The purpose of this position is to work on the development of new response techniques to complement our existing capabilities, whilst ensuring existing capability is maintained.

Rob holds BSc and PhD qualifications in Marine Biology with a specialism in ecotoxicology and the effects of oil on shoreline habitats. Rob has worked at OSRL for 12 years mainly in a consultancy activity and attended a number of spills in a technical advisory role for shoreline assessment and treatment. Rob completed an 18 month secondment to BP working on their spill preparedness and response standard in 2013.

Rob has led OSRL's Shoreline Clean-up Assessment Technique (SCAT) training and response capability for its responders working with Dr Ed Owens. He has also been instrumental in the partnership with the Sea Alarm Foundation to bolster the oil industry's oiled wildlife response advocacy, training and response services. Rob has recently co-authored the new IOGP-IPIECA Good Practice Guide for Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) and assisted in the review of other volumes in the series. Rob currently sits in OSRL's global Technical Department and is responsible for the development of new and novel techniques and approaches to spill response.

Engaging scientific research to enhance response

Historically, technical advances are often made through industry-academia alliances in a diverse range of engineering, medical & scientific disciplines. OSRL have embarked on focussed activity to foster greater alliances and new relationships with relevant universities, industry and Government agencies. Their expertise and services can bring added value to our response and preparedness services for the benefit of our Members. Examples of the range of organisations we are developing stronger links range from the British Antarctic Survey (to inform our cold weather teams), National Oceanography Centre (novel underwater monitoring solutions), University of Southampton (tethered UAVs) and the Scottish Association of Marine Science in Oban (autonomous marine systems).  We are also engaging with some of our Member companies to share our findings and work together on common project ideas with academia and manufacturing industry.

Our goal is to engage science and industry to improve response effectiveness, efficiency and situational awareness with cutting edge technology and techniques. 

IOGP-IPIECA NEBA Good Practice Guide author

Assisted in the development of a new guide that outlines the principles and application of "Net Environmental Benefit Analysis" to spill preparedness and response. NEBA weighs up the benefits and disadvantages of utilising different response techniques in a spill to minimise the long term environmental and socioeconomic impacts.

Shoreline Clean-up Assessment Technique (SCAT)

Implementation of shoreline cleanup assessment technique (SCAT) as part of the OSRL response capability.  Developed training materials, field guides, forms to support the field surveys.  Currently working on developing additional SCAT Team Leaders globally.

External SME database

OSRL has a finite number of personnel with specific skill sets and experience.  We are working on building a database of external, third party personnel that OSRL could call upon in a large incident to complement and bolster our own resources.  This will range from independent consultants through to members of the Global Response Network (GRN).