The Consultant’s Role in System Commissioning
As published in the May Issue of SubTel Forum Magazine
by Kristian Nielsen
May 19, 2022
by Kristian NielsenOver the last year I’ve touched on elements of system development when having an expert on your side of the negotiating table is absolutely critical. In this exciting edition, I’d like to outline to steps and procedures typical in the review and acceptance of the most core elements of system development – the actual commissioning and acceptance of the system.
This is the final step in system development, where years of planning come to bear fruit. Having a qualified consultant on your side of the table is absolutely critical in managing the volume and technical nature of the documents required.
How does it work?
The consultant will travel to and witness network system tests, validating the installation, and provide a “findings” report to include performance verification and any resulting discrepancies requiring Supplier rectification. The consultant will provide a System Acceptance Report for the system, identifying close-out issues accomplished by Supplier to the satisfaction of Client. If desired by Client, the consultant will accomplish a Follow-Up System Report approximately six months after the system has been turned over to Operations.
System Commissioning and Acceptance
The consultant will travel to and witness network system tests, validating the installation, and provide a “findings” report to include performance verification and any resulting discrepancies requiring Supplier rectification. The consultant will provide a System Acceptance Report for the system, identifying close-out issues accomplished by Supplier to the satisfaction of Client. If desired by Client, The consultant will accomplish a Follow-Up System Report approximately six months after the system has been turned over to Operations.
This effort is accomplished by the vendor’s in-field QA Consultant personnel.
Review System Test Plans and Procedures
The purpose of the Commissioning System Test Plans and Procedures Report Review is to identify any deficiencies discovered by The consultant within the system commissioning and acceptance plans and procedures, and system handbooks of the client’s submarine fiber optic cable system.
The QA Consultant will attend a teleconference briefing meeting with Client. This meeting may be combined with the FAT briefing meeting. At this briefing meeting the detailed responsibilities of the QA Consultant and the schedule of his activities will be agreed upon. All relevant documentation required by the QA Consultant to accomplish his responsibilities will be made available at this meeting. All test plans and procedures for the Final System Testing and Acceptance will be reviewed in a formal process to ensure that Client is satisfied that all appropriate parameters will be accurately tested in a manner to verify that the system, from Optical Distribution Frame (ODF) to ODF, or other fiber termination location if ODF to ODF facilities are not in place, meets all technical and commercial specifications.
This effort is accomplished by the vendor’s in-office QA Consultant personnel.
Accomplish System Testing Representation
The purpose of the Confidence Trial Test Report Review is to identify any deficiencies discovered by The consultant within the system commissioning and acceptance operation of the client’s submarine fiber optic cable system.
The consultant will provide Client with QA Consultant to witness on its behalf the Final System Testing and Acceptance of the system from one of the system Cable Landing Station.
The QA Consultant will travel to the appropriate Cable Landing Station designated by Client. The QA Consultant will arrive on site in time for the completion of the marine installation and will witness the optical testing conducted on the system, between ODF panels, by Supplier.
The QA Consultant will be responsible for the following:
- Confirming the technical performance of the installed end-to-end system including the terrestrial sections, pursuant to Supply Contract requirements;
- Verify that the Final System Testing and Acceptance plan is conducted in accordance with Supplier Quality Plan and any ISO 9001 requirements;
- Verifying that the Final System Testing and Acceptance plan is conducted in accordance with Supplier’s optical safety procedures;
- Verifying that the test results are consistent with Final System Testing and Acceptance plan and are within the specified tolerances;
- If necessary, signing off any Test Reports required under the Supply Contract.
The QA Consultant will leave the Cable Landing Station once the Final System Testing and Acceptance plan has been satisfactorily completed. He will attend a debrief meeting with Client.
The consultant will validate the following:
- Ready For Service (RFS) Report showing service within acceptable limits for the RFS trial period and that all requirements to put the service in to operation have been met
- Copy of completed Commissioning Test Report which demonstrates test results are within parameters specified
The consultant will also provide project oversight and technical support during the period in which deficiencies are rectified, documentation delivered, and all Supplier activities concluded (typically ninety-days after RFS). The consultant will review the Final Monitor Acceptance Report detailing implementation issues and rectifications, etc., which will be forwarded to Client.
This effort is accomplished by the vendor’s in-field QA Consultant personnel.
Accomplish Segment Commissioning
The consultant will witness all segment commissioning activities, as detailed in the Daily Progress Report. Prior to testing, The consultant will review and approve all test procedures and pass/fail criteria. The consultant representatives will be present at all Cable Landing Station for up to one week for completion of segment commissioning. The consultant will review all test results and sign off all acceptance test certificates. The consultant will identify any non-compliant results and make specific recommendations regarding remedial actions to be taken. The consultant will liaise with Supplier to track any such non-conformances using Client Incident Reports or similar.
Particulars the QA Consultant will undertake and scrutinize while witnessing Final Testing and Acceptance include the following:
- Check-in with the Central Office Foreman every day. If Foreman says, “stop what you are doing” or “time to go home for the day,” do what Foreman asks. Ultimately, it is Forman’s facility.
- Check-in with the Test Engineer.
- Wear the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times while on site; even if others in the party are not wearing theirs, e.g., safety sunglasses.
- Be sure to attend the daily “toolbox” meeting and review the daily job procedure. Be aware of any hazards!
- Take lots of pictures, especially if something is wrong. Get pictures of the BMH, OGB, duct bank, cable entrance, Cable Termination Unit, FO cable runs inside the Central Office, the ODF, ground bar, and test equipment setup.
- Make sure the C-OTDR has a current calibration sticker (and the Megger if they do electrical testing).
- Check to make sure the optical testing is at 1310nm and 1550nm and the range is appropriate for the segment length.
- Identify the location of the spares, and get pictures, if possible.
- Get names and positions of everyone on-site.
- Make sure the test reports are dated and signed.
- If something is wrong, point it out right away, but do not try to fix it. the vendor’s job is just to witness.
- Send a daily report back to HQ so we know what you are doing.
- BE SAFE. BE SAFE. BE SAFE!
This effort is accomplished by the vendor’s in-field QA Consultant personnel.
Accomplish Transmission Equipment Commissioning
The consultant will witness the transmission equipment commissioning activities. Prior to testing, The consultant will review and approve all test procedures and pass/fail criteria. A Representative will be provided at applicable Cable Landing Station, the number of which will be dependent on the Supplier’s test procedure; however, test results will be collected from all locations with the cooperation of Supplier. The consultant will review all test results and sign off all acceptance test certificates. The consultant will identify any non-compliant results and make specific recommendations regarding remedial actions to be taken. The consultant will liaise with Supplier to track any such non-conformances using Client Incident Reports or similar.
The consultant will determine what, if any, Client’s tests are required and ensure these tests are conducted. The consultant will review the commissioning test results and make recommendations regarding the need for additional testing, Provisional Acceptance of the System, or some alternative arrangement. The consultant will generate a draft provisional System Acceptance Test Certificate for Client review upon completion of the commissioning tests.
This effort is accomplished by the vendor’s in-field QA Consultant personnel.
The QA Consultant will then upload the System Acceptance Test Certificate to the file sharing system for the purpose of distribution, retrieval, and archiving.
Prepare System Punch List Log
A System Punch List Log is accomplished by the QA Consultant detailing actions required for submarine cable system acceptance.
This effort is accomplished by the vendor’s in-field QA Consultant personnel.
The QA Consultant will then upload the System Punch List Log to the file sharing system for the purpose of distribution, retrieval, and archiving.
Prepare Actions Required for Acceptance
An Acceptance Checklist is accomplished by the QA Consultant detailing actions required for submarine cable system acceptance.
This effort is accomplished by the vendor’s in-field QA Consultant personnel.
The QA Consultant will then upload the Acceptance Checklist to the file sharing system for the purpose of distribution, retrieval, and archiving.
Prepare Backbone Trunk Cable Gap Register
The purpose of the Backbone Trunk Cable Gap Register is to identify any deficiencies discovered by the QA Consultant within the gap register of the submarine fiber optic cable system.
This effort is accomplished by the vendor’s in-field QA Consultant personnel.
The QA Consultant will then upload the Backbone Trunk Cable Gap Register to the file sharing system for the purpose of distribution, retrieval, and archiving.
Review As-Laid RPL and Charting
The purpose of As-Laid RPL And Charting Review Report is to identify any deficiencies discovered by The consultant within the marine installation and charting reports of the client’s submarine fiber optic cable system.
The consultant will review the as-laid RPL, including BU, Repeaters and Cable Termination Assembly/UJ location and details of achieved burial and cable protection within Client leases.
This effort is accomplished by the vendor’s in-field Marine Coordinator personnel.
The Marine Coordinator will then upload the As-Laid RPL And Charting Review Report to the file sharing system for the purpose of distribution, retrieval, and archiving.
Review O&M Procedures
The purpose of Operations and Maintenance Procedures Review Report is to identify any deficiencies discovered by The consultant within the system operations and maintenance procedures of the client’s submarine fiber optic cable system.
The consultant will validate the Final detailed design documents, providing as-built details of Client Connections, which will include, but not be limited to:
- End-to-end optical power and loss budgets from the Service Delivery Points on Client Offshore facility/Data Centers to the Cable Landing Station
- Detailed network diagrams relating to the installation at Client facilities and Data Centers
- Rack diagrams for all Supplier equipment
- Environmental operating limits for all Supplier equipment
- Optical power budgets on all Supplier equipment under normal and emergency operating conditions
- Any operational requirements for Supplier equipment, including troubleshooting procedures
- Details on how to perform safe shutdown and start-up of Supplier equipment
- Preliminary Maintenance plan, including Supplier equipment end-of-life/end-of-support information
- Subsea equipment maintenance schedule and inspection procedures
- Details on any planned outage maintenance schedule, if required
- All HSSE related procedures, Material Safety Data Sheets, and equipment certification details on Supplier equipment
- List of sparing on Client facility and detailed instructions for field replacement.
If Client deems necessary, The consultant will review Supplier’ training program.
This effort is accomplished by the vendor’s in-office Marine Coordinator personnel.
The Marine Coordinator will then upload the Operations and Maintenance Procedures Review Report to the file sharing system for the purpose of distribution, retrieval, and archiving.
Review Supplier Documentation and Training
The vendor’s QA Consultant will review and propose amendments for provisional drafts of Supplier’s documentation and the training course (including syllabi and material), all as submitted by Supplier. The QA Consultant will review and comment on the Documentation Deliverable Plan, Content, and Drafts. He will track documentation and training as part of Monthly Progress. The QA Consultant will provide recommendations for approval of final drafts of these materials.
The QA Consultant will then upload the Supplier Documentation and Training Review to the file sharing system for the purpose of distribution, retrieval, and archiving.
Client JSMD Review
The QA Consultant will provide support and assistance for the Cable System Technical Expert in reviewing the completed Client’s Joint System Management Document (JSMD).
The QA Consultant will review and provide high-level recommendations for potential improvements to the JSMD, the typical content of which may include:
- Summary description of Cable System and backhaul networks
- Allocation of O&M responsibilities and chain of decision-making
- Cable protection policy
- Description of faults which may occur in Cable System
- Detailed description of Cable System components and configuration, including backhauls as required
- Details of all locations and staff involved in the O&M of Cable System, including personnel outside of Cable System
- Disposition, test, and replenishment of spares
- Engineering communication over Cable System
- Fault reporting, localization, and repair
- Maintenance Agreements
- Procedures and sequence of action to repair faults
- Procedures for access control to the various locations, also covering in detail colocation situations
- Reference documents including Supplier handbooks and company procedures
- Regular maintenance requirements
- Responsibilities of each Owner for the different areas of maintenance
- Safety Instructions and Procedures, notably for system powering and power reconfigurations
- Transmission and power feeding configurations (especially important on branched systems)
- Details and contact points of external interfacing entities for Cable System O&M
It will not be the QA Consultant’s responsibility to support specific development of the NOC, the NMS, its tools, communication facilities, or its procedures.
The QA Consultant will then upload the JSMD Review to the file sharing system for the purpose of distribution, retrieval, and archiving.
Prepare System Commissioning and Acceptance Report
The purpose of the System Commissioning and Acceptance Report is to identify any deficiencies discovered by Client Representative within the system commissioning and acceptance of the submarine fiber optic cable system.
This effort is accomplished by the vendor’s in-field QA Consultant personnel.
The QA Consultant will then upload the System Commissioning and Acceptance Report to the file sharing system for the purpose of distribution, retrieval, and archiving.
Author’s Biography
Kristian Nielsen, Quality & Fulfilment Director
Kristian is based in our main office in Sterling, Virginia USA. He has more than 14 years’ experience and knowledge in submarine cable systems, including Arctic and offshore Oil & Gas submarine fiber systems. As Quality & Fulfilment Director, he supports the Projects and Technical Directors, and reviews subcontracts and monitors the prime contractor, supplier, and is astute with Change Order process and management. He is responsible for contract administration, as well as supports financial monitoring. He possesses Client Representative experience in submarine cable load-out, installation and landing stations, extensive project logistics and engineering support, extensive background in administrative and commercial support and is an expert in due diligence.
