Environmental Management Systems News

The world’s largest container tonnage provider has become the latest vessel owner to benefit from classification society DNV GL’s remote audit capabilities, as the impact of the global COVID-19 crisis continues to spur the increased use of remote survey services globally.Under a Hong Kong flag special authorization, DNV GL, together with representatives from Seaspan Corporation, carried out a remote Document of Compliance (DoC) audit of the company’s Safety Management System (SMS).According to DNV GL, the Hong Kong flag administration gave the classification society the go-ahead to perform the Seaspan DoC audit on behalf of Hong Kong flag after having become familiar with its process and capabilities from a series of remote audits completed in recent months.“With more than 18…

Gibdock has underlined its commitment to Occupational Health & Safety by becoming the first shipyard in the Mediterranean region, and one of the first companies worldwide, to achieve ISO 45001:2018 certification.An audit by LRQA completed on July 6 confirmed that the Gibraltar shipyard is fully compliant with the requirements of the new ISO standard, which was only published in March this year. ISO 45001:2018 replaces the previous standard, OHSAS 18001. Organizations certified to OHSAS 18001 have three years to migrate to the new standard before the old one is withdrawn in March 2021…

Marine security services company Truston said its Quality Management System (QMS) achieved  ISO 9001:2015 with Design Standard,. Truston partnered the West Virginia Manufacturing Extension Partnership to fine-tune its QMS to include all the enhancements in the latest 2015 standard. Truston leveraged the experience at Smithers Quality Assessments, an accredited quality and environmental management systems certification body, to perform the certification. Truston provides design, fabrication, installation and maintenance services, as well as inspections and repairs. The company's Port Security Barriers (PSB) systems protect waterside assets such as naval vessels and bases, commercial shipyards, LNG terminals, pipelines, oil rigs, nuclear facilities and dams.

Brian Salerno was sworn in as the Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) on August 26, 2013. He is responsible for promoting safety, protecting the environment and conserving resources through the vigorous regulatory oversight and enforcement of offshore operations on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Prior to his appointment as Bureau Director, Salerno served as the U.S. Coast Guard’s Deputy Commandant for Operations where he was responsible for establishing and providing operational strategy…

An extra T in TSMS, nowhere left to hide from systems documentation, and an emphasis on continuous improvement. Back in January of this year, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) predicted Subchapter M would be released in spring 2016. I put my money on June 20, that being the very last day of spring, and on June 20 the long-awaited regulation was finally published. Subchapter M doesn’t come with much we weren’t expecting, which is a good thing. Surprises in this industry are not met with enthusiasm. The USCG should be complimented in that regard.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement is continuing its investigation of the oil release from Shell Offshore Inc.’s Glider Field on May 12. The Glider Field, located approximately 97 miles south of Port Fourchon, LA, includes subsea wells and the field’s production flows to the Brutus Platform. BSEE Gulf of Mexico Regional Director Lars Herbst formally established an Investigative Panel May 16. The seven-member panel is comprised of BSEE engineers, inspectors, and investigators. The panel will conduct a thorough investigation of the incident in order to identify the causes and any contributing issues that led to the release.

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director Brian Salerno and U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Paul Thomas participated in a luncheon panel discussion today ​at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC)  in Houston. The discussion focused on topics relevant to joint inspections of offshore facilities and other offshore regulatory issues. Center for Offshore Safety Executive Director Charlie Williams hosted and moderated the session on the final day of OTC. The Director and Rear Admiral discussed their coordinated approach to joint inspections and incident investigations and how they’re carried out. They described the protocol for sharing information on worst case discharge scenarios, as well as how joint working groups and quarterly meetings enhance collaboration.

As safety management systems (SMS) on board vessels evolve, the vessel’s master still holds ultimate authority. Subchapter M is finally underway. A starring role in this new CFR is a safety management system onboard all vessels. While this system dictates how the vessel is to be operated and under what parameters, a key principle of any SMS is that the Master has the authority and the responsibility to override the SMS when safety of the crew, the vessel, or the environment is at stake.

Harley Marine Services received the U.S. Coast Guard's Rear Admiral William M. Benkert Marine Environmental Protection Gold Award. The prestigious award recognizes outstanding achievements in marine environmental protection that go above and beyond compliance with regulatory standards. Recipients of this award embody industry leadership and innovation in marine safety and environmental excellence. Harley Marine Services is a full service maritime company operating with a strategic focus on safety and environmental sustainability. The company has maintained comprehensive Safety and Environmental Management Systems that are structured to incorporate all facets of the operation in order to engage all members of the company.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) continues its investigation into the March 10, 2016 death in the Gulf of Mexico of Roy Miller, a Nabors Drilling offshore worker. The fatal injury took place on the Nabors platform rig during maintenance activities for Whistler Energy LLC. "My heartfelt condolences go out to the family of Roy Miller," said BSEE Director Brian Salerno. "Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. BSEE Gulf of Mexico Region Director Lars Herbst has formally established an Investigative Panel. The four-member panel is comprised of a BSEE special investigator, an investigator, a well operations inspector, and an engineer.

Last summer, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) announced its intent to accept the American Waterway Operators (AWO) Responsible Carrier Program (RCP) as an acceptable Towing Safety Management System (TSMS) under pending Subchapter M regulations. The acceptance did not come without some major changes to the RCP, changes that were needed to ensure the RCP would meet USCG requirements and become a viable option for operators once new Subchapter M regulations take effect. When that happens is anyone’s guess.

As the workboat industry marches toward Subchapter M, and ever closer to the International Safety Management (ISM) Code, the appointment of a Designated Person Ashore (DPA) becomes more important, the position’s job functions become more defined, and the selection of the right individual becomes more critical. The DPA can be a very important “pressure relief valve” that keeps emerging ethical and safety related concerns from exploding into litigation. The DPA allows anyone working on board a vessel to report perceived unethical behavior or unsafe conditions (including the safety of the crew…

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has launched a pilot Risk-Based Inspection Program in an effort to improve its focus on offshore oil and gas facilities that exhibit a number of distinguishing risk factors. According to BSEE, the new program will complement its existing inspections and audits to increase the safety of offshore oil and gas operations. “By focusing on facilities based upon their risk factors, BSEE can more efficiently and effectively manage limited inspection and audit resources,” explained BSEE Director Brian Salerno. “Risk factors include design, operating and environmental characteristics of the facility, which may correlate to a greater likelihood of experiencing an incident.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., today announced that its group ship management company for dry bulkers, Magsaysay MOL Ship Management, Inc. has acquired certifications from Nihon Kaiji Kyokai, for Energy Management Systems (ISO50001*1) and Environmental Management Systems (ISO14001*2) on June 18. MMSM’s certifications cover ship management of bulk carriers and other cargo ships, as well as office operations onshore. MOL Ship Management Co., Ltd. acquired the same certificates in July 2014, followed by MOL Ship Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. and New Asian Shipping Company Ltd. With MMSM’s acquisition in this time, all 4 MOL Group ship management companies for dry bulkers have earned ISO50001 and ISO14001certification.

An interview with NOIA’s Randall Luthi provides unique perspective on where the offshore energy business has been, where it is now, and where it could be headed next. It is a predictable but at the same time, an important anniversary to examine: five years beyond the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which began on 20 April 2010 on the BP-owned, Transocean-operated Macondo Prospect in the Gulf of Mexico. Widely considered to be the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the energy industry, oil flowed from the sea floor for 87 days until capped in mid-July. The environmental impact is well documented, the ultimate impact of the incident on the offshore and oil industries today has been profound, lasting and without a doubt, it made the offshore business safer.

Our Offshore Annual edition of MarineNews headlines Jane Bugler, the Technical Director of the International Marine contractors Association (IMCA). Jane is a chartered chemical engineer who worked in the chemical industry for several years before joining the UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE), where she worked in a variety of roles (including work regarding pipeline regulation) before joining IMCA in 1997, when she became Technical Director. Today, Jane has overall responsibility for the extensive and varied technical program of IMCA and for liaison between IMCA and external organizations…

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director Brian Salerno will be traveling to Houston for the 2015 Offshore Technology Center May4-7 at NRG Park. The annual conference is an international gathering showcasing leading‐edge technology for offshore drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection. Director Salerno will be discussing the bureau’s advancements in reducing risk offshore. 1:00 p.m. 7:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m. What: OTC Luncheon with the Center for Offshore Safety: Improving Effectiveness of Safety and Environmental Management Systems and Recognizing Contributions. 12:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

U.S. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality presented an Environmental Leadership Award to the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans at a ceremony held recently at DEQ’s headquarters in Baton Rouge, La. The award recognizes environmental achievement for voluntary pollution prevention efforts, community environmental outreach initiatives and environmental management systems that are above and beyond regulatory compliance. The port received its award March 25 for its Stormwater Management Program…

Dynamic positioning system failures on offshore supply vessels engage in oil and gas operations in the U.S. The U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has issued a Joint Safety Alert addressing a dynamic positioning (DP) incident involving an offshore supply vessel (OSV) which resulted in a loss of position while conducting a critical Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) activity. The OSV was attached to a wellhead, lost position and severed the wellhead tree causing a lubricant release on the platform deck and to the environment. Immediately prior to the position loss, the OSV had multiple DP system alarms and failures, including loss of bow thruster and engine control. No attempt was made to identify or correct the causes of these failures and the operations continued.

Global satellite communications service provider SpeedCast International Limited announced that it is now certified as an ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management); ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management Systems); and OHSAS 18001:2007 (OHS Management System) compliant organization across all of its Australian and Pacific operations. SpeedCast said the certification process was initiated in direct response to the growing needs of Australia’s Natural Resources sector. “These certifications highlight the quality of our processes, which directly supports the services that we provide to our customers, and are reflected throughout our internal processes, procedures and culture.

ALMACO Group has received multi-site certifications for ISO 14001:2004, for implementation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and OHSAS 18001:2007, for developing Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) management systems, in compliance with the international standards. The certifications cover ALMACO’s products and services comprising engineering, procurement, construction, total project management, maintenance and on site installations for accommodation and food handling areas in living quarters, offshore installations and floating accommodation units.

Johan Roos is Interferry’s executive director of European Union and IMO affairs based in Brussels, Belgium. He took up the newly created regulatory affairs post in September 2011 after previously serving as director of sustainability with Sweden’s Stena Rederi AB. He holds a masters degree in environmental sciences from the University of Gothenburg. In 2000, he left classification society DNV to join ferry operator Stena Line to develop internal environmental management systems and for many years, he was in charge of sustainability issues for all of the Stena group’s shipping activities.

First company to receive ISO50001 certification from Nihon Kaiji Kyokai. MOL Ship Management Co., Ltd. (MOLSHIP), a core ship management company in the corporate group headed by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), has announced acquisition of certifications from Nihon Kaiji Kyokai (NK; Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda), for Energy Management Systems (ISO50001*1) and Environmental Management Systems (ISO14001*2). NK Executive Vice President Koichi Fujiwara presented the certificates to MOLSHIP President Furukawa in July 29 ceremony at NK headquarters.