Connector Subsea Solutions
Software engineering doesn’t stop at the shoreline
The CSSI team stepped out of the office and onto the water to support a mission-critical control system during an offshore campaign. Software Engineer Vladimir Shulyak explains, “The aim was to give the client confidence in the operation, spot issues early, and feed practical learning straight into our roadmap.”
Before heading offshore, a number of our software engineers completed BOSIET (Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training). The training sharpened emergency response, teamwork and situational awareness so the team could operate safely at sea and add value from day one.
“It was intense but incredibly rewarding. I felt genuinely proud—this training means I can support offshore campaigns anywhere in the world. I also definitely feel closer to my teammates having had to climb into a life raft, escaping from a capsized helicopter and even fight fires with them.” — George Sykes, Software Engineer.
From code to control – people first, safety always
Once offshore, our engineers provided on-site support and made real-time software adjustments. Working side-by-side with operators gave direct insight into how the control system behaves in live conditions. We prioritised stability, clear feedback to the user, and smooth recovery from edge cases.
The offshore setting reinforced a simple truth, that software is part of a wider system that includes people, equipment and process. The team stayed close to deck operations, aligned with client procedures and kept communication tight.
Value for our client
- Faster decisions: On-site engineers closed feedback loops in hours rather than weeks.
- Lower risk: Real-time adjustments reduced unplanned downtime and improved safety margins.
- Better roadmap: Evidence from the field now shapes the next software release, not assumptions.
“This hands-on experience gives us a much clearer understanding of how our bespoke software performs in real operational environments. It also helps us find new ways to make it more intuitive, reliable and accessible for users across a wide range of industries beyond oil and gas.” — Andy Scott, Software Engineering Manager, CSS Isotek.
What’s next
We are packaging the lessons from this campaign into the next update. Focus areas include smarter and more friendly user interfaces, streamlined workflows for routine tasks and clearer audit trails for compliance. The same team remains ready to support future offshore work.
Talk to us
If you would like to explore offshore-ready software support for control systems or other mission-critical operations, please contact Paul Hughes or complete the contact form on our website.
