Due Back is when an offshore worker had completed his time off. Its the 'back-to-work' time. It can be sort of a sad parting from family & friends, but it also can be exciting since the barge may had moved to another country since last you left it. Another free ride to a foreign country. For me, my time off is 3 weeks after that I am due back for 6 weeks offshore on every trip.
Going back offshore is obviously the opposite of going home for time off. You have to make sure you have all the things you need & all packed nicely in the luggage. Most importantly of course is making sure your passport & travel documents are all in order. One thing in mind is on working permits or visa to work in a foreign country, its always good to double check whether you were given an ERP or EPO when you first left the barge to return home. ERP or Exit Return Permit would mean that you will still have a valid entry to that foreign country upon arrival & the agent do not have to re-apply a new one for you. However, ERPs does have a time limit, some 2 - 4 weeks & some 1 - 2 months, or more so if you were on a very long time off, a new application is needed and that would take a day or so to complete in the country you are going to. The EPO, or Exit Permit Only, would means your previous working permit or visa is void and a new application is needed.
Going back offshore is obviously the opposite of going home for time off. You have to make sure you have all the things you need & all packed nicely in the luggage. Most importantly of course is making sure your passport & travel documents are all in order. One thing in mind is on working permits or visa to work in a foreign country, its always good to double check whether you were given an ERP or EPO when you first left the barge to return home. ERP or Exit Return Permit would mean that you will still have a valid entry to that foreign country upon arrival & the agent do not have to re-apply a new one for you. However, ERPs does have a time limit, some 2 - 4 weeks & some 1 - 2 months, or more so if you were on a very long time off, a new application is needed and that would take a day or so to complete in the country you are going to. The EPO, or Exit Permit Only, would means your previous working permit or visa is void and a new application is needed.
Like any other travelers, arrival can be a real bitch sometimes when time is involved.
For this, I make sure that I am well prepared for this mentally & I do this by knowing beforehand what I am suppose to do and where I am suppose to go after I had landed in the airport. Rushing from one point to the other is something I've gone accustomed to now as an offshore worker. Also, orders from the office can change sometime & it can be beneficial or it can really be a pain in the arse. Why? Well it all depends. Staying a night or two because of unforeseen circumstances like rough weather at sea, crew boat not ready, need to re-apply working permit or just waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive from various differe
nt countries, for example, can give you the time to have a look around the city in which the country you are in. Its like an extended time off. Of course the set back is, you will also be adding that extra few days offshore. You see, your time on the barge offshore starts to tick only at the moment you arrived to the barge and not on the way to the barge. So weigh it for yourself and decide if the wait if beneficial or not. Have the extra 2 days waiting to go on the crew boat & walk around Singapore and then go home 2 days late when you are due for time off? Hmmmmm...Like I said, depends on the individual.
To travel to the work location or field, we use a crew boat. The trip itself varies depending on the location of the barge at sea. For this trip, it took us 16 hours from Batam, Indonesia to the Natuna Sea in the South China Sea. Sounds far right? Well, of course it is. But luckily, the crew boat we were in has the speed of 22 knots and it could be more than 16 hours if the crew boat was slower. In one occasion, it took 32 hours to reach the location. This is also categorized 
under travel time and will not be included in the offshore time. It can be boring to go on really long crew boat run but it does not mean you are not taken care off. Snacks and drinks are readily supplied on-board and it's always enough for everyone. Sleeping space however will not be as comfy as your bed and when meeting rough seas, always make sure you got a supply of anti-seasick pills. I have to admit, no matter how long I have been in and out of the sea, the danger of getting seasick is always lurking around the corner. Seasick is not fun.
And then, its back to work in the deep blue sea again. Also, upon arrival, you will usually meet up with the other personnel you are relieving with a quick hand shake and a simple bon voyage message. Of course, this is when the days start counting..
For this, I make sure that I am well prepared for this mentally & I do this by knowing beforehand what I am suppose to do and where I am suppose to go after I had landed in the airport. Rushing from one point to the other is something I've gone accustomed to now as an offshore worker. Also, orders from the office can change sometime & it can be beneficial or it can really be a pain in the arse. Why? Well it all depends. Staying a night or two because of unforeseen circumstances like rough weather at sea, crew boat not ready, need to re-apply working permit or just waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive from various differe
nt countries, for example, can give you the time to have a look around the city in which the country you are in. Its like an extended time off. Of course the set back is, you will also be adding that extra few days offshore. You see, your time on the barge offshore starts to tick only at the moment you arrived to the barge and not on the way to the barge. So weigh it for yourself and decide if the wait if beneficial or not. Have the extra 2 days waiting to go on the crew boat & walk around Singapore and then go home 2 days late when you are due for time off? Hmmmmm...Like I said, depends on the individual.
To travel to the work location or field, we use a crew boat. The trip itself varies depending on the location of the barge at sea. For this trip, it took us 16 hours from Batam, Indonesia to the Natuna Sea in the South China Sea. Sounds far right? Well, of course it is. But luckily, the crew boat we were in has the speed of 22 knots and it could be more than 16 hours if the crew boat was slower. In one occasion, it took 32 hours to reach the location. This is also categorized 
under travel time and will not be included in the offshore time. It can be boring to go on really long crew boat run but it does not mean you are not taken care off. Snacks and drinks are readily supplied on-board and it's always enough for everyone. Sleeping space however will not be as comfy as your bed and when meeting rough seas, always make sure you got a supply of anti-seasick pills. I have to admit, no matter how long I have been in and out of the sea, the danger of getting seasick is always lurking around the corner. Seasick is not fun.
And then, its back to work in the deep blue sea again. Also, upon arrival, you will usually meet up with the other personnel you are relieving with a quick hand shake and a simple bon voyage message. Of course, this is when the days start counting..
