• The specialist in safety training for more than 25 years
  • Rated 4.5/5 stars on average!
  • NRTO accredited
Training hall

CA-EBS vs. EBS: when do you need which training? 

CA-EBS vs. EBS: when do you need which training? 

General NOGEPA Offshore OPITO
22 December 2021


If you are going to work in the offshore oil & gas industry, for example on a drilling platform, you will either follow the basic combined training OPITO BOSIET with NOGEPA 0.5A, or the refresher combined training OPITO FOET with NOGEPA 0.5B. While attending these courses, you will acquire basic medical knowledge and learn how to survive at sea. Part of surviving at sea is learning what to do when the helicopter hits the water. During this part, our trainers teach the students how to use the Emergency Breathing System (EBS). In addition to the EBS system, there is also the CA-EBS system, which stands for Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System. In this article, we explain the difference between the two systems and when you need to use which one.

Difference between EBS and CAEBS systems

Difference between CA-EBS and EBS systems
EBS systems provide a way to extend the time spent underwater. This may be necessary in situations where a helicopter has capsized due to an emergency landing at sea. For example, due to the Coldshock effect of cold water, people are often unable to hold their breath for as long as it takes to escape from the helicopter. An EBS system is there to give you extra time in an emergency situation. The EBS breathing system is a system that is used worldwide. With this system, also called rebreather or air pocket, the user first breathes his own lung capacity into the air pocket used for this purpose and then breathes in his own air again. A CA-EBS system uses compressed air. This system is a miniature version of the compressed air systems used by divers. The main difference is that with the EBS system you reuse your own air and with the CA-EBS system you breathe in ''fresh'' air.

Difference CA-EBS training and EBS training
The CA-EBS system is the standard system used in the North Sea area. It is therefore mandatory to have used a CA-EBS in the training course. The CA-EBS system is used as standard in our combined BOSIET/NOGEPA 0.5A training course. If you have recently completed a BOSIET / NOGEPA 0.5A or FOET / NOGEPA 0.5B combination training course, but have not yet had a CA-EBS training course, we offer you the opportunity to book a separate CA-EBS training course.

Would you like to know more about our BOSIET, FOET or HUET training courses? Or would you like to know more about the differences between the CA-EBS and EBS systems? Our colleagues will be happy to help you! Complete the form below and we will contact you personally.

Contact form

  • This field is for validation purposes and should not be changed.