NDT Tech looking for advice from experienced expats

[JusticeFT96]

Hi everyone,

 

I have just recently started my new career as an NDT Technician. I am currently certified to PCN level 2 in UT inspection of wrought plate, MPI and DPI. I have BOSIET, MIST, OGUK offshore medical and medium risk confined space training. I have around 1 full years experience so far.

 

I am just asking on what people feel is the best way to break into the offshore industry? I am desperate to get some experience offshore, I am currently working at Ferrybridge powerstation in the UK for E.ON but I would love to get offshore on a rota so I could eventually move back to Thailand.

 

I have a few friends who work offshore but promises that have been made have been broken a good few times. I understand that its hard getting offshore but I am willing to work and do things the right way to get out there.

 

The outage I am currently on ends around September or October and I was planning to sit my UT 3.1/3.2 and do my IRATA level 1. Does anyone have any suggestions on where I should start? I have tried the usual suspects such as oceaneering, applus etc but to no avail.

 

All advice is welcome, positive and negative I will take it all on board.

 

Cheers

 

Al

[Soutpeel]

one suspects your starting point is the North Sea, without stating the obvious

 

I have worked offshore with a lot of NDT and rope access guys over the years offshore and the vast majority are ticketed up to the eyeballs

one suspects your best bet is to get into one of the specialist type qualifications ie AutoUT or similar and get a good solid experience base, there always seems to be a requirement for AutoUT guys, certainly on pipe line lay vessels or similar worldwide if you look at the job adverts 

 

What I would do is look at the NDT/Inspecton websites and see which positions come up the most frequently, this suggests these are the tickets/skills which are most in demand and this may give you an idea as to what tickets you need to do

 

how to break into offshore ?, typically someone has to pulls strings for you these days so you need to build your contacts base up certainly.

[JusticeFT96]

Thanks for the reply. I do hope to eventually gain an advanced ut ticket once I have some experience with 3.1 3.2. I have been told that eddy current us a good ticket if I want to get offshore.

Going to try and get in touch with my friend to see what he can do.


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[kwonitoy]

Al

Been in the NDT game a long time.
As soutpeel says get into AUT. I am and for the last 15 years jobs come to me,
Go to Yarmouth and apply at a company called SHAW they specilize in offdhore AUT
you've got a basic UT cert and that's the start

Ken

[JusticeFT96]

For you guys working offshore and living in Thailand how is life? Do you have family? Do they mind you being away for so long? Do you have children and is their education system any good? My lad is 2 years old and I worry about his future if I moved back there to settle down


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[JusticeFT96]

Thanks Ken! I recently sent them my cv hopefully something will come along soon.


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[Soutpeel]

For you guys working offshore and living in Thailand how is life? Do you have family? Do they mind you being away for so long? Do you have children and is their education system any good? My lad is 2 years old and I worry about his future if I moved back there to settle down


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For me personally its fine, I have a wife in Thailand and think its more difficult for her than me being away, so does she mind ?, yes she does, but is it part of the life, yes it is and she knew what she was getting into.

 

However the offshore can and will play havoc with your relationships, know guys who have been married 2,3,4,5 and one guy 6 times (he didnt learn, shoulod have stopped gatting married at 3)

 

Education wise if you have the cash the international schools are the way to go  
 

[Franky Bear]

For you guys working offshore and living in Thailand how is life? Do you have family? Do they mind you being away for so long? Do you have children and is their education system any good? My lad is 2 years old and I worry about his future if I moved back there to settle down


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I've been with my Mrs 7/8 years, our daughter is 6, they don't know any different with me as i have been on rotation either 35/35 or 28/28 all that time. She never complains, my daughter is fine. It gives us all a nice life. I'm more than content with the way our life is. I am getting married in a few weeks to her. Our next and hopefully last big life thing will be a move to Ban Chang so the kids can go to the good International school there.

As Soutpeel said, it does play Havoc with a lot of lads personal lives. The divorce rate is massive