RelyOn, a leading training provider for the offshore energy industry, has this week launched a new suite of global training products for offshore crane operations which aim to replace existing standards and set a new benchmark for safety across the industry.
RelyOn’s Offshore Crane Operator (OCO) Static Lifting and Dynamic Lifting are offered as an alternative to the current products on the market, commonly known as OCO Stages 1 to 3, and have been developed in close collaboration with industry partners. Aligned with BS7121 Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Cranes, training takes place on RelyOn’s Crane & Lifting Simulator which was installed at its facility in Aberdeen in 2025 and uses advanced simulation technology to provide a realistic and full immersive training environment.
While the offshore industry has taken significant steps forward in terms of safety over the last 50 years, lifting remains the main cause of reportable incidents globally, with 49% of offshore incidents reported in 2024 by BSEE pertained to lifting operations. Following extensive consultation with industry experts, RelyOn identified several key concerns across the sector, including the lack of globally aligned standards, limited updates to training provision over the past two decades, and a heavy reliance on on-the-job training, which can be disruptive to ongoing operations.
RelyOn Regional Managing Director, Colin Leyden explains: “Our customers have consistently highlighted the limitations of existing training and competency programmes within the offshore lifting sector. They are looking for a more practical, hands-on approach that combines realistic exercises with supervised competency assessments that can be recorded, validated and seamlessly integrated into their own Competence Management Systems. There is also a clear demand for a faster, more effective pathway for trainee Crane Operators — enabling them to become job-ready and capable of operating safely in offshore environments in significantly less time than traditional training routes allow.
“Simulation technology is the most effective and efficient way to deliver this training. By using advanced simulators, we can provide highly realistic operational scenarios without disrupting offshore activities. Operators can train in a wide range of weather and environmental conditions, while also experiencing critical emergency situations such as hydraulic failures, dropped loads and other high-risk events in a safe, controlled environment. Our simulators, developed by RelyOn Simulations, feature a broad range of crane types and cargo configurations, creating a flexible and immersive learning experience that reflects real workplace operations. Ultimately, simulation-based training delivers a safer, faster, more cost-effective and more adaptable approach to developing offshore lifting competence.”
Alongside these new training solutions, RelyOn is also giving Crane Operators the opportunity to use the simulator to log additional lifting hours. Logbooks that record operating hours, environmental conditions, incidents and maintenance checks are a vital part of progressing training and demonstrating competency. However, gaining these hours can be a major challenge for personnel who currently depend on the availability of offshore trips to build experience.
Using simulation technology, RelyOn can recreate relevant operating conditions in a risk-free environment, while also verifying and recording completed hours. This provides operators with a more accessible, consistent and efficient route to developing experience and advancing competency.
RelyOn is now taking bookings for its OCO Static Lifting and Dynamic Lifting courses, as well as the existing Stages 2 and 3 Reassessments. Those interested in booking this training, or using the simulator for logging hours, are asked to contact RelyOn Aberdeen directly at bookings.uk@relyon.com. More information about RelyOn simulation products can be viewed online.
