in the North Sea is defined by routine, precision, and resilience. The vessel serves two distinct but interdependent groups: the marine crew and the offshore wind turbine technicians. Each team has unique responsibilities, shift patterns, and challenges, but they are united by a shared commitment to maintaining the functionality and safety of offshore wind farms under harsh environmental conditions.
The marine crew typically works on a four-week rotation. Their main task is to run the vessel. This includes officers, engineers, deckhands, and support staff. On the bridge, the Chief Officer and First and Second Officers operate a watch system to ensure 24/7 navigational oversight, dynamic positioning, and operational control. The Chief Engineer and their team—Second and Third Engineers, along with the Electro-Technical Officer (ETO)—ensure propulsion, power supply, and critical systems are operational. Below the deck, the deckhands, led by an experienced Bosun, maintain mooring equipment, cranes, gangways, and deck structures. The catering and housekeeping crew also play a vital role, providing nutritious meals and maintaining a healthy onboard environment that supports the crew’s mental and physical well-being during long weeks at sea.
Meanwhile, the wind turbine technicians operate on a two-week rotation and work primarily in 12-hour shifts. These technicians are usually dispatched via walk-to-work gangways or, in some cases, smaller daughter crafts to the turbines. Their daily tasks include preventive maintenance, blade inspections, troubleshooting electrical or mechanical faults, and emergency repairs. Most turbines require at least two technicians per job, often involving climbing into confined, elevated spaces in challenging weather. The technicians rely on the offshore site manager or Deputy Operations Manager for task coordination and safety briefings. The schedule is rigorous and tightly planned, with a clear emphasis on efficiency and preparedness.
However, working in the North Sea presents a unique set of challenges for both groups. Weather can turn quickly, with gale-force winds, icy rain, and towering waves often complicating even routine operations. Maintaining safety in such conditions is non-negotiable. Crew members face mental and physical fatigue, not only from the demanding workload but also from the psychological stress of being confined to a vessel for weeks. That’s why rest areas, wellness programs, and recreational facilities are essential elements on modern SOVs, offering a balance to the intensity of daily duties.
Communication and coordination between marine crew and technicians are key to mission success. Morning briefings on the bridge involve the Ship Master, Chief Engineer, Offshore Lead, and deck officers to assess conditions and plan the day’s work. Everyone from the Bosun to the wind turbine technician gets a tailored briefing on their responsibilities, aligning their efforts toward operational safety and success. Together, these two crews form the backbone of offshore wind farm operations, ensuring the turbines keep turning.
On a Service Operation Vessel (SOV), the structure of authority and responsibility is strictly organised, with a clear chain of command that ensures safe operations, personnel accountability, and the well-being of everyone on board. At the very top is the Ship’s Master, also known as the Captain. This individual holds ultimate authority and responsibility for the vessel, including its navigation, safety, legal compliance, and, most importantly, the welfare of all people on board—both the marine crew and the wind turbine technicians.
The Ship’s Master is accountable for the physical and mental well-being of the entire crew. This includes overseeing work-rest regulations, ensuring fatigue management, maintaining a safe working environment, and facilitating access to medical care. On modern SOVs, the Master is supported in these tasks by dedicated officers and support staff. The Chief Mate plays a critical role in this regard, acting as the primary liaison between the deck crew and the Captain and also supervising safety operations and compliance with international maritime regulations. The Chief Engineer mirrors this role within the engine department, ensuring the machinery is functional and the engineering crew is working safely and within limits.
For the wind turbine technicians, the chain of responsibility is parallel but coordinated with the maritime side. The Offshore Operations Lead or Deputy Operations Manager is in charge of the technicians’ daily planning, workload, and performance monitoring. He or she ensures that all turbine-related tasks are aligned with safety standards, that work is well-documented, and that technicians are properly equipped and briefed. This position typically reports directly to the Captain, especially when operational plans intersect with vessel navigation, dynamic positioning, or emergency scenarios (see also our related topic: Emergency response software)
Daily coordination between departments takes place during morning briefings on the bridge. Here, the Captain meets with the Chief Mate, Chief Engineer, and Offshore Lead to review conditions, assess risks, and approve the day’s tasks. Each officer then passes the relevant information to their respective teams, ensuring operational transparency and readiness.
To know who is on board at any given time, SOVs use a combination of physical and digital tools. Traditionally, a paper-based Personnel on Board (POB) list was maintained, recording every individual’s presence and location. However, most modern SOVs use electronic tracking systems. These rely on access cards, RFID tags, or wearable devices that log the movement of crew and technicians around the vessel and even during transfers to turbines. This system is monitored in real-time and updated continuously.
In the event of an emergency, these systems also provide instant information on who has mustered at designated stations and who is missing. The electronic mustering solution allows the command team to pinpoint the last known location of any unaccounted individual, drastically reducing response times during search and rescue operations.
Ultimately, the Ship’s Master is responsible for ensuring that every person on board is accounted for and safe. This responsibility is delegated through a tightly controlled structure of officers and leads, with each person knowing their role, who they report to, and how their tasks contribute to the overall operation. This hierarchy, combined with real-time personnel tracking, ensures that the vessel operates like a well-coordinated system, even under pressure.
Personnel on Board (POB) systems are essential tools on Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) to keep track of everyone present, ensure accountability during emergencies, and support smooth crew management. There are two primary types of POB systems used in offshore operations: manual and electronic. Each has distinct advantages and limitations, depending on the complexity of the operation, the number of people involved, and the desired level of automation and accuracy.
Manual POB systems are still in use on smaller vessels or as a backup to electronic systems. They rely on physical checklists or printed name lists, with crew members signing in upon boarding and out upon departure. These lists are typically maintained by an officer or admin staff member and are updated during shift changes, transfers to wind turbines, or emergency drills (see also: Emergency response offshore). While the system is simple and requires no infrastructure or connectivity, it is also prone to human error. Mistakes in spelling, forgotten updates, or miscommunication can result in inaccurate counts. Moreover, in a fast-moving emergency, it can take several minutes—or longer—to verify whether someone has mustered or is missing. Manual systems are also difficult to audit and lack transparency for real-time decision-making.
To address these limitations, most modern SOVs implement electronic POB systems. These systems automatically log personnel movements and provide real-time visibility of who is on board, where they are, and whether they have reported to muster stations. Electronic POB systems fall into two main categories: swipe card systems and RFID-based (radio-frequency identification) systems.
Swipe card systems are based on the principle of access control. Each crew member is issued a personal card, which they use to swipe in and out at fixed terminals—typically located at gangways, muster stations, or turbine access points. While swipe cards significantly reduce manual data entry and improve accuracy, they still rely on the physical action of the person remembering to swipe. In emergency situations or high-pressure transfers, individuals may forget or be unable to swipe, resulting in gaps in the data. Swipe card readers are also vulnerable to environmental wear, especially in salty and wet offshore environments.
RFID-based POB systems offer a more sophisticated and passive alternative. In these systems, each person carries a small RFID tag, usually integrated into a wearable badge, wristband, or helmet sticker. Readers placed strategically throughout the vessel—near access points, gangways, and muster stations—automatically detect and log the presence of the tag without any action required by the wearer. This passive tracking is particularly useful during emergencies, as it ensures personnel are accounted for even if they are unconscious or unable to check in manually. RFID systems also support seamless monitoring of technician movements during turbine access or walk-to-work transfers, automatically updating the POB list without interrupting workflows.
Because RFID systems provide higher reliability, reduced user dependency, and real-time accuracy without active interaction, they are increasingly preferred over swipe cards. They offer a better safety margin, especially under stressful conditions, and they integrate easily with vessel-wide safety systems and crew management software. Although RFID systems involve a higher initial investment, their long-term benefits in emergency preparedness, accountability, and operational efficiency make them the favoured solution in offshore wind operations.
What does a POB system do on a Service Operation Vessel (SOV)?
A POB system tracks the exact number and identity of personnel aboard a vessel at any given time. It ensures crew and technicians are accounted for during operations, transfers, and emergencies. It’s a critical tool for managing safety, compliance, and logistics in the challenging offshore environment.
How does an RFID-based POB system differ from traditional swipe cards?
RFID-based systems automatically detect personnel using passive tags worn by crew and technicians, eliminating the need for manual check-ins. Unlike swipe cards, which require individuals to scan at fixed points, RFID tags are read hands-free as people move throughout the vessel, making the system more reliable during emergencies.
Can POB systems help during emergency evacuations or mustering?
Yes, electronic POB systems play a vital role in emergencies by instantly identifying who has reached muster stations and who is still missing. RFID systems provide the last known locations and reduce the time needed for headcounts, allowing faster, more targeted responses and improving overall crew safety.
Hands-free electronic POB systems using RFID technology offer unmatched accuracy and reliability in tracking crew and technician presence aboard SOVs. Unlike manual or swipe card systems, they require no user action, ensuring personnel are automatically accounted for—even in high-stress or emergency situations. This hands-free approach enhances safety, reduces human error, and provides real-time visibility into who is on board or missing. For offshore operations where time and precision are critical, RFID-based POB solutions are not just a technological upgrade—they are an essential element of a modern, safety-driven vessel operation.
Delve deeper into one of our core topics: Emergency Response Management
“Gale-force” refers to wind speeds ranging from 34 to 40 knots (39 to 46 mph or 63 to 74 km/h), as defined by the Beaufort Wind Scale. These winds are strong enough to cause structural damage, create high waves, and significantly impact maritime operations. Gale-force conditions are common in open seas like the North Sea, posing serious navigational and safety challenges for offshore vessels. (3)
References:
(1) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309437345_An_RFID_model_for_improving_workers%27_safety_at_the_seaport_in_transitional_environment
(2) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355429905_Saving_Lives_Through_RFID_and_NFC_Understanding_How_to_Improve_a_Cruising_Ship%27s_Evacuation_via_the_Automated_Lifeboat_Manifestation_Embarkation_System_ALMES
(3) Bowditch, N. (2017). The American Practical Navigator. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.