Shell, Maersk Training Form Offshore Training Partnership for Gulf of Mexico Workforce

The Shell Robert Training and Conference Center in Louisiana has established a new partnership with Maersk Training on May 4, which will see the global safety specialists deliver enhanced training to the Gulf of Mexico offshore workforce. 

The agreement will combine the world-class infrastructure and training set-up at the Shell Robert Center with Maersk Training’s experienced instructors and course-design methodology.  

Partnering with Shell represents significant growth for Maersk Training in the Americas. Using its history and experience, the company will deliver a full suite of safety, pool survival, well control, and process training in the region as it does across several of its international hubs.  

“This facility takes us to a new level in what we can offer to the market,” Matthew Roberts, Maersk Training’s operations manager, said. “The Robert Center has a proud history, and we look forward to building on that tradition. Our ambition is to integrate our high-end simulators with basic safety and survival training to create a truly holistic and fully integrated learning experience for our customers from beginning to end. In collaborating with Shell, we look forward to learning and developing future opportunities together.”

As well as existing courses, Maersk Training will offer new IADC and IWCF well control training with planning for large-scale immersive simulator capabilities underway. Much of the work will focus on providing valuable ‘lessons learned’ information from both service company and operator arenas to create a higher standard of training across the industry. 

“Our courses provide essential industry training while also focusing on the root causes of failures and common issues, such as communication,” Tyler Hamm, business development manager at Maersk Training, said. “Offshore workers will get the opportunity to practice difficult operations and conversations in a safe environment with zero impact on live operations. We are excited to bring our proven human factors and crew resource management methodology to the Shell Robert facility and the wider workforce.” 

The agreement will also see Maersk Training assist in Shell’s global initiative of creating a Lifeboat Center of Excellence for those working in the maritime, oil and gas and wind industries.   

The facility offers on-site lodging, allowing teams to safely quarantine while simultaneously performing essential on-site training while Covid-19 restrictions remain in place.