Starting a job offshore looks exciting, but the industry does not play games with safety. Very quickly you hear people talk about “RigPass”, “SafeGulf”, “SafeLand” and other acronyms. If you want to get hired fast and avoid last-minute surprises at the heliport, you need to understand what Rig pass or Safegulf training actually is and how it fits into today’s rules.
Why Rig pass or Safegulf matters more than ever
After the Deepwater Horizon disaster, regulators and operators tightened their expectations for safety orientation in the Gulf of Mexico. Agencies such as BSEE, together with OSHA and industry bodies, push operators to prove that everyone offshore has proper training based on standards like API RP 75 and SEMS rules.
These rules usually do not name a specific class by brand, but they do expect companies to give you a structured safety orientation before you step on a facility. Because of that, most operators now use recognized programs as their “baseline ticket”.
On the drilling side, the IADC’s RigPass program provides a standardized safety orientation for new rig workers and confirms that you met a set of core requirements defined by drilling-industry HSE professionals, for both land and offshore units.
On the operator and contractor side, SafeGulf, usually delivered through PEC/Veriforce “Basic Orientation” courses, plays a similar role for offshore contractors in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and aligns with API RP 75 and API RP T-1.
So when a company calls Rig pass or Safegulf “mandatory”, it usually means this: their internal safety rules and client contracts say that nobody goes offshore without an approved orientation card. In practice, if you want work in the Gulf for a serious operator, you treat RigPass or SafeGulf as mandatory, even if the regulation itself uses more generic language.
What you actually learn on the course
The content feels very practical. Typical RigPass or SafeGulf-style courses cover:
- How to recognize common offshore hazards
- Personal protective equipment and safe lifting
- Permit-to-work, lockout/tagout and confined space basics
- Dropped objects, working at height and line-of-fire
- Helicopter and boat transfer safety
- Substance abuse policies and fitness for duty
- Reporting incidents, near misses and unsafe acts
- Basics of environmental rules and pollution prevention
In many programs you also hear about your rights under OSHA and how to speak up if something looks wrong. By the end, you should at least know what “good” looks like on a modern rig or platform.
Who needs Rig pass or Safegulf certification
Now let’s talk about who really needs these cards.
First, any new hire going to a drilling rig or offshore facility in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico will almost always need one recognized orientation. That includes roustabouts, floorhands, crane operators, mechanics, ROV techs, catering staff and many more support roles. SafeGulf and similar PEC Basic Orientation courses exist exactly to give this broad mix of people a common safety starting point.
Second, contractors whose clients follow U.S. offshore standards often ask for the same training even when the work takes place elsewhere. If you browse offshore vacancies on SeaEmploy.com, you regularly see lines like “RigPass/SafeGulf required” or “SafeLand/SafeGulf or equivalent safety orientation”. Employers use those names as a simple way to filter for people who already understand the basics.
Third, supervisors and company men do not get a free pass. In fact, many operators insist that leaders hold the same card as their crews, plus additional supervisory training. When you show up with current RigPass or SafeGulf credentials, you not only tick a box but also show that you share the same safety language as the people you lead.
Are there any real alternatives?
Some international companies accept other branded orientations, especially outside North America. North Sea employers, for example, often rely on different regional safety schemes, and some major contractors run in-house orientations that mirror API RP 75 principles. However, if you plan to work in or around the Gulf of Mexico, or for U.S.-based drilling and service companies, RigPass, SafeGulf, SafeLand or Veriforce’s Basic Orientation 7.0 remain the safest bet because operators already recognise these names and systems.
When in doubt, ask the hiring company exactly which card they want before you book a seat.
Where to take Rig pass or Safegulf training
The easiest way is to use the official training provider lists and well-known accredited centers.
IADC RigPass providers
The International Association of Drilling Contractors keeps an up-to-date directory of accredited RigPass providers worldwide on its site. You can search for classroom and online options and even verify your certificate later through the same portal.
Several providers now offer fully online RigPass orientations with proctored exams, so you can complete the class before you travel, then carry your card or digital proof to the heliport. Sites like RigPassTraining.com specialise in online RigPass curricula built around the official IADC syllabus.
SafeGulf and Basic Orientation providers
SafeGulf today usually comes bundled inside PEC / Veriforce Basic Orientation or Basic Orientation 7.0 courses. Veriforce lists approved training centers and virtual classes here.
You also find many regional training companies marketing “PEC SafeGulf” or “PEC SafeLand/SafeGulf Basic Orientation” in Houston, Louisiana, the Permian and online. Examples include providers that clearly state their one-day orientations meet API RP 75 and API RP T-1 and are SafeLandUSA / SafeGulf accredited.
Always check two things before you pay:
- the course is actually accredited for SafeGulf or SafeLand/SafeGulf; and
- the provider will register you in the Veriforce/PEC database, because many operators verify your status there instead of just trusting a paper card.
Do you need both RigPass and SafeGulf, or just one?
This point confuses a lot of people.
In theory, you do not always need both. Many operators only require one recognized orientation. For example, a contractor might accept a RigPass card with an offshore endorsement as your basic safety orientation for rig work. Some IADC materials also describe how RigPass programs can include additional modules so they satisfy SafeGulf requirements at the same time.
On the other hand, another client might prefer SafeGulf or a Basic Orientation 7.0 card with the offshore module. That single course can meet SafeLand and SafeGulf requirements together, which then covers many offshore and onshore assignments in the U.S. industry.
However, reality offshore is messy. You might work for several clients in the same year, each with slightly different requirements. Because of that, many workers choose a course that “ticks multiple boxes” in one go. Some RigPass programs run with SafeGulf add-ons, and many PEC/Veriforce courses award both SafeLand and SafeGulf credentials on one card when you complete all modules successfully.
So what should you do?
- If you already have a firm job offer, ask the company which specific credential they recognise.
- If you actively search for work through platforms like SeaEmploy.com and talk to different companies, aim for a course that clearly states it is accredited for RigPass and/or SafeGulf and that it meets API RP 75 / API RP T-1 requirements.
- If you plan an international career, combine your Rig pass or Safegulf card with other tickets such as HUET, H2S, first aid and sea survival, so you arrive as a complete package.
In short, you rarely must hold two separate cards, but you should pick a course that gives you the widest possible acceptance by clients. When you do that, you save time, reduce last-minute panic, and show future employers that you take your own safety — and theirs — seriously.
