Case: Personnel Positioning and Safety System for Marine Drilling Operations
Safety at the edge of the Arctic
Offshore drilling platforms operate in some of the world's most demanding environments: high winds, freezing temperatures and a constant risk of overboard incidents.
On a self-elevating drilling rig, personnel safety and rapid emergency response became a top priority. The client, a major oil and gas company, needed a solution for continuous real-time personnel tracking and instant incident response, even in Arctic conditions.
Extreme conditions, zero margin for error
The system had to operate reliably in a harsh maritime environment:
- temperatures from −30 °C to +45 °C;
- strong winds, humidity and seawater exposure;
- potential radio interference from onboard transceivers (1.6–27.5 MHz);
- compliance with offshore communication standards;
- integration with the rig's existing communication and emergency systems.
At the same time, the system had to detect personnel falls or zone violations instantly, alert the crew and coordinate rescue operations in real time.
RealTrac deployed a personnel safety and positioning system that combines UWB and LoRa technologies: UWB for high-precision tracking and LoRa for long-range alert transmission.
System architecture
UWB anchors
PROD POINT 516 anchors provide sub-meter accuracy on deck.
LoRa base stations
LoRa Edge Beta 2 base stations with 22 dBi antennas extend coverage up to 3 km to reach rescue vessels.
Wi-Fi access points
Provide redundant connectivity up to 1 km.
Server and workstation
A central server and an operator workstation show all personnel in real time.
PROD TAG 720 / PROD VTAG 720
Every crew member carries a device with built-in sensors for movement, impact and zone crossing detection.
Marine-grade hardware
All hardware is marine-grade (IP68+) and resistant to vibration, seawater and salt corrosion.
Smart, multi-layered safety logic
Real-time personnel tracking
Every worker is shown on the operator's console.
Configurable safety zones
Three levels of safety zones with visual and audio signaling.
Man-overboard detection
Immediate alerts to the control room and the rescue vessel with the person's exact coordinates.
Multi-channel alerting
Sound, vibration and light signals for personnel, dispatcher alerts and beacon sirens.
Rescue coordination
Continuous long-range LoRa tracking; automatic switch to UWB mode (100–200 m) near the rescue vessel for high precision.
Maintenance mode
Temporary sensitivity adjustment for work beyond the deck perimeter, such as flare stack or hull maintenance.
How the system works in practice
Preventive alert
When a worker comes within 1–3 m of the platform edge, the tag gives a short vibration and sound signal, and the dispatcher console highlights the worker's position.
Alarm at the edge
Coming closer than 1 m to the platform edge triggers a triple vibration, a loud sound signal and flashing lights in the corresponding deck sector.
Man overboard
If a fall is detected, the system instantly sends a distress alert via LoRa to the control center and the rescue vessel with the person's live GPS position. As the vessel approaches, positioning switches from LoRa to UWB for precise tracking and rescue confirmation.
A new standard for offshore safety
- Full real-time visibility of all personnel on the platform;
- immediate detection and alerting in hazardous situations;
- much shorter response time for man-overboard incidents;
- operational reliability verified in Arctic maritime conditions;
- seamless integration with the rig's communication and emergency systems;
- a scalable architecture ready for expansion to additional rigs and support vessels.
Technical overview
| Indoor accuracy (UWB) | 0.5–1 m |
|---|---|
| LoRa range | Up to 3 km |
| Wi-Fi redundancy | Up to 1 km |
| Hardware protection | IP68+, anti-corrosion, vibration resistant |
| Operating temperature | −30 °C to +45 °C |
| Alert response time | Less than 1 second |
| Power source | Rechargeable, automatic SmartWall docking |
Safety proven at sea
The RealTrac personnel safety and positioning system has set a new benchmark for offshore industrial safety. With real-time awareness, immediate alerting and reliable rescue coordination, it delivers what matters most in Arctic operations: saving lives when every second counts.