The Personnel Transfer Net
In the early days in the offshore
industry, workers were transported to platforms or drilling rigs by
boat. Offshore facilities were usually equipped with a knotted rope
suspended from an overhead beam. Once the boat was alongside the
structure, each person would try to grab the knotted rope when the boat
was on the crest of a wave and swing over to the boat landing. This was
a tricky maneuver and resulted in a number of accidents and serious
injuries.
In 1955, Billy Pugh developed his
"Billy Pugh Net" for safe transfer of personnel between boats and
platforms/rigs by crane. The Billy Pugh Net gained acceptance very
quickly and is still the standard of the industry. The Billy Pugh Co.
also developed other personnel safety devices including flotation work
vests and litters. They also developed the recovery nets used to
retrieve Apollo astronauts from the ocean in emergencies.
Recognizing the pioneering efforts of
the following individuals and companies who contributed to the
development of this technology:
Billy Pugh
Billy Pugh Co., Inc.
