One Vessel, Two Critical Roles
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When Perenco approached us, the challenge was clear from the outset: create a concise, engaging educational animation that explains the dual role of walk-to-work vessels—specifically when an ERRV is required to temporarily support walk-to-work operations without compromising its primary emergency response function.
On the surface, this might sound straightforward. In reality, it’s a topic full of operational nuance, regulatory considerations, and “what-if” scenarios that crews need to understand clearly to operate safely and compliantly.
Turning Complexity into Clarity
The core objective was to ensure viewers fully understood one critical principle:
an ERRV must always remain capable of performing its primary role as an emergency response and rescue vessel.
If that vessel is also being used to support walk-to-work transfers, safeguards must be in place. In particular, another suitable vessel must be positioned close enough to provide immediate emergency cover, in line with OEUK guidance.
Explaining this balance — without oversimplifying or overwhelming — was the real challenge.
Storyboarding the Scenarios
We began with detailed storyboarding and scripting sessions, working closely with Perenco to map out the various operational scenarios crews might encounter offshore. These included:
- When an ERRV can support walk-to-work activities
- When it cannot
- What additional vessel support looks like in practice
- How responsibilities shift depending on vessel position and proximity
Each scenario needed to be visually distinct and logically connected, allowing viewers to follow the decision-making process step by step.
A Blended Visual Approach
To bring these scenarios to life, we opted for a combination of 2D and 3D animation.
The 2D elements were used to clearly explain rules, roles, and guidance — keeping the educational messaging clean and accessible. Meanwhile, the 3D visuals (as shown in the imagery) allowed us to realistically demonstrate vessel positioning, distances, and offshore environments in a way that static diagrams simply couldn’t.
This blend proved especially effective when visualising proximity requirements, support coverage, and how vessels align during different operational setups.
Professional Voice and Polished Delivery
A professional voiceover was added to guide viewers through the animation, striking the right balance between authority and approachability. As with any high-quality educational content, the project went through several refinement stages — with a few edits along the way to fine-tune pacing, terminology, and clarity.
The final result was a 10-minute animation that feels focused, practical, and directly relevant to offshore personnel.
The Outcome
Perenco now has a clear, engaging learning tool that helps crews understand not just what the rules are, but why they matter. By visually demonstrating multiple real-world scenarios, the animation supports safer decision-making and reinforces the importance of maintaining emergency response readiness at all times.
For us, this project was a great example of how thoughtful storytelling, strong visuals, and close collaboration can turn complex operational guidance into effective, memorable learning.
