Specialist Facilities

Malmo Road Site

HOTA’s purpose built Training Centre at Malmo Road hosts a variety of facilities including:

  • Environmental Training Pool including Helicopter Underwater Escape Trainer
  • Fast Rescue Boat Capsize
  • Replica Helipad and Helicopter
  • Emergency Response Training Suite
  • Electrical Suite
  • Fireground Complex
  • First Aid and Medical Suite
  • Restaurant and Amenities
  • Fully Equipped Lecture Rooms

Environmental Training Pool
The core of the Training Centre is the environmental training pool, some 10 metres by 20 metres in size and containing 250,000 litres of water. This allows us to generate a realistic training environment for a wide range of water based scenarios. Even though the pool is maintained at a water depth in excess of 4 metres, there is a platform fitted to allow shallow water training and a mezzanine level, which allows simulation of, helicopter winching. The pool is hired regularly for a variety of activities including film locations and local dive clubs.

Helicopter Underwater Escape Trainer
Housed in the pool is the Helicopter Underwater Escape Trainer affectionately known as the ‘Dunker’, which is capable of a 180-degree revolution underwater. This facility is used as a major part of training delegates for the Offshore Industry, as well as specialised training for bodies such as UK Fire Brigades, Police Air Support Units and The Royal Air Force.

In the past we have utilised the ‘Dunker’ in other ways such as Team Building Days and we have even challenged the general public and a few celebrities, such as the cast from Emmerdale Farm, into raising money for charities on our ‘Charity Dunker Days’. Charities who have benefited from these days have included Children in Need and local organisations Dove House Hospice and The Candlelighters appeal

Replica Helideck and Helicopter
HOTA’s two-third-scale replica elevated helideck is used with HOTA’s very own Helicopter for training Offshore Helicopter Landing Officers. In fact not only we were the first centre in the UK but also world-wide to gain OPITO Approval for the course and no other centre has a helicopter created from a Bedford Rascal Van complete with working rotors!

Emergency Response Suite
HOTA offers OPITO Approved OIM and CRO assessments in its purpose built emergency response suite. This state of the art facility consists of a suite of air conditioned rooms housing a fully digital communications network incorporating video recording/playback, radio, telephone and sound effect system.

The CRO assessment utilizes a sophisticated software package based on a multi-jacket gas and oil installation. The OIM assessment’s are either field or platform specific and assessment scenarios are therefore tailored to meet customer requirements.

Electrical Suite
HOTA’s electrical suite offers a full range of training courses and is fully equipped with six training bays for practical assessments for the Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Areas ‘Comp’Ex’ Training. Other training also comprises of a number of City and Guilds Approved Courses such as Portable Appliance Testing and 16th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations. Assessments for these are PC based online examinations with results being available as soon the test has been completed.

First Aid and Medical Training Suite
We have recently commissioned a spacious air conditioned dedicated first aid and medical suite. This is equipped with a large range of modern medical simulation equipment including computer based advanced life support, training mannequins, a full range of basic life support training and demonstration equipment, and a selection of anatomical models. These are all designed to enhance the student learning experience and contribute to the quality of the training.

Fireground Complex
The fire ground consists of a purpose built facility providing a safe and realistic training environment. This allows the demonstration of and participation in correct techniques for dealing with fires involving solids, flammable liquids and gases.

The expansive multi level training complex provides a versatile facility for training in live firefighting, confined space, search and rescue procedures and breathing apparatus related courses. We are able to generate either artificial or real heat and smoke conditions.

The facilities that the complex offers, lend themselves very well to team building and leadership related courses, and in the past have been used as part of the candidate selection process for the television programme “Formula Woman”.

Restaurant/Amenities
To complement the delivery of quality training at HOTA, a restaurant facility, providing home cooked, good quality food, is onsite. Delegates attending courses can avail themselves of refreshments on arrival, mid-morning and mid-afternoon and would normally have a choice of two hot meals at lunchtime or a variety of salads or sandwiches and dessert. Special dietary needs can be catered for in advance.

Lecture Rooms
All lecture rooms are equipped with the latest technology including audio visual presentation system.

All lecture rooms are comfortable, clean and spacious and vary in size from small friendly meeting rooms to the largest accommodating up to 32 delegates. All lecture and meeting rooms can be hired out and are an ideal choice for external meetings, conferences etc. Lecture rooms can be configured into a number of styles to suit the occasion including:

  • Theatre
  • Classroom
  • Boardroom
  • Reception

Albert Dock Site

Albert Dock is arguably the finest dockside Training Facility in the UK. The site facilities boasts:

  • Offshore and Maritime Davits and Boats
  • PPE Clothing and Equipment Facility
  • Fully Equipped Lecture Rooms
  • ERRV Hospital Unit
  • Restaurant and Amenity Block

Offshore and Maritime Davits and Boats
HOTA has a wide range of lifeboats, rescue boats and davit systems making it possible to offer flexible and diverse training for all sectors. HOTA recently commissioned a new Totally Enclosed Motor Propelled Survival Craft (TEMPSC) which is housed in gravity davits and operated in compliance with maritime procedures.

PPE Clothing and Equipment Facility
All PPE is stored in a purpose built heated unit and whilst HOTA encourages delegates to bring their own PPE, a range of lifejackets, hard hats and sea boots are available together with limited wet weather gear including quilted boat suits for Fast Rescue Boat Training.

Fully Equipped Lecture Rooms
All lecture rooms are equipped with the latest technology including audio visual presentation system. All lecture rooms are comfortable, clean and spacious and vary in size.

Hospital Unit
Our docksite boasts a real ships hospital module obtained from a decommissioned offshore emergency response vessel. This is fully equipped to current UKOOA/ERRVA standards and it provides a highly realistic training resource for both offshore oil and gas industry specific medical courses as well as wider merchant navy training in general.

Restaurant and Amenity Block
To complement the delivery of quality training at HOTA, a restaurant facility, providing home cooked, good quality food, is onsite. Delegates attending courses can avail themselves of refreshments on arrival, mid-morning and mid-afternoon and would normally have a choice of two hot meals at lunchtime or a variety of salads or sandwiches and dessert. Special dietary needs can be catered for in advance.