Above Deck Crew & Below Deck Crew

I did mentioned about going into details on the different types of barges working in oil fields offshore but for now let me explain the two different categories of personnel on board a barge. Besides, I need more time to do some drawings on the barges to show you dumb duck land lovers what difference are there between each barges, graphically. So stay tune for that topic.

Basically, personnel working on the barge are separated into two categories. One is called Above Deck Crew and the other, Below Deck Crew. Lets start with the Below Deck crew, in which is the category where I belong.

The Below Deck crew consist of the following positions (in no order of heirarchy, we don't fuel Office Politics here):

• Barge Administrator (thats me...)
• Radio Operator (GMDSS Certified)
• Control Tower Operator
• HSE Officer
• Barge Doctor/Medic
• Chief Electrician/Barge Electrician/Electrical Technician
• Barge Mechanic
• Warehouseman & Storeman
• Catering Crew (Campboss, Western Cook, Asian Cook & Stewards)
• Marine Crew (Chief Engineer, Barge Master, Marine Captain, Chief Officer, 2nd Officer, 3rd Officer, Bosun & A.B.)

The Above Deck crew consist of the following positions (in no order of heirarchy):

• Barge Superintendent (my boss..)
• Welding Superintendent/Welding Foreman/Welder/Fitter Foreman/Fitter
• Barge Foreman & Barge Leaderman
• Rigger Foreman/Rigger Leaderman/Rigger
• Scaffolder Supervisor/Scaffolder Foreman/Scaffolder
• Derrick Crane Operator/Deck Crane Operator
• Field Engineers
• QA/QC Engineers
• ROV Supervisors/ROV Pilots/ROV Technicians
• Dive Superintendent/Dive Supervisor/Saturation Diver/Air Diver
• PFM / Line Up Operator
• Hammer Technicians

I guess that sums up almost all I can list down. I may have missed a few, but yeah, most of the major ones are listed. So, whats the difference then? Well, most importantly - expenses and budgets! The Finance people working on the shore have separate budgets for The Above Deck Crew and Below Deck Crew. Can't say I know much in detail, but my guess is to keep track a good budget and records. The more obvious diference is that the Above Deck Crew are those who will be working on the construction sites while the Below Deck crew are those who will be taking care of the barge's well being and keep things operational. Will get a write up done on some of the positions held on a barge on upcoming postings.

In addition, some of the Above Deck Crew may be required to change when the barge goes from one country to another. For example, we might have a Malaysian Field Engineer on board while working in Miri but when we moved to work in Indonesian waters, then we will get an Indonesian Field Engineer, and Thai Field Engineer when the barge goes to Thailand waters. You got the picture right? Below Deck Crew however, usually do not change no matter which country the barge goes.