Center For Offshore Safety News

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…

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.

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.

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.

Bureau Veritas has awarded certification to Statoil for meeting the Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) protocols developed by the Center for Offshore Safety (COS), an enhanced set of requirements in the offshore oil and gas industry. Statoil is the first organization to be issued a SEMS certificate by Bureau Veritas and is also the first offshore operator to successfully complete an independent assessment and demonstrate compliance with the offshore safety and environmental sustainability rule. The certification recognizes that Statoil Gulf of Mexico E&P’s management system meets industry and regulatory requirements for SEMS.

A competent workforce is a productive one, and operates with fewer risks, meaning shorter downtimes and fewer injuries. Effective competence schemes established by companies of all sizes ensure confidence in the offshore industry, and that all people appointed to safety-critical positions can carry out their jobs in an effective manner. To that end, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has established a highly effective competence assurance and assessment framework.

ABS Quality Evaluations, Inc. (ABS QE) became the first audit service provider to obtain Provisional Accreditation status from the Center for Offshore Safety (COS) on April 25, 2013. As a provisional accreditor, ABS QE offers safety and environmental management system audits to evaluate the implementation and maintenance of COS member companies’ safety and environmental management systems throughout their offshore operations. The Safety and Environmental Management Systems program was developed to be implemented by operators, suppliers and contractors by November 15, 2013 in support of the COS’s mission to promote and protect the environment, focusing exclusively on offshore safety in the deep-water (water depths > 1,000 ft.).

DNV Business Assurance receives approval to begin Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) audits of oil and gas drilling operators in the Gulf of Mexico & US Outer Continental Shelf. SEMS is the Safety and Environmental Management Systems program developed by the Center for Offshore Safety (COS) and made mandatory in 2011 by the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. Initially established as a set of industry best practices, SEMS compliance must be verified by a third-party auditor, such as DNV. Non-compliant operators risk losing their exploration and drilling privileges in governed waters. DNV was recently notified by COS of its provisional accreditation for SEMS auditing…

NOIA President Randall Luthi Comments on Pending Departure of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. “On behalf of the National Ocean Industries Association, I thank Secretary Salazar for his service and wish him the best on his return to Colorado. Owning a ranch in Wyoming myself, I can certainly understand the strong desire to leave Washington and return to running cows and calves instead of political gauntlets. The Secretary leaves a legacy that reflects strong leadership in the promotion of offshore wind resources and bolstering of certain safety protocols, but a missed opportunity to promote access in new offshore areas. He had a difficult…

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Director James A. Watson delivered remarks today at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas. Director Watson discussed recent recruitment incentives, BSEE's offshore safety focus and regulatory priorities. Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to talk about the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s continued efforts to enhance safety offshore. This is my first time at OTC, and I have been extremely impressed by the scientific and technical know-how on display…