| Written by Mark Buzinkay
Table of contents:
- Safely Transferring the Workforce: How Offshore Crews Move Between Sea and Structure
- Engineering Safety at Sea: How Modern Vessel Gangways Protect Offshore Crews
- Counting Every Step: How POB Tracking Evolves with the Vessel Gangway
- FAQ
- Takeaway
- Glossary
Safely Transferring the Workforce: How Offshore Crews Move Between Sea and Structure
In the offshore energy industry, few moments are as critical—or as underestimated—as the transfer of personnel between a vessel and an installation. Whether it’s a wind turbine, oil platform, or service operation vessel, this interface between human mobility and marine engineering defines not only the rhythm of offshore work but also its safety record (see also: Wind farm operations). As operations move farther from shore and into harsher seas, the technology and logistics surrounding crew transfer have evolved into a complex, high-stakes discipline.
For decades, helicopters were the standard means of moving crews to offshore rigs. They remain a vital link, particularly for distant oil and gas installations where time and distance make marine transfer impractical. Yet helicopters are costly, weather-sensitive, and carry inherent risks. As the offshore wind sector expands—closer to shore but with more frequent personnel movements—the emphasis has shifted toward sea-based access. Here, the vessel gangway has become an emblem of progress.
A vessel gangway is far more than a bridge between ship and structure. Modern systems integrate motion compensation technology, hydraulics, and smart sensors to maintain stable contact even as the vessel pitches and rolls beneath it. These systems allow technicians to “walk to work” safely, often in wave heights that would have grounded earlier generations of crew transfer vessels. The innovation of the motion-compensated gangway has reduced waiting times, improved predictability, and transformed offshore logistics.
Still, not every installation is accessible via a gangway. Smaller crew transfer vessels (CTVs) often rely on bow-mounted fenders and ladders for direct access to turbine towers or platforms—a method that demands physical strength, precision timing, and calm seas. For older oil and gas assets, cranes equipped with personnel baskets remain in use, lifting workers between decks and decks of different heights. This practice, while time-tested, presents clear hazards in rough weather and has driven the adoption of automated or semi-automated lifting systems in modern operations.
On some platforms, elevators or external lifts now link the landing deck directly to work levels below, reducing manual climbing and fatigue. In emergencies, rescue baskets and fast-rescue craft remain essential, forming part of every installation’s safety protocol. The choreography of these transfers—planned to the minute, monitored by bridge and deck officers, and executed by trained crew—reflects a safety culture deeply embedded in offshore life.
Each transfer, whether via helicopter, ladder, or vessel gangway, represents a moment when technology, seamanship, and human factors converge. The challenge is not simply moving people from one place to another but doing so repeatedly, reliably, and without incident. In an industry where downtime costs millions and accidents cost lives, even small improvements in transfer safety resonate widely.
As offshore energy continues to diversify—wind, hydrogen, and hybrid platforms—the demand for smarter, more adaptive transfer systems will grow. The vessel gangway may yet become as symbolic of the clean energy era as the helicopter once was for oil and gas: a bridge between tradition and transformation, carrying the workforce of the future across the ever-changing sea.
Engineering Safety at Sea: How Modern Vessel Gangways Protect Offshore Crews
The vessel gangway has evolved from a simple mechanical bridge into one of the most advanced safety systems in offshore operations. Designed to ensure secure, efficient crew transfers between moving vessels and fixed installations, these systems embody the intersection of mechanical precision, data intelligence, and human safety. Each transfer represents a moment of risk—one that modern gangways are engineered to minimise through redundancy, monitoring, and control.
At the core of today’s designs are motion-compensated systems, often referred to as motion-dynamic gangways. These gangways automatically adjust their position in real time, responding to vessel movement caused by waves, wind, and tide. Hydraulic cylinders or electric actuators work together with sophisticated sensors to stabilise the walkway, keeping it level and steady against the landing point on the turbine or platform. This dynamic compensation enables safe transfers even in sea states of up to three meters significant wave height—conditions that would have halted operations a decade ago.
Safety begins before anyone steps onto the gangway. Before each operation, the vessel’s bridge crew performs a comprehensive risk assessment and transfer briefing. Weather data, wave patterns, and platform motion are analysed to determine whether conditions fall within operational limits. The gangway’s automated systems run diagnostic checks on hydraulics, sensors, and control interfaces. Only after both the captain and the offshore installation manager approve the operation does the gangway move into position.
During connection, precision is everything. Cameras and laser alignment systems guide the operator as the vessel gangway extends toward the landing point. Once contact is made, an automatic locking mechanism secures the walkway, while load sensors verify that it remains within safe thresholds. The gangway’s control system continuously monitors motion and tension, instantly retracting or locking down if conditions become unstable. Emergency stop buttons are placed at both ends of the walkway, and many systems feature backup power supplies to maintain control even in the event of a power loss.
When crew members cross, they are required to wear full personal protective equipment—typically including a helmet, a lifejacket, and in some cases, fall-arrest harnesses. Communication between the bridge, deck crew, and offshore platform remains open throughout the process. Each person crossing is logged via digital systems, linking the vessel gangway to personnel-on-board management software. This not only ensures headcount accuracy but also supports emergency response planning, allowing operators to know exactly who is on which asset at any given moment.
The human element remains as vital as the technology itself. Operators are trained to manually handle the system in the event of automation failure, and regular drills simulate worst-case scenarios, such as sudden vessel drift or mechanical malfunctions. The combination of advanced automation and disciplined procedures has dramatically reduced the likelihood of accidents, making the modern vessel gangway one of the safest points of interface in the offshore energy chain.
Ultimately, the safety features of vessel gangways represent more than engineering excellence—they symbolise a cultural commitment to protecting the workforce that keeps the offshore industry running. As motion-dynamic technologies continue to advance, they promise not only smoother transfers but also a new standard of trust between human and machine, bridging safety and innovation across the open sea.
Counting Every Step: How POB Tracking Evolves with the Vessel Gangway
In the offshore energy sector, knowing exactly who is on board—at every moment—is a matter of safety, logistics, and accountability. The term “POB,” short for “Personnel on Board,” captures one of the most fundamental principles of offshore management: no crew member should ever go unaccounted for. As operations become more dynamic, especially with the widespread use of vessel gangways connecting ships to offshore installations, the methods for counting and tracking personnel are undergoing a quiet revolution—from clipboards to cloud-based intelligence.
Traditionally, POB tracking has been a manual process. Crew arriving on an offshore installation would check in with the vessel’s master or deck officer, often by signing a manifest or calling in over the radio once the transfer was complete. Each movement between the ship and the platform had to be confirmed verbally or recorded by hand. The system depended heavily on human accuracy and communication discipline. In many cases, separate lists were maintained on the vessel and the installation, leaving room for discrepancy if updates were delayed or miscommunicated. While simple, the manual method was vulnerable to human error—a missed signature, a misunderstood name, or a delayed call could lead to confusion about who was where, particularly during shift changes or emergencies.
The arrival of motion-compensated vessel gangways has changed both the tempo and the precision of offshore transfers. Crews now move more frequently and with less downtime, prompting the need for a real-time, automated approach to POB tracking. Digitalisation provides that answer. In modern operations, every individual carries a personal identification tag—usually RFID, UWB, or Bluetooth-based—that automatically registers their movement when they cross the gangway. The walkway itself becomes a smart access point, equipped with sensors and readers that detect, authenticate, and log each crossing.
As soon as a technician steps onto the gangway, the system verifies their identity and updates the central database. When the person reaches the other side, the count is adjusted automatically—subtracting one from the vessel’s manifest and adding one to the platform’s. This seamless data exchange ensures that the total POB across all connected assets remains accurate to the second. If the gangway is disconnected, the system freezes the last known state, preventing accidental miscounts (see also: Persons on board: Why handsfree POB is the next digital standard offshore).
Automated crew identification also enhances safety beyond simple counting. In the event of an alarm or evacuation, emergency response teams instantly know who is on which side of the vessel gangway and where to direct rescue efforts. The data can integrate with muster management systems, tracking attendance at lifeboats or safe zones in real time. Some advanced platforms even use 3D tracking or AI-assisted video recognition to verify movements visually, ensuring no one crosses unregistered.
The transition from manual lists to digital tracking represents more than an efficiency upgrade—it redefines situational awareness offshore. Where once an officer with a clipboard managed the headcount, now a connected ecosystem of sensors, networks, and analytics guarantees accuracy and speed that human diligence alone could never match. The vessel gangway becomes not just a bridge between ship and structure, but between old and new ways of ensuring that every person offshore is seen, counted, and safe.
FAQ: Understanding Crew Transfer, Vessel Gangways, and Electronic POB
How do offshore crews typically transfer between vessels and installations?
Crew transfers are carried out using several methods, depending on sea conditions, distance, and platform type. Traditionally, helicopters and cranes with personnel baskets were common, but modern offshore wind and service operations increasingly rely on vessel gangways. These motion-compensated bridges allow technicians to “walk to work” safely, even in rough seas, providing a faster and more weather-resilient transfer method.
What makes a modern vessel gangway safer than older systems?
Contemporary vessel gangways use motion-dynamic technology—hydraulic or electric actuators combined with real-time motion sensors—to compensate for vessel movement caused by waves and wind. This keeps the walkway stable and level, reducing slip and impact risks. Integrated safety features such as automatic locking, emergency stop systems, and continuous monitoring ensure safe operation under demanding offshore conditions.
What is electronic POB (ePOB) and how does it improve safety?
Electronic POB, or ePOB, replaces manual headcounts with automated tracking. Using touchless identification technologies like RFID, Bluetooth, or UWB, crew members are detected as they cross the vessel gangway. Their presence is automatically logged and synchronised between vessel and platform systems. This ensures real-time accuracy, eliminates human error, and enhances emergency response by instantly showing who is on board and where they are located.
Takeaway
The future of offshore safety lies in electronic POB systems that work seamlessly with smart vessel gangways. By using touchless, automated crew identification and detection, every transfer is logged instantly and accurately—without human input. These systems transform the gangway into a digital checkpoint, ensuring real-time visibility of personnel across vessels and installations. In emergencies, this precision saves critical minutes by showing exactly who is where. ePOB technology doesn’t just modernise offshore logistics; it builds a safer, more transparent, and more efficient operational environment where every movement is recorded, every person is accounted for, and no one is ever overlooked.
Delve deeper into one of our core topics: Emergency Response Management
Glossary
Hydraulic refers to systems that use pressurised fluid—typically oil—to transmit power and control movement. In offshore gangways, hydraulic actuators convert this fluid pressure into mechanical motion, enabling smooth lifting, extension, and motion compensation even under heavy loads. Because hydraulic systems provide high force with precise control, they are ideal for stabilising gangways in rough seas. (3)
References:
(3) Esposito, Anthony. Fluid Power with Applications. 9th ed., Pearson Education, 2018.
Note: This article was partly created with the assistance of artificial intelligence to support drafting. The head image was created with AI.
