The Future of Offshore Operations – Zero Boots on Deck: How far can we go?

For decades, offshore operations on FPSOs and rigs have followed a familiar pattern: operators spend weeks at sea, often hundreds of miles from shore. Getting there requires helicopter flights or long vessel transfers. Each carrying significant costs and risks. For many companies, this is still the norm, but it's also a challenge. Safety, costs, and staffing pressure continue to mount.

In this context, a clear trend is emerging: Zero Boots on Deck. With today's technology, it is increasingly possible to operate systems and processes not offshore, but directly from the shore. Remote monitoring and remote control rooms are the key enablers. They make operations safer, more sustainable, and more attractive for the people who run them.

Safety and cost go hand in hand

One of the most immediate benefits of remote monitoring is the sharp reduction in offshore transport. Helicopter flights are not only risky but can cost thousands of dollars per hour. Every avoided flight directly reduces both costs and risk exposure.

Fewer personnel offshore also means lower operating expenses. Less need for accommodation, catering, and facilities onboard translates into leaner, safer, and more cost-efficient operations.

Making the job more attractive

Offshore work has always been demanding, not only physically but also socially. Operators often spend weeks away from home, which makes recruitment and retention a constant challenge. Remote monitoring changes that dynamic.

Operators can now perform their duties onshore and drive home after their shift. This lowers the barrier for new talent and makes the role more appealing. Especially for younger generations who value a healthy work-life balance. For companies, this broadens the talent pool and reduces turnover.

Technology as the foundation

The move toward Zero Boots on Deck is made possible by technological innovation. Smart connectivity through subsea fiber rings ensures that data and systems are available onshore in near real-time. Latency is reduced to almost zero, allowing operators to work just as effectively from shore as they would onboard. In addition to fiber, new opportunities are emerging with 5G connectivity. These high-speed networks can deliver performance comparable to fiber. This making them especially valuable for integrating a single FPSO or remote site.

Just as important: data must travel not only fast but also securely to shore. In today's environment of growing cyber threats, cybersecurity is a non-negotiable requirement. Systems must comply with strict international standards and be ABS-approved to guarantee both reliability and security of the connection.

Onshore control rooms are becoming the beating heart of offshore operations. Not only operators, but also engineers, managers, and analysts can access the same information. By integrating OT and IT, supported by KVM technology and advanced visualization platforms, companies create an infrastructure where data is central and decision-making is faster and more effective.

Control and continuity

Remote monitoring delivers operational benefits but also reshapes the strategic approach to offshore operations.

• Continuity: redundant onshore control rooms provide 24/7 oversight and operational resilience.
• Predictive maintenance: data-driven insights allow maintenance to be planned more effectively, minimizing the need for offshore interventions.
• Transparency: with direct access to real-time data, management and HQ gain better insight into performance and trends, making KPI tracking and compliance more reliable.

This combination doesn't just reduce costs and risks. It gives companies more control over their entire operation.

Sustainability in practice

Fewer helicopter flights and fewer personnel offshore also mean a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions. For many oil and gas companies, sustainability is now a top priority, driven by both societal expectations and internal ESG objectives.

Remote monitoring fits perfectly into this agenda. It demonstrates that safety, cost savings, and sustainability don't have to compete with each other. They reinforce one another.

The road to Zero Boots on Deck

Remote monitoring is just the first step. Increasingly, systems are not only being monitored but also fully controlled from shore. This brings the ultimate ambition within reach: unmanned FPSOs and rigs.

In such a scenario, there are truly zero boots on deck. All processes are managed from land, maximizing efficiency and minimizing risk. To get there, three conditions are essential: trust in technology, redundant infrastructure, and a strong focus on cybersecurity.

Conclusion: the control room as the key

Remote monitoring is more than a technical innovation. It is a strategic leap that combines safety, cost savings, sustainability, and workforce attractiveness.

The path to Zero Boots on Deck is no longer a distant vision. It is already taking shape in the offshore industry. The question is not if companies will make the shift, but how quickly they can prepare their control rooms and processes for this future.

Is your organization ready? The conversation starts in the control room. We are regularly present in Houston, Asia, and South America. So whether you prefer to connect online or meet in person, let's explore how we can shape this future together.