Jacking and Rig Move Advanced

This course provides a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the design, operation, and safe management of jack-up barges and self-propelled vessels in offshore and near-shore environments. It is designed for marine officers, barge masters, DP operators, engineers, and project personnel who are involved in the planning, execution, and control of complex barge and jacking operations.

Participants will gain a strong foundation in barge design and layout, maneuvering principles, and the physical forces that influence vessel behavior. Through a structured progression from theory to application, the course explains how wind, current, shallow water effects, and internal forces affect stability, control, and operational safety. Special emphasis is placed on understanding pivot point theory, thruster and azimuth operation, and best-practice barge handling techniques for both self-propelled and towed units.

The course also develops a deep technical understanding of jacking systems, leg and bracing design, fixation systems, and the differences between 3-, 4-, and 6-leg configurations. Participants will study critical mechanical and electrical systems, including braking, retorquing, greasing, regeneration, resistor banks, and power management systems (PMS), with particular focus on redundancy, load sharing, switchboard protection, and failure modes relevant to DP and jacking operations.

A major component of the program is operational risk management. This includes contingency planning for thruster, azimuth, and propeller failures, semi-blackout scenarios, rapid penetration and punch-through, stuck leg recovery, and jetting techniques. Site-specific seabed assessment, soil interpretation, and spud-can penetration analysis are integrated into pre-loading and jacking decision-making, in accordance with the Marine Operational Manual (MOM) and defined operational limits.

The course also covers stability, weight distribution, damage stability, trim and inclination, and crane operations while elevated, ensuring participants can safely manage the unit throughout all phases of operation. Learning is reinforced through realistic simulator exercises with full feedback sessions, allowing participants to apply theory in operationally accurate scenarios and build confidence in decision-making under normal and emergency conditions.

By the end of the course, participants will have the knowledge and practical insight required to plan, execute, and manage barge and jack-up operations safely, efficiently, and in compliance with industry best practices.