GL Renewables Certification (GL RC) has certified Deutsche WindGuard Offshore GmbH's Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) courses. Helicopter transport is an important way for technical personnel to reach offshore wind farm installations, but before getting on board, a certified training course must be passed. GL RC certifies training providers to its standards, which set out the fundamental prerequisites for efficient training, such as proper organization of the training course, careful documentation and high-quality teaching equipment and materials.
The importance of training in the offshore industry is highlighted by figures recently announced by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). The association estimates that the number of people employed in offshore wind will rise to 170,000 in 2020, a fivefold increase from 2010.
"The demand for safety training is increasing with the expansion of offshore wind industry," confirmed Reinhold Heller, Expert for Certification of Training Systems at GL RC. "This is why we developed a technical note for the "Certification of Training Programs and Training Systems in the Renewable Energy Industry" which has recently been updated to meet the latest developments in the industry."
Completing a HUET course, as provided by Deutsche WindGuard Offshore GmbH, is compulsory for everyone who has to reach his workplace on the high seas by helicopter, such as offshore technicians, maintenance staff and installation experts for the construction of wind farms. "Certification by GL RC allows us to offer a full set of training courses for the on- and offshore wind industry, said Niels Erdmann, Managing Director of Deutsche WindGuard.