SPOWTT: Improving the safety and productivity of offshore wind technician transit

Abstract

This paper describes the SPOWTT project. The intention of this project was to understand how sailing by crew transfer vessel (CTVs) to offshore wind farms affects the mental and physical wellbeing of individuals on board. The focus was on quantifying this impact, understanding the key drivers, with an aim to ensuring personnel can arrive to the wind turbines in a fit state to work safely and effectively. Impacts looked at subjective state beyond simply vomiting. Key results include the ability now to predict vessel motions from given Metocean conditions and vessel designs. We also discovered that the impact of vessel motions on seasickness is different for different symptoms and is driven not only by vertical z-axis accelerations but also by certain frequencies of motion in the y-axis. Frequencies other than 0.16 Hz were found to be impactful, and x-axis movements appeared to have a longer-lasting effect on the day's work. Through the formulation of a new, evidence-based understanding of seasickness, we have created an operational planning tool, designed to have a direct benefit on the safety and productivity of offshore wind farm operations.