Jack-Up & Drilling Rig Inspection & Maintenance
When jack-ups and rigs come alongside, the window for inspection and remedials is tight — and much of what needs checking sits high, exposed and awkward to reach. We provide rope access inspection and maintenance support for jack-ups and drilling rigs in port, helping teams get close to the details, capture condition evidence, and complete targeted works without delays from heavy access builds.
In-port rope access support for rigs — close access, clear outputs.
During yard stays and between campaigns, we provide rope access inspection and maintenance on the areas that work hardest — legs and bracings, spud cans and hull interfaces, crane pedestals, flare towers, helidecks, walkways and handrails. Typical tasks include close visual inspection, coating touch-ups, minor steelwork repairs and defect reporting. Work is planned around SIMOPS and PTW controls so ladders, access ways and critical structures are safe, compliant and ready before the unit returns to service.
Rig structures live hard lives: salt, vibration, mechanical impacts and constant weathering accelerate deterioration, especially at interfaces and details. The early warning signs often sit where access is awkward — legs and bracing zones, high platforms, handrails, ladder systems, brackets, guards, pipe supports, and steelwork around the derrick and crane areas.
Our role is to provide safe, controlled access so the right people can see the right things — and so defects can be closed out while the asset is in harbour. We work through agreed inspection zones and snag lists, capture photo-backed defect notes with clear location referencing, and support minor remedials within scope. Where specialist inspection (NDT, lifting examinations, class requirements) is in place, we support the competent persons and technicians with access and work positioning so examinations can be completed efficiently.
Rope access is particularly effective in port environments where scaffold is slow or disruptive and where multiple workfronts need attention across short operational windows.
Typical tasks
- Close visual inspection support across legs, braces, platforms and access routes
- Condition checks of corrosion hotspots, coating breakdown, fixings and interfaces
- Snag list and defect close-out support with photo reporting and tracking
- Access support for appointed specialists: NDT, lifting/LOLER-related checks (where applicable)
- Minor remedials to secondary steelwork, brackets, fittings, guards and signage (within scope)
- Preparation support ahead of fabrication/coating teams (access, cleaning, scope definition)
- Post-work verification checks to confirm close-out and handover condition
Assets & locations
- Jack-up legs, bracing zones and high-level structural details
- Platforms, walkways, handrails, ladders and landings
- Derrick adjacent steelwork and service areas (as scoped)
- Crane houses, boom access areas and associated fixtures (access support)
- Accommodation externals, stair towers and high elevations
- In-harbour and alongside work areas where access footprint is constrained
Planning, safety & control
Rig work in port involves live interfaces, SIMOPS and high-consequence hazards, so we plan around permits, exclusion zones and clear communications. Access routes, rescue arrangements and dropped-object controls are agreed in advance, and work sequencing is coordinated with the rig and port teams so inspection and remedials progress without disrupting critical operations. Reporting is delivered in a consistent, action-focused format so defects can be prioritised, scoped and closed out efficiently.
Arrange in-port rig inspection and maintenance support
If a jack-up or rig is coming alongside and you need inspection access, defect close-out or support for specialist examinations during the port window, we can help with a controlled rope access plan. Share the asset type, berth location, priorities/snags, working heights, permit constraints and programme window — and we’ll propose a practical approach and crew recommendation that fits the schedule.