Strengthening Asia’s Offshore Wind Workforce: Why OPITO HUET Is Becoming Essential Across a Rapidly Expanding Region

Offshore wind and offshore energy activity are accelerating across Southeast and East Asia. With strong wind resources, expanding supply chains, and growing investment from global operators, the region is experiencing both significant opportunity and increasing operational complexity. 

To understand what this means for workforce development, safety, and industry standards, we spoke with Ooi Suan Hoe, Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships (APAC) at OPITO. 

What major trends are shaping Asia’s offshore wind sector right now? 

Ooi: Offshore wind is seeing a strong take-off in China, Taiwan and Vietnam, and is gradually gaining traction in Japan, Korea and the Philippines. Several markets benefit from more than 4,000 hours of high-quality wind resources, particularly Japan, Taiwan, Korea and parts of China’s Fujian province. 

A broad regional supply chain is also emerging. Shipyards across China, Singapore, Korea, Indonesia and Japan are supporting offshore construction, while turbine manufacturers in China and Taiwan continue to scale. Many vessel operators previously serving the oil and gas sector are now active in offshore wind, alongside regional players. 

The region also benefits from experienced offshore labour pools in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. 

How are these developments influencing workforce demand and skills requirements across Eastern Asia? 

Ooi: A wide range of operators are now active in the region, including state-owned and multinational companies.

Offshore wind farms have grown significantly in scale, from a few megawatts to hundreds of megawatts and even gigawatt level projects. Developments are also moving further offshore, with the farthest in China located around 85.5 km from the coastline. At the same time, turbines are becoming larger, taller and heavier, with longer blades. 

This shift is driving increased reliance on: 

• Service Operation Vessels (SOVs)
• Helicopters
• Advanced lifting equipment 

These operations involve higher risk activities and the management of high value assets. 

There is also a strong industry focus on reducing Lost Time Incidents (LTI), strengthening safety regulations, and meeting ESG commitments. At the same time, demand for local content and local talent development is rising, leading to the establishment of training centres aligned with international standards. 

As offshore wind becomes a major contributor to the regional energy mix, the need for dedicated crisis management capabilities and robust risk mitigation plans continues to grow. 

What new safety challenges are emerging for personnel travelling to and from offshore installations? 

Ooi: As offshore activity increases, so does the frequency of crew transfers—and with that comes greater exposure to operational risks. 

Key safety challenges include: 

1. High-risk transfer operations 
   More frequent transfers via crew transfer vessels (CTVs) and helicopters increase the likelihood of incidents, especially in adverse weather and sea conditions.
2. Fatigue and physical strain 
   Long CTV journeys in rough seas can lead to fatigue, seasickness and reduced alertness.
3. Helicopter operations and helideck safety 
   As helicopter use grows, risks associated with boarding, disembarking, emergency evacuation and helideck operations must be carefully managed.
4. Emergency preparedness 
   Personnel must be fully familiar with offshore safety equipment, evacuation systems, survival craft and PPE.
5. Standardisation and competence alignment 
   Diverse crew backgrounds and varying training standards make it challenging to harmonise safety practices.
6. Strengthening safety culture 
   Increased activity requires robust HSE policies, heightened safety awareness and well-trained crews. 

Why is Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) essential for workers travelling offshore in South Asia? 

Ooi: OPITO is now in its 50th year, and HUET is widely recognised not only for its popularity but because it saves lives. BOSIET and HUET have many proven testimonies of survival during helicopter water ditching incidents. 

Many jack up and construction vessels, such as crane barges and cable laying vessels, are equipped with helidecks. Helicopter transfers are becoming more common due to their effectiveness in challenging sea and weather conditions, allowing for a wider operational window. 

For these reasons, HUET is expected to become increasingly important for offshore wind personnel across the region. 

What risks does HUET help mitigate in Asia’s offshore conditions? 

Ooi: HUET prepares personnel to survive a helicopter ditching event. The training covers: 

• Staying calm under pressure
• Correct body positioning during water impact
• Escaping from inverted helicopter cabins
• Using the Emergency Breathing System (EBS)
• Swimming to safety and signalling for rescue
• Coordinating effectively during evacuations 

Overall, HUET not only enhances safety but also supports operational efficiency by enabling offshore activities to be carried out more safely and consistently, particularly in challenging environmental conditions. 

What misconceptions do you encounter about HUET in the region? 

Ooi: A common misconception in Asia is that HUET is only relevant to the oil and gas sector. In reality, HUET supports a wide range of industries, including: 

• Oil and gas
• Marine and shipping
• Offshore wind
• Aviation and offshore logistics
• Emergency response teams
• Air force helicopter operations 

HUET has been widely applied in European and Scandinavian offshore wind operations for many years, ensuring personnel are fully prepared for helicopter transfers. 

How does OPITO’s global training standard support consistency across offshore projects and training centres in Southern Asia? 

Ooi: OPITO’s global training standards provide a robust framework for consistent, high-quality competence across the region. 

This includes: 

• Continuous monitoring of training providers through a dedicated auditing team
• Programme updates reflecting the latest environmental, regulatory and operational requirements
• Uniform learner records
• A reliable certificate validation system 

Together, these elements harmonise workforce skills, strengthen safety culture, and give operators and regulators confidence in the safe, efficient and globally aligned execution of offshore operations 

As offshore wind accelerates across Southeast and East Asia, the industry is entering a pivotal phase, one where operational ambition must be matched by uncompromising safety standards. Ensuring that every worker travelling offshore is equipped with the right skills, the right preparation, and the right training is fundamental to sustaining this momentum. OPITO’s HUET standard plays a vital role in this, offering a trusted, internationally aligned approach that supports safer helicopter operations and strengthens workforce confidence across the region. 

Learn more about OPITO Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET)