COSL becomes the 30th company globally to meet the industry Standard for competence management

COSL Drilling Europe AS has become the 30th company to achieve OPITO Competence Management System (CMS) approval.

The Norwegian contractor, who demonstrated and implemented a best practice CMS covering operations on one of its North Sea assets, achieved the accreditation in under four months.

COSL’s approval covers employees operating in technical, drilling and marine roles on the semi-submersible drilling rig, the COSL Pioneer, which is currently operating in CNOOC International’s Buzzard field in the central North Sea.

Widely considered as the industry’s global benchmark, OPITO, alongside industry stakeholders, has developed best practice criteria for organisations to have their existing CMS evaluated. COSL joins Awilco Drilling, CNOOC Petroleum Europe Limited, KCA Deutag and Sparrows Offshore Services Ltd who all hold OPITO CMS approval for various assets across the globe.

OPITO Director Alex Spencer said: ‘Organisations are continuing to see the added value an OPITO approved CMS system delivers. As well as providing globally recognised, independent assurance of skills and competence amongst the COSL workforce, it also demonstrates the company’s ongoing commitment to its people.

‘We congratulate COSL on not only becoming the 30th organisation to be awarded CMS approval, but also for achieving the status in under four months – a great example of how straightforward and attainable the process is over a very short period of time.’

Within their application, COSL also gained approval to deliver OPITO’s Helideck Workplace Competence Standards: Helideck Landing Officer (HLO); Helideck Assistant (HDA); Helideck Emergency Response Team Leader (HERTL), and Helideck Emergency Response Team Member (HERTM). This additional approval now allows the organisation to carry out competence assessments for these roles internally, which has a significant cost saving for the business.

Frank Tollefsen, CEO & President of COSL Drilling Europe added, “COSL Drilling Europe regard the OPITO accreditation as a demonstration of our focus as a quality drilling contractor. COSL will pursue OPITO CMS approval for our assets operating outside of the UK, demonstrating our commitment to global safety across our fleet and to live up to our slogan ‘Always do Better’.

COSL is now looking to pursue OPITO CMS approval for assets operating in Norway and China, demonstrating commitment to global safety across its workforce.