OFFSHORE WIND
ELECTRONIC POB, MUSTERING, W2W & ACCESS CONTROL
A comprehensive personnel tracking, mustering, W2W, and access control system enhances safety and efficiency across offshore wind farms by ensuring real-time visibility of all personnel. Supporting safe Walk-to-Work transfers, rapid emergency response, and controlled access to critical zones, it safeguards lives, infrastructure, and operations in dynamic offshore environments.
W2W (Walk to Work)
Transferring personnel between vessels and offshore installations using a motion-compensated gangway. Allowing workers to move between platforms and support vessels even in rough sea conditions.
Automated Headcount
Streamline personnel tracking by providing real-time, accurate counts without manual intervention.
Access Control
Regulating and restricting entry to authorised individuals in specific areas of a facility or system.
Rapid Electronic Mustering
Electronic mustering provides a fast, accurate way to account for personnel during emergencies by automatically tracking their locations using digital systems.
Last Known Location
Last known location during a muster is crucial for guiding emergency responders quickly to individuals who may be in danger or unaccounted for.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?
Worker Location
Security
Remoteness and Communication
– Wind farms can be tens of kilometres offshore, far from cellular networks.
– Traditional GPS works, but transmitting live data is tough due to limited connectivity.
– Satellite-based or specialised marine communication systems are often needed.
Complex, Multi-level Structures
– Turbines and substations have internal ladders, platforms, and confined spaces.
– It’s difficult to know exactly where within a turbine a worker might be.
– GPS and radio signals can struggle to penetrate metal enclosures.
Workforce Mobility
– Workers frequently move between turbines, vessels, and platforms.
– Tracking systems must update rapidly and handle handovers between locations.
Dynamic Worksites
– Maintenance can require powering down machinery, creating new hazards.
– Temporary exclusion zones may need to be established very quickly.
Multiple Hazards
– High voltage equipment, rotating machinery, and heavy tools pose risks.
– Weather can suddenly make areas hazardous (e.g., slippery surfaces).
– Transfer between vessels and turbines is especially risky.
Access Control
– Need to restrict entry to high-risk areas to authorized, trained personnel.
– Conventional methods (physical locks, keycards) can be impractical.
Limited Immediate Support
– Medical and rescue resources are far away.
– Rapid identification and rescue of workers in danger are critical and challenging.
An electronic personnel tracking system ensures accurate, real-time tracking of all personnel by using technologies like RFID, GPS, or Bluetooth to automatically record employee locations and movements within the site. This removes human error and manual entry, ensuring that the status and whereabouts of all personnel are always up to date.
By automatically logging personnel hours and activity, an electronic personnel tracking system helps accurately track labour costs and time spent on specific tasks. This allows for better budget forecasting, avoids overstaffing, and minimizes downtime, ultimately reducing unnecessary costs and improving overall financial management.
SOLUTION BENEFITS
Personnel Tracking
Remote Monitoring
Supervisors know where everyone is, even across vast sites.
Faster Emergency Response
If a worker is in trouble, their precise location can be found and rescue initiated quickly.
Confined Space Safety
Alerts when someone enters or is inside high-risk or hazardous spaces.
Audit Trails
Logs entries/exits for safety and compliance reviews.
W2W (Walk to Work)
Safety Assurance
Monitors that only authorized, properly equipped workers transfer or embark/disembark.
Automatic Manifests
Keeps count of who is on which structure or vessel, reducing risk of leaving someone behind.
Access Control
Restricts Entry
Only trained and authorized personnel can enter high-risk zones.
Lockout/Tagout Support
Can lock machinery or areas remotely when maintenance or hazards are present.
Temporary Exclusion Zones
Quickly implements safety perimeters during certain tasks (e.g., high-voltage work).
Audit and Traceability
Every entry/exit is logged.
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
This tracking system is designed to monitor personnel movement and location in real time by detecting proximity tags worn by individuals.
The system uses BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) or UHF (Ultra High Frequency) readers to capture tag signals and transmit the data to a central server application via customer-specified communication infrastructure.
The solution is adaptable to various industrial or hazardous environments.
Electronic Tags (RFID, UHF or BLE)
Small wearable devices assigned to each individual, typically embedded in ID badges, wristbands, or rugged wearable units. These tags periodically emit a unique signal (BLE or UHF) to indicate presence and proximity to nearby readers.
Function
– Broadcast a unique identifier at set intervals
– Identify personnel location or movement through fixed reader points
Features
– Configurable broadcast rate, short-to-medium range (10–50m)
– Long battery life (depending on usage)
Deployment
– Worn on-person (lanyards, hard hats, wristbands)
– Assigned and tracked via asset management in the software platform
Readers (RFID, UHF or BLE)
Fixed-position or mobile receiver devices that detect nearby tags. They determine the presence and often proximity of a tag and forward that data upstream for processing.
Function
– Continuously scan for nearby tag signals
– Capture timestamped detection events
Features
– BLE Readers: Compact, easy to install, good for room-level or zone tracking
– Configurable detection sensitivity and transmission thresholds
Deployment
– Installed in key locations: entrances/exits, muster zones, bridges, escape routes, or critical areas
– Mounted on walls, ceilings, or integrated into existing infrastructure
Central Infrastructure
This is the heart of the tracking system, a centralised data hub that receives, processes, and manages all incoming detection events from BLE or UHF readers via the site’s chosen communication infrastructure. It hosts the backend logic, storage, and integration interfaces for the entire solution.
Function
– Acts as the central control point for all data collected by the readers
– Manages communication protocols and ensures secure, reliable data flow
– Handles processing logic, database storage, and system health monitoring
Features
– Supports multiple data input formats and protocols (MQTT, HTTP, TCP/IP, etc.)
– High availability and fault-tolerant design for mission-critical operations
– Time-stamped logging of all detection and status events
– Built-in diagnostics for system performance and connectivity
– Modular architecture to support additional services like alarms, rules engines, or analytics
Security
– Includes user authentication, encrypted data transmission, and audit trails
Server Application & User Interface
The backend server aggregates and processes data. It resolves each tag’s location by mapping the reported beacon ID to a physical location. The application includes a user interface for monitoring, history playback, alerting, and integration with external safety or management systems.
Function
– Data processing, location inference, storage, and visualization
Features
– Real-time dashboards and zone-based location displays
– Mustering and evacuation status tracking
– Historical movement logs and analytics
– Customizable alerts (e.g., zone breach, inactivity, panic button)
Security
– Includes user authentication, encrypted data transmission, and audit trails.
REPORTS
Personnel Location and Movement Reports
- Real-Time Location Report: Map or list showing the current position of all personnel on-site.
- Historical Movement Logs: Timeline of where each worker was and when, including entries and exits from specific locations.
- Zone Occupancy: Which employees were (or are) present in specific areas at given times.
W2W (Work to Work) Transfer Reports
- Personnel Transfer Logs: Details on every transfer event, including time, participants, vessel/structure details, and authorization status.
- Manifests and Headcounts: List of personnel by vessel or structure, showing embarkations/disembarkations.
Access Control Reports
- Access Logs: Who accessed which areas, when, and under which permissions.
- Access Denial/Attempted Breach Reports: Logs of any unauthorized or denied access attempts to restricted zones.
Safety and Incident Reports
- Evacuation Drill & Muster Reports: Participation records, muster list completion times, and muster point occupancy.
- Man Down or Lone Worker Alerts: Reports of any alarms triggered by lack of movement or distress signals.
- Proximity Alerts and Incidents: Instances where personnel have entered hazardous zones or approached dangerous equipment.
DOCUMENTS
Introduction Pack
