
Off-shore oil rigs are huge and as such need many people to keep things running efficiently. Among these, instrument technicians are some of the most in demand. Because the rig is in the middle of the sea, the salt in the water and air will damage the electrical, pneumatic and mechanical systems. This is where off-shore instrument technicians come in as without them oil rigs would not be able to function.
Job description
*As an instrument technician, you would have to install new machinery and equipment, maintain and monitor them and make sure they are in working order. For this, daily inspection has to be done to make sure there are no glitches.
Remuneration
*Off-shore jobs are very challenging and so remuneration is very good. Everyone on the rig – from the roustabouts to the technicians and supervisors – follows the same routine of 12-hour shifts, 7 to 14 days in a stretch and the same number of days off. On an average, instrument technicians get about $61,000 a year but this amount can differ from company to company. Job location and your experience level will also be factors.
Dangers
*While working on an off-shore oil rig, you will have to brave extreme weather and face the potential dangers of hurricanes and storms, and the fact that accidents, sometimes fatal ones, are more than a possibility. As an instrument technician, there is the added danger that you could get injured by the machinery or chemicals you have to handle.
Qualifications
*Instrument technicians must have a high school diploma and a degree in instrumentation or process technology, or an equivalent certificate/diploma from a recognized organization. If you don’t have the relevant qualifications, it would be a good idea to attend a two-year instrumentation technical course before applying. You will need to be a team player as most instrument technicians work in groups. You also must be able to troubleshoot and breakdown a problem logically so that you can solve it.
Though off-shore instrument technician jobs are in demand, they are difficult to get as they need a lot of technical skill and qualifications. At the end of the day, living on a rig can wear you down mentally and physically but if you feel you can handle the harsh environment, then go for it. But remember, that once you get the job, it doesn’t stop there: you have to keep learning, reading and updating yourself on new technologies.