Going Offshore for the First Time? ROV Mobilization Checklist for New Pilots

Missing something on a mobilization — an expired certification, a piece of equipment left in the workshop, a document not approved — can result in a delayed departure, a refused boarding, or a team operating without what they need. A systematic pre-mobilization checklist eliminates these problems. This one is built for ROV operations.

Personal Certifications and Documents

• Passport valid for the full duration of the project plus 6 months
• BOSIET / FOET — check exact expiry date, not just year
• Offshore medical — OGUK or equivalent, check validity period carefully
• IMCA ROV grade certificate
• First Aid at Work certificate
• H2S Awareness certificate (if required by location)
• STCW Basic Safety certificates (if working on a vessel)
• Client-specific induction certificate (check if required)
• Any country-specific visa or work permit already in hand
• Emergency contact details submitted to employer

Technical Documents

• Project work scope and dive program
• ROV system manuals — digital copies accessible offline
• Equipment calibration certificates (depth sensor, altimeter, navigation)
• Maintenance records for the systems being deployed
• Tooling certification and test records (if intervention tooling is being used)
• Client technical specifications for deliverables (inspection report format, data format, etc.)

ROV Equipment

• Vehicle pre-checked and all systems confirmed operational
• Spares kit — o-rings, connectors, thruster spares, fuses appropriate for the expected run time
• Tooling tested and packed
• Control system laptop or console — spare charger included
• Recording equipment — camera memory, hard drives, labelling supplies
• Inspection data management plan agreed (where is data stored, how is it backed up)
• All equipment packed and labelled for shipping — manifested correctly for air or sea freight

Personal Kit

• Medication for full duration of project plus buffer
• Prescription glasses or contacts — spares
• PPE — safety glasses, gloves, steel-toe boots, hi-vis
• Workwear appropriate for the climate and work environment
• Electronic devices charged — laptop, phone, tablet
• Offline resources downloaded — technical documents, system manuals, emergency references

Day Before Departure

• Confirm travel arrangements — flight booking reference, vehicle to airport, any helicopter manifest confirmation
• Check vessel departure schedule — changes to the programme may affect your travel date
• Confirm accommodation onboard or at marshalling point
• Check baggage weight limits — offshore flights are strict; overweight bags may be refused
• Check weather for travel route and offshore location
• Update your next-of-kin with project details and expected communication schedule

Maintaining Your Records Offshore

Once onboard, start your logbook from the first dive. Keep ThrusterLog updated throughout the project — not as a post-trip admin task but as a real-time operational record. When you demobilize, your records are complete and your certification status is current. The next mobilization call is easier to say yes to quickly.