I’m back - was only 7 day trip.
The biggest difference I found was the pace things are done- what would’ve taken 2 days onshore ( If I’d really dragged things out), took 4 days.
We were there to cut and cap a small, redundant pipe under the deck- rig the ropes, set up rescue system, have the pipe fitter climb out and do the job ( 1hr max), de-rig, pack up, done.
Except… the second he cut in to the (supposedly dead for years) pipe, oil started pissing out, all over him, the ropes, and in to the drink.
Our rescue plan was to lower him in to the rescue boat, which was on standby.
As soon as we radioed them to come underdeck and get him, they said the swell was to much and they couldn’t come in.
So we went to our back-up plan and brought him back through the oil covered ropes to deck.
The subsequent inquest was fun
We had all the paperwork from the rig operators stating the pipe was isolated, empty, etc , when it clearly wasn’t.
The rescue boat should have alerted us to the swell being too much before we started, which they didn’t.
We were praised for dealing with it quickly and safely, having back-up plans in place etc, having the fitter in all his PPE, and getting him quickly back on deck.
We then had to re-rig the whole thing with clean ropes, and go back out and do it again.
All before the weather came in.
Which we did.
It was a lively first trip.
( Had a day “on standby” waiting for places in a chopper to get home, so tore the neck off it )