A Customer Appointment Becomes Something Truly Special

Some service assignments are truly extraordinary - as shown by the story of Edmund Obermayer and his colleague Sebastian Kardosch. A company operating offshore wind energy platforms wanted to replace its existing terminals with Mifare readers to standardize technology across all global sites. The goal: to allow all employees access to every location using a single ID card. But how do you reach a job site located over 100 kilometers offshore in the open sea? Naturally - by helicopter!

Before they could take the flight and work on the platform, they first had to complete a 7-day training course. This took place at the RelyOn Nutec training center in Bremerhaven.

The training included modules such as “Basic Offshore Training,” “Helicopter Underwater Escape Training,” “Sea Survival including Boat Transfer,” “Fire Protection and Firefighting,” and two days of “First Aid Training.” The center can simulate real open-sea conditions. Jumping into cold water from a height of four meters in complete darkness took some courage! Wind speeds of 10–11 and waves up to 1–2 meters were simulated. The goal was to board a life raft - and also to rescue another person in need from the water.

And what if a helicopter crashes into the sea? To prepare for this scenario, participants had to escape from a submerged helicopter simulator while strapped in - even breaking a window to get out. Fire protection training was also on the agenda: navigating a smoke-filled, hot room with obstacles on the floor while wearing a breathing mask and no visibility - not easy!

During the first aid course, participants were made aware of what it means to work on an offshore platform, how to prevent accidents, and how to act in emergencies. Since the platform is isolated from the outside world, help may not arrive immediately — especially if bad weather prevents helicopter flights. That’s why it’s crucial that personnel can administer first aid themselves. Finally, outside the training center in Bremerhaven’s harbor basin, they practiced a “man overboard” scenario using a dummy that had to be rescued from the water. The colleagues mastered all tasks with flying colors. They passed all training modules and exams. Respect!

Now, Edmund Obermayer and Sebastian Kardosch are ready for their assignment. And since the certifications are valid worldwide, similar missions for other clients are entirely possible. That’s what we call boundless flexibility and a strong sense of responsibility!