‘Mr Charlie’ is an old oil rig that served in the Gulf of Mexico in the late 1940′s. Located in Morgan City, Louisiana, it is now serving as a museum and school for offshore oil rig trainees. Our very experienced guide told us about what went on during drilling while showing us the ‘hands on’ equipment and machinery used by the students. To ensure the students can deal with being on an oil rig, once they climb onto the deck of the classroom, they cannot touch grass or use their vehicles until their schooling is complete. That means they sleep, eat & go to school on Mr Charlie – one foot on grass during school is immediate dismissal. There are other rules to follow: no fighting, no smoking, no spitting over the platform into the ocean, no stealing are all considered offenses that will get you fired. The newer rigs have HI-DEF digital TV screens, game rooms with pool tables & other games. Four meals are prepared everyday: 6am, noon, 6pm & midnight. In between meals, snacks are available. Fortunately there is also a state of the art exercise/workout room on the premises. Shifts are noon to midnight and midnight to noon which assures everyone gets the same amount of daylight & dark. Once you are certified, you take a boat or helicopter to the rig of the company that hired you. Schedules are usually 2 weeks on and 2 off. The Catering Staff takes care of making your bed, housekeeping chores & doing your laundry as well as feeding you. There is an opportunity for overtime & in case of a potential storm, all lines are closed to the ocean floor to prevent leaks & personnel are taken to shore until the storm has passed.
“MR CHARLIE”
Advertisement
