ICCOPR Approves Updated Oil Pollution Research Plan
The Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research (ICCOPR) unanimously approved the Oil Pollution Research & Technology Plan (OPRTP) for FY2015-2021 at the committee’s quarterly meeting Sept. 29, 2015, in Arlington, Virginia. The purpose of the plan is to provide current assessments of the nation’s oil pollution research needs and priorities. This is the first update to the plan since 1997. "The research needs focus on the tools and technologies employed by the Coast Guard On-Scene Coordinators to address oil spills in the marine environment," said Bill Vocke, who works for the Coast Guard's incident management and preparedness policy directorate at Coast Guard Headquarters and also serves as ICCOPR’s executive director.
Leading Industry towards Offshore Excellence
Working offshore can be dangerous business. Miles from shore with nothing but water in all directions, offshore crews perform highly complex operations with little margin for error, and the potential for severe consequences if something goes wrong. We were reminded of this just a few weeks ago, when an explosion and fire aboard a shallow-water production platform offshore Louisiana on November 16 resulted in the tragic deaths of two confirmed crewmembers and severe injuries to many others.
BOEMRE Meetings on PEIS for 2012-17 OCS Leasing Program
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) announced that it will hold a series of public scoping meetings in February 2011 on the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the proposed 2012-2017 Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program. On December 1, 2010, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced an updated oil and gas leasing strategy for the OCS and identified the areas that would be considered for environmental scoping for the 2012 – 2017 program (http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Salazar-Announces-Revised-OCS-Leasing-Program.cfm). The final PEIS will cover…
Transas Simulation Complex Installed in Shetland
Transas has successfully completed the installation of a new simulation complex at the North Atlantic Fisheries College in Scalloway, Shetland. The new installation replaces the existing Norcontrol simulator. This new advanced complex at the forefront of simulation technology employs the latest NT Pro 4000 software offering a very high training potential. The complex includes a Transas full mission bridge simulator equipped with two ARPA radars / ECDIS / conning and ship controls, 210-degree visualisation and two additional bridges developed to operate as separate vessels and aimed at complex specialised pilotage/tug operations training in conjunction with the main bridge.
