The Guyana Technical Training College Inc. (GTTCI) is offering a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels instrument technician training program, which Director Professor Clement Sankat said is the first of its kind in the Caribbean.
Sankat made the disclosure on July 20, explaining that the specialized training is critical to developing the skills needed to support ExxonMobil’s four FPSOs operating in the Stabroek Block.
“A lot of the FPSOs are pipes because you’re moving fluids… What we provide is an opportunity for you to train as an instrumentation technician. You will be responsible for installing, calibrating and maintaining instruments that monitor and control plant operations,” Sankat said, explaining the role to attendees at the launch of MODEC Guyana’s development programs.
Beyond these responsibilities, instrument technicians on FPSOs also maintain the sensors, transmitters and control valves connected to production pipelines and processing equipment. Their work helps operators accurately monitor the movement of oil, gas and water through the facility, detect abnormalities early, and maintain safe, reliable production.
According to the Director, the training forms part of GTTCI’s broader 18-month technical program covering disciplines required for offshore operations, including mechanical maintenance, electrical systems and production operations.
“You [GTTCI trainees] would have spent 12 months doing basic training, and then a little bit more advanced training, basic theory, advanced theory, and then you come to the simulator in six months. In six months of experiential training… So this is the beginning of a journey that is a unique one with huge prospects for the future,” Professor Sankat explained.
The FPSO instrument technician training program is supported by GTTCI’s specialized laboratories and simulation facilities in Port Mourant, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
The institution, which officially opened its doors in February 2026, was developed through a partnership involving the Government of Guyana, ExxonMobil Guyana, SBM Offshore Guyana and LearnCorp International. The facility includes classrooms, workshops and laboratories designed for hands-on technical training, including a Facility Simulator (FacTor) that replicates the operating environment of an FPSO.
