Surface Units Active & Passive Ballast FOI Units Stability

The “Surface & Passive Ballast FOI Units Stability” Course is being offered Gulf Coast Training Technologies as a prerequisite for a United States Coast Guard Offshore Installation Manager, Barge Supervisor, or Ballast Control Operator license. This course will teach stability principles of both Surface Units and Passive Ballast FOI Units to personnel serving aboard these type vessels.

An "Active Ballast" system uses pumps to transfer water between internal ballast tanks to adjust a facility's draft, trim, and stability. Training involves understanding how to operate pumps, monitor ballast levels, and make real-time adjustments for operational needs.
Often used on floating OCS facilities (FOFs) where dynamic stability adjustments are crucial for different operational phases.

Both types of ballast FOI systems require personnel to understand fundamental stability principles, such as:
1. Initial Stability Theory: The ability to maintain stability under various conditions.
2. Centre of Gravity (CG): The point where the facility's weight is concentrated.
3. Free Surface Effect: The detrimental effect of free-flowing liquid in ballast tanks, which reduces stability.
4. Draft, List, and Trim: Understanding how ballast affects the vessel's waterline, tilt, and longitudinal balance.

Goal

Upon successful completion of Gulf Coast Training Technologies aforementioned course, the student will: understand initial stability theory, be able to calculate moments and centres of gravity, calculate draft, list and trim, and understand the concepts of free surface effect. Also, this course will utilise the “Deep Driller” Semi-submersible MOM to emphasise the use of operation manuals in the daily stability operations of a MODU, and also utilise the “SPAR” operations manual for operations on board a SPAR Passive Ballast System. Additionally, role-playing students will offer insight to effective countermeasures in worst-case and Damage scenarios for both types of units.