Patent Publication Number: US-2012026008-A1

Title: Personnel monitoring system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a monitoring system for use in marine operations and more particularly to a system and method for rapidly performing a roll call in the event of evacuating personnel from an offshore structure, such as a drilling rig, a production platform, a floating vessel and the like. 
     Maritime commerce and offshore industry require systems and methods of monitoring and recording data and activity with respect to personnel on board in real time. These industries heavily depend on logistics for safe, effective and efficient performance. The conventional method of recording personnel on board (POB) and performing a muster drill requires yellow tablets and communications over radio. The POB and drills are performed on “yellow tablets” meaning a person is manually writing down who has entered and exited the vessels. The POB sheets can be lost, requiring the crew member who performed the task to perform a recall by memory to account for crew members who have come ashore and returned to the vessel. 
     Moreover, a vessel or an offshore platform has hundreds of crewmembers and passengers. The conventional method of performing a drill could take up to or longer than one hour. In an emergency situation this outdated roll call method cannot be safely performed. In case of fire, explosion or possible situation requiring an abandonment of a rig or a vessel the yellow tablet method of personnel accounting is not likely to be successful. 
     Should the captain issue an order to abandon the vessel or rig, the passengers and then the crew must board the lifeboats. At such time, personnel accounting is important more than ever. The captain, or rig manager are responsible for compiling a full report of POB and the results of the report is submitted to the proper authorities. 
     Additionally, many facilities require that personnel have a special permit to enter certain areas of the facilities. The security regulations require that a monitoring system track the arrivals and departures of personnel on board including personnel cabins, lifeboat allocation, emergency personnel team membership, emergency evacuations and the like. Reports include but are not limited to emergency teams, current on board lists, arrivals and departures in addition to complete POB lists when changes are made. All personnel on board (POB) lists are usually archived for a number of years. 
     There exists a need for a modern solution of POB system that could provide multiple management stations and unlimited number of readers (data collectors) for real time situational awareness onboard the vessel and at a centralized remote location. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a system for monitoring location of personnel at an offshore facility. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a system of expeditiously performing a roll call of personnel and passengers in case of an emergency. 
     These and other objects of the invention are achieved through a provision of a personnel evacuation monitoring system, which uses a satellite for transmitting signals between an offshore rig, or floating vessel and offsite control center and personnel management stations. The system uses a personal identification device configured to generate and transmit a unique signal assigned to the personal identification device. The personal identification device is worn by each crewmember, each passenger on the floating vessel, each worker on the offshore rig, etc. 
     A transducer is positioned in an evacuation transport facility, such as a lifeboat, a helicopter, or vessel. The transducer is configured to receive the signal generated by the personal identification devices and create a signal indicative of the user&#39;s position in the evacuation transport facility once the wearer of the personal identification device enters the evacuation transport facility. The transducer transmitting the signal indicative of the user&#39;s position in the evacuation transport facility via a satellite to a remote computing device, which processes the received signal, and generates a real-time report acknowledging presence of the user in the evacuation transport facility. The report is transmitted in a matter of seconds to an offsite central control center, from where the report may be distributed to various base stations monitored by supervisory personnel. 
     The supervisory personnel, having access to the personnel-on-board date can issue instructions to the shipmaster to abandon the ship, rig, or other facility in an emergency situation once the report of all persons being evacuated is generated. 
     In operation, every crewmember or passenger or board a vessel, or a member of a rig personnel is assigned the personal identification device, which has unique signal parameters. These parameters are entered into a central data computer and a master list of persons on board, or persons in an industrial facility is generated. Throughout the presence in such a facility, the user is required to retain the personal identification device on his or her person. A continuous-operation device may send a continuous signal to the data entry computer, via the satellite  16 , informing the management that the user is on the rig or vessel. 
     In case of an emergency, such as fire, explosion, chemical spill, and the like, the shipmaster may order the personnel to evacuate. In such case, the users enter the evacuation transport facility, which can be a lifeboat, where the transducer is positioned. The transducer then either automatically, or upon activation, acknowledges the signal received from each of the personal identification devices and sends these signals, via satellite to the computing device, which processes the signals and creates a real-time report of the persons who entered the lifeboat. Based on the generated report, the control center can issue an expeditious order for the shipmaster to abandon the ship since all persons on board have been accounted for by the transducer reception. Simultaneously, the control center may transmit orders to adjacent ships or offshore rigs ordering them to assist in evacuation of the rig in distress. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of the personnel monitoring system of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral designates the personnel monitoring system of the present invention. The system  10  is designed to ensure that all personnel on board a vessel are accounted for once they enter a lifeboat. The system comprises a personal identification device  12  configured to be worn by each crewmember and passenger on a vessel. The personal identification device  12  can be worn by the user (schematically shown in the drawings and identified by numeral  14 ) as a wristband, a pendant, a tag, or in any other desired fashion. The personal identification device may be powered by a battery, or solar-powered. 
     The personal identification device  12  is a transducer that emits a signal associated with the individual wearing it. Each personal identification device  12  is programmed to emit a unique signal associated with the particular device  12 . The signal emitted by the device  12  can be it a microwave signal, radio signal, or other type of a signal. 
     The signal transmitted by the device  12  is received by a transducer  30  located in each lifeboat  18 . The transducer  30  is configured to receive and identify the signals emitted by each personal identification device  12 . The transducers  30  are in communication with a data entry computer or computing device  22  that can be positioned on board or in a remote location accessible by the management or owners of the rig or vessel via satellite transmission. 
     The signal transmitted by the personal identification device  12  can be also sent to a satellite  16  and the routed to the data entry computer  22 , depending on the particular emergency. 
     The signal emitted by the personal identification device  12  may be continuous, allowing the management to trace position of the crewmember or passenger on the vessel or rig  20  at any time. Alternatively, the transmittal of the signal emitted by the personal identification device  12  may be initiated by the user upon entering a lifeboat  18 . 
     The management of the rig  20  or a vessel may be located in a remote area, from where the communication with the rig  20  is conducted through radio or satellite transmissions. The management is in a position to monitor personnel located on a plurality of rigs  20  or floating vessels. 
     In the illustrative example shown in  FIG. 1 , the satellite  16  is in a position to communicate with the data entry computer or computer terminal  22 . Each of the three rigs  20  shown in the drawing also communicates with adjacent rigs so that personnel of one rig or vessel can come to assistance of the other crew members in case of an emergency, such as an explosion, fire and the like. 
     The signal transmitted by the personal identification devices  12  of each crewmember or passenger is processed by the data entry computer or computer terminal  22  and forwarded to a remote network control center or server  24 . The remote server  24  can be located on land in a central office, which monitors the personnel-on-board system for a plurality of rigs or vessels. 
     An off-site call center  26  may be provided for inbound and outbound communications with the offsite server  24 . The signal processed by the offsite server  24  is forwarded to the call center, from which instructions to on-site personnel can be issued. Additionally, the signal processed by the server  24  can be forwarded to supervisor&#39;s computer(s) or control stations  28  located in the remote central office. The management can view real-time reports generated by the computing device  22  and transmitted via satellite  16  indicative of the location of the personnel on their base stations or supervisor&#39;s computers  28 . 
     In operation, during an emergency and ordered evacuation, the user  14  activates the personal identification device  12  immediately before entering the lifeboat  18  in cases when the device is user-activated. In a continuous-transmission mode, the user does not need to activate the device  12 . 
     The signal of the personal identification device  12  is received by the transducer  30  and acknowledged as “personnel-on-board” of the lifeboat  18 . The signal from the transducer  30  is then transmitted to the data entry computer  22  and, via satellite, to adjacent rigs  20  and the entry data entry computer  22 . The data of the particular crewmember or passenger having entered the lifeboat is available almost immediately to the management and the supervisors. 
     Based on the list of personnel or passengers that were on-board prior to the evacuation, the supervisors can determine who is missing from the roll call in the lifeboats. The supervisors can then send instructions to the master on board the rig or a vessel informing the master on the individuals missing from the lifeboats. In such a case, a search through the vessel may be initiated to locate the missing individuals on an expedited basis. 
     In operation, every crewmember or passenger or board a vessel, or a member of a rig personnel is assigned a personal identification device  12 , and its unique signal parameters are entered into the central data computer  22 . Throughout the presence on the rig  20  or presence on a ship, the user is required to retain the personal identification device on his or her person. A continuous-operation device  12  may send a continuous signal to the data entry computer  22 , via the satellite  16 , informing the management that the user is on the rig or vessel. 
     In case of an emergency, such as fire, explosion, or mandatory evacuation, the user  14  enters one of the lifeboats, to which the user had been assigned. The transducer  30  located on each lifeboat  18  (or in other safe areas) receives the signal from the continuously transmitting personal identification device  12  and transmits acknowledgement of the received signal to the data entry computer  22 . Alternatively, the user  14  may activate the transmitter  12  upon entering the lifeboat  18 . Should the user  14  become incapacitated another crewmember may activate the transmitter  12  one the incapacitated crewmember is positioned in the lifeboat  18 . 
     The computer  22  has a previously uploaded list of personnel authorized to be on the rig  20  of a floating vessel. Based on the uploaded personnel list, the computer  22  processes the signals received from the transducer  30  and generates a list of persons on board the rig or vessel, as well as a list of persons who have already entered the assigned lifeboat  18 . 
     The management can access the data processed by the computer  22  on the offsite computer  24 , as well as the supervisor&#39;s computers  28 . The data processed by the data entry computer is also made available to the personnel in the call center  26 . Having analyzed the data, the management can direct immediate deployment of the lifeboats  18 , abandonment of the rig/vessel, or send instructions to the persons on board as to whether a person who had been assigned to enter the particular lifeboat  18  did not report to the lifeboat, and whose transmitter failed to be acknowledged by the transducer  30 . 
     At the same time, personnel on adjacent rigs  20  may be allowed to access the data entry computer  22  for the purpose of rendering assistance to the personnel on the rig being evacuated. 
     The system of the present invention allows roll call reports to be almost instantly generated. The list will show who is in attendance on the lifeboat and who is missing. Within seconds the reports can be forwarded to multiple computers or exported to other adjacent rigs or vessels. The system enhances the safety of evacuating personnel from an offshore oil platform or vessel. The system significantly improves traceability of personnel on platform or lifeboat thus ensuring safety of personnel-on-board and compliance with Health, Safety and Environment compliance measures. 
     The system of the present invention may be also used for accountability and attendance of personnel during emergency situations like hazardous material spill, fire, or man overboard drills. The receivers  30  may be positioned in any restricted area on board a vessel or a rig to allow detection of personnel entering a closed-off area, where a spill has occurred, thus allowing expeditious treatment of an injured person. The system of the present invention, which relies on computer-to-computer communication, reduces unnecessary radio traffic offshore. 
     It is envisioned that the system of this invention may be used in other emergencies, including but not limited to chemical, nuclear and manufacturing plants, hospitals, schools, and the like. It can be used for mandatory training on board of passenger-carrying vessels. The drill report can be created showing date and time of the drill, attendance, missing persons, and if necessary, how long the drill took to complete. Period reports may be saved in the data entry computer for viewing by management or the appropriate regulatory agencies. 
     It is envisioned that the transducers  30  may be in the form of proximity sensing devices, recording the presence of the transmitter  12  within a specified distance from the transducer. The transducer may be positioned in a lifeboat or other safety area prescribed by the situational requirements. The emergency evacuation monitoring system provides the ability for management to collect situational report in real time in order to make critical decisions involving the health and safety of the crew and passengers accurately and effectively. 
     The key benefits of this system are real time, accurate personnel-on-board reports and the ability for the shipmaster and crew to collect information real time. The system is configured to produce accurate real time reports without manually inputting data to confirm the success or failure of the drill or re-location of the crew and passengers into lifeboats, safety transport facility, or to other safety areas. 
     Many changes and modifications can be made in the system of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I, therefore, pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.