Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) Course

Course Overview

The Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) is accountable for everything that happens on a Mobile Offshore Unit (MOU) — from routine ballasting and station-keeping to a declared emergency. The OIM is the senior-most appointment on the installation, and the role demands both technical competence and command capability.

Elite Offshore Academy's OIM course prepares candidates for that role in line with IMO Resolution A.1079(28) — the international competence standard adopted on 4 December 2013 for personnel on Mobile Offshore Units. The course is approved by the Liberia (LISCR) flag state and is open to mid-level and senior offshore professionals worldwide.

The programme is delivered fully online, in a live instructor-led format. There is no in-person attendance requirement. Candidates from the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South-East Asia have completed the course from their home base.

Pre-requisites

The OIM course is open to any mid-level or senior offshore professional preparing for an OIM appointment. To enrol, candidates must meet one of the two prerequisite tracks below:

Track 1 — Experience: Four years of service aboard MOUs including at least one year in a supervisory technical role — driller, assistant driller, toolpusher, assistant toolpusher, barge supervisor, mechanical supervisor, electrician, crane operator, ballast control operator, or equivalent.

Track 2 — Degree-accelerated: A Bachelor of Science degree from a recognised school of technology, plus one year of supervisory service in any of the roles above.

In addition, the OIM job itself requires (these are not prerequisites for the course, but you'll need them before sitting in the chair offshore):

• BCO (MOU Stability) certificate

• IWCF Well Control Level 2 (minimum)

• A valid offshore medical (OGUK or equivalent)

• BOSIET / FOET safety certification

Curriculum

The course follows the eleven competence modules set out in IMO Resolution A.1079(28). Each module is delivered with reference to current operator practice and supplemented by case studies from real MOU operations.

1. Stability and construction — Static and dynamic stability of floating MOUs; trim and stability calculations; watertight integrity; preloading and leg-reaction stresses on self-elevating units.

2. Station-keeping, mooring, and dynamic positioning — Seabed characteristics; mooring force distribution; anchor placement and recovery; dynamic positioning principles and limitations.

3. Transit operations — 1972 COLREGs as amended; navigation and electronic navigational aids; towing procedures.

4. Emergency procedures and safety equipment — Life-saving and firefighting drills; emergency communication; heavy-weather precautions; evacuation procedures; crisis management.

5. Personnel transfers — Personnel basket use; helicopter transfers; vessel transfers.

6. Handling and stowage of supplies (including dangerous goods) — Crane and lifting equipment inspections; helicopter and supply-vessel loading procedures.

7. Pollution prevention and control — Pollution prevention systems and equipment; control procedures.

8. Meteorology — Weather systems; application of meteorological data to MOU safety; weather effects on environmental operating limits.

9. Safe working practices — Occupational safety, health, and hygiene; permits to work; work over water; work in enclosed spaces; safety equipment inspection.

10. Regulatory and certification requirements — Appreciation of international and national regulations affecting MOU operations.

11. Industrial operations and maritime safety — Drilling, construction, production, accommodation, lifting, pipe-laying, diving, and firefighting support, and how each interacts with marine operations.

Delivery

The OIM course runs as a five-day live instructor-led online programme, scheduled to accommodate candidates across multiple time zones. There is no recorded-video component — every session is live, with an instructor present, and candidates participate in discussions, case studies, and assessment exercises in real time.

All you need is a stable broadband connection and a quiet space to work. Course materials and pre-reading are distributed in advance.

Cohorts are scheduled to accommodate participants in:

• The Americas (North and South America)

• Europe, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia

• The Middle East and North Africa

• Sub-Saharan and West Africa

• South Asia, South-East Asia, and the Pacific

Certification

On successful completion of the course assessment, you receive an OIM certificate approved by the Liberia International Ship and Corporate Registry (LISCR) flag state and aligned with IMO Resolution A.1079(28). Each certificate carries a unique reference number and is independently verifiable online via the EOA verification portal.

Validity: 5 years from the date of issue. Refresher training is recommended at the end of the validity period and is often required by individual operators.

Recognition: The certificate is widely accepted by drilling contractors, accommodation-barge operators, pipe-lay contractors, and platform operators that work under Liberia-flag and IMO-compliant frameworks.

Who Will Hire You

The OIM role is one of the highest-paid senior offshore appointments. Senior OIMs earn USD 120,000–195,000 annually depending on region and unit type. Employers actively recruiting OIM-certified personnel include:

• Drilling contractors — running jack-up and semi-submersible MOUs

• Pipe-lay operators — running construction and pipe-laying barges

• Accommodation operators — running flotels and accommodation barges

• Wind farm operators — running construction and installation MOUs in offshore wind

• National oil companies and IOCs — operating their own MOUs

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