Bridge the gap with offshore project and interface management
On complex EPCI projects consisting of various subcontractors, consultants and stakeholders, miscommunication can easily sink the project. To bridge the gap between all parties involved and to ensure that information and expectations are clearly communicated, proper offshore project management and interface management is required.
Interface management in the project lifecycle
To ensure successful completion of the projects, it’s important to provide interface management between parties, particularly from the start-up until the commissioning phase.
By focusing on the overall goal from a holistic perspective and not just the objectives of the specific elements of the project, you can provide for efficient and effective delivery of the project, and continuity into the operations phase which serves to enhance reputation.
It is important for your Interface Management Program and offshore project management team to understand all the stages in the Value Chain to ensure common purpose when transferring responsibility, care and custody.
The project management lifecycle is depicted below:
• Initiation
• Planning
• Execution
• Monitoring
• Close Out
Benefits of interface management and offshore project management
In understanding the value chain and the overall goals, your offshore project management team and the interface management program can determine battery limits or any gaps in the scope of work. This allows you to establish an action plan that considers the cost, influence, stakeholders and interested parties.
As change is inevitable, we recommend reducing your risk and mitigating any circumstances that should arise from change. This is especially important when you manage changing relationships. With a proper interface management program, you can manage relationship changes and agree on the implementation of the program with stakeholders.
As a project gradually develops, there are often different factors that may affect the project at the start-up phase. The project management strategy should streamline all the deliverables, the start and completion dates, all milestones and responsible persons to give clarity to all parties when the project has achieved its goals. It may be required to go through the loop of planning and executing through project monitoring and the controlling process group before it entirely progresses into project delivery.
Your offshore project management team should review and validate the proposed schedule and perform assigned activities once the plan is approved before facilitating the work package definition, sequencing, and estimating duration and resources with the project team and service specialists.
For best results, choose project managers that are Certified Project Management Professionals (PMP Certified) and are working in conjunction with international standard practices and qualifications. Looking for a qualified offshore project management team that understands the big picture? Get in touch.
Offshore Project Management Institutes (PMI)
The purpose of offshore project management qualifications and regulations is to provide a foundation for offshore project management knowledge and represent the four areas of the profession, namely:
- Project
- Program
- Portfolio
- The organisational approach to project management.
They are the foundation on which practice standards and industry-specific extensions are built.
It is important to ensure that your project delivery covers activities after mobilisation through the execution of the plans and acceptance of the product at the site or the transfer to another project phase.
MARSOL’s approach to offshore interface management
MARSOL strives for stakeholders’ satisfaction through facility protection at the lowest possible cost. Our capabilities and approach are tailored to maintain the intrinsic value of the asset and uphold warranty protection. We ensure all stakeholders agree on the preservation plan and there is smooth handover to the operator or O&M Contractor.
Our interface management envisions the “Missing Man” concept. It aligns the operational, design and maintenance philosophies and fulfils the workability by design and suitable local environment and conditions. It ensures that the terminal is fit for purpose, and optimises OPEX for continuity and long-term involvement (i.e. completion, reputation, and warranty protection).
MARSOL’s interface management ensures that all aspects are understood, and the gaps are identified, thus eliminating a snowball or risk, and avoiding a shift in liability.
Conclusion
Choosing the right offshore project management or interface management team is a difficult decision given all the factors involved, but the decision to include proper project management and interface management is a no-brainer. Find out if we are the right team for you. Get in touch.
Measure Success and Predict Failure with Terminal Integrity Management
Terminal Integrity Management serves to ascertain asset integrity, reliability and availability (IRA). To ensure that your offshore terminal operates efficiently throughout its service lifespan, you need operational integrity management that is unique to your terminal, your team and your environment – while remaining consistent with applicable standards. This plan should include measurement and analysis that quantifies progress, optimisation and Operational expenditure (OpEx).
In order to measure progress and predict maintenance requirements, it is important to conduct an As-is analysis first.
Terminal Integrity Assessment
Whether you are tackling a greenfield or brownfield project, you need to conduct a terminal integrity assessment. At MARSOL we use a proven, phased process to ascertain the client’s current operational efficiency and asset IRA. This data-driven approach serves to maintain assets in a fit-for-service condition and aids in the quantification of its remaining useful life within safety regulations.
The goal of this assessment is to gather and analyse data to arrive at the best possible operational and mechanical design for the site. The perfect design should increase efficiency and safety while lowering OpEx and risk.
With new insight and consultation, you are empowered to verify the design and re-engineer it to validate design assumptions.
Your terminal operational integrity assessment should include
- Data Acquisition
- Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
- Material Degradation Analysis
- Modelling
- Mooring & Hose Analysis
Marine Hose Integrity and Life Extension
Marine hose integrity management is often only performed periodically when required by OEM recommendation or after an emergency. Prevention is better than cure. Consider a complete lifecycle service that interfaces with your overall terminal integrity management strategy, so as to expand the reach of your data acquisition and analysis. This data will aid in the prediction of maintenance requirements and measure performance in real-time.
Marine Hose Integrity Management should include
- Hose Testing
- Marine Hose Dynamic Analysis
- Hose Repair
- Destructive Testing
Integrity Management Consulting
Acquiring data is one thing. Interpreting data for a plan of action is something else altogether. Consider a consultation partner that tells it like it is. At MARSOL we focus on lowering operational expenditure, operability, design and engineering, with particular insight into how each aspect influences the other.
Risk Management
Understanding the balance of factors at play in your terminal means managing and controlling risk to ensure as little as possible damage and impact to assets and the environment.
Risk managers should conduct initial feasibility studies, concept definition and high- level risk assessments which have a direct influence on the whole risk management programme.
Engineering Solutions
Whether greenfields or brownfields, the design phase must never be underestimated. As new technologies arise and regulations change, one must always be able and willing to adjust.
Consider a strategic approach to your requirements and the options at hand to meet them. This type of consultation is particularly important from the Front-end Engineering and Design (FEED) phase through to the Commissioning stage.
Interface management
To ensure that you have a team of specialised experts focussed on every separate aspect of your terminal, it is likely that you will have various third parties involved. Having a single point of contact in charge of managing these moving parts will not only give you a good overview of progress and budget spend, but also ensures successful completion of the projects, particularly during start-up until the commissioning phase.
Project Management
At MARSOL we firmly believe that strategy streamlines all deliverables. Work with the execution team and experienced consultants to determine start and completion dates, milestones and responsible persons. This style of project management will give clarity to all parties when the project has achieved its goals.
Asset, Operations and Maintenance Optimisation
This process utilises the right resources such as personnel, equipment and vessels for specific activities which only engage when required, resulting in reduced operational costs applied for standby time.
Conclusion
When it comes to operational expenditure and efficiency, numbers are everything. It is important to plan and execute, but equally so, it is important to measure. It is only through the collection of data and the analysis thereof that deterioration can be understood and optimisation appreciated.