Living on an offshore oil platform, while the norm for many of today’s offshore workers, is hardly a glamorous life. The housing conditions are often less than adequate and most people don’t live there by choice. If they did, you can bet that better living accommodations would be made available (and they sometimes are).
Offshore oil rigs usually have two types of housing:
temporary or permanent. Temporary accommodation is often used when the rig is in heavy use and may only be used for six months to a year at a time. Permanent accommodation will normally house approximately one hundred and fifty men and women (there may be more) and keeps roughly the same crew onboard for up to twenty years at a time.
Housing on an offshore oil platform can be quite basic, depending on which rig you are stationed at.
While the accommodations are not what many people would consider acceptable, there are some positive qualities about living quarters that may outweigh the negatives for some individuals. This is because life at sea, whether you’re working on a rig or ship, is very different from being ashore. With all of the differences though comes the potential for homesickness and this should never be underestimated.
Many platforms have virtually no entertainment facilities so crewmembers must create their own fun if they want it…and this is usually by playing practical jokes on each other! As well as giving everyone something to laugh about, practical joking also helps increase morale – often when morale is low – and this has a positive effect on work output.
Offshore oil rig living quarters may lack some of the amenities that we generally enjoy ashore but there is usually no danger from floods, hurricanes or tornadoes and you don’t have to worry about break-ins or muggings either. Of course, there is always the danger of falling overboard (which some people do) and this threat is constant while at sea. However, such accidents are rare and fatalities infrequent compared to other occupations such as fishing, forestry and farming. Most offshore workers get home leave after six months so they can return to family and friends if they wish before heading out to sea again for another six months.
Life at sea may not be ideal but it certainly has its advantages and some people love it!
The main problem with life at sea is finding a way to fill in the days when you’re bored so if this doesn’t bother you, offshore oil rig living quarters may well be an ideal lifestyle for you.
Offshore oil rig living quarters are usually not the best of conditions for people to live in. However, it is still an experience that many people enjoy because they get to see what life on the ocean is like. It’s a new experience for many workers and one that some individuals don’t really mind having while others find it maddening. If you think about all of the different lifestyles out there, none of them are perfect for everyone, but if you’re sure that this is something that will work for your lifestyle then give it a try. You may end up enjoying your life more than if you weren’t working offshore!
