Following the signing of an agreement with Marine Environmental Solutions Limited (MES), an offshore services specialist, to enhance oil spill preparedness and response capabilities for OSRL members within the North Sea (initially Scottish waters), OSRL is pleased to announce that the UKCS Fishing Vessel Service went live on 4th April.
The service is now available to OSRL members within the North Sea and consists of two key elements, response and preparedness. Any subscribing member can now benefit from guaranteed access to:
- Two fishing vessels with the trained crew within 24 hours of notification and a further two vessels with trained crew within 48 hours.
- Continuous availability of a minimum of four vessels, with a ‘best endeavours’ access up to eight additional vessels, until it is practical to demobilise.
Having this new service in place enhances the capability of the fishing vessel crews and puts in place a mechanism for them to be able to safely assist in a response if required.
This new service is an optional additional service to members who have UKCS coverage.
OSRL has provided training to Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) member fishing vessels and will continue to train and refresh crews annually.
MES is a subsidiary of SFF Services Limited (SFFSL), which is wholly owned by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF), with approximately 100 SFF vessels identified as suitable for this service (out of a fleet of around 400+). As part of the agreement, OSRL will provide training to 12 SFF member fishing vessels annually. The training includes Response Safety, Surveillance, Boom Deployment and Towing, and Dispersant Operations. It continues a long history of delivering quality training in the North Sea, where OSRL is accredited to deliver UKCS specific education and preparedness.
Commenting on the announcement, OSRL’s Aberdeen Manager, Ken Church, added:
“It is a great addition to OSRL’s network of partnerships and another demonstration of OSRL’s commitment to the continuous improvement of our service offering. UKCS operators historically use vessels supplied by the SFF for tasks in their day to day operations in the UKCS mostly as Guard Vessels stationed around infrastructure ensuring the integrity and safety of the assets. Having this new service in place will enhance the capability of the fishing vessel crews and puts in place a mechanism for them to be able to safely assist in a response if required.”
Steven Alexander, Managing Director of MES and SFFSL commented:
“It’s great to see this initiative come to fruition following the valued input and co-operation of a number of engaged parties over the period and as previously mentioned, we are delighted to be working with OSRL as part of their overall service provision.”
For UKCS operators that are already OSRL members, the new agreement will streamline the mobilisation process, helping to avoid issues around duplication of effort or potential misunderstandings with local parties. There are also cost efficiencies of adding this new service to the current contract, with the majority of management costs absorbed by the existing UKCS service agreement.
In the event of an exercise or incident, activation of the new service will use the current mobilisation process, with a 24/7 phone number (023 8033 1551) and the same SLA provision whereby the OSRL Duty Manager will return the member’s call within 10 minutes.
Why OSRL?
OSRL was formed 35 years ago by the most proactive and conscientious players within the oil and gas industry, designed to answer the need for an effective response to spill events worldwide. With over 160 members, every pound contributed is highly leveraged, leading to a very cost-effective service provision.
In its 35-year history, OSRL has attended over 400 spill events, giving it a unique insight into managing spill risks and providing assurance that its members are doing everything practicable to mitigate the impact of a spill.
OSRL was designed by industry, for industry, as the most cost-effective solution to preparing for and responding to major spill events. Membership enables you to tap into our world-leading expertise, which grows and develops as we attend more and more spills.
Additional company info:
Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL)
Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) is the largest international industry-funded cooperative. It exists to respond to oil spills wherever in the world they may occur, providing preparedness, response and intervention services. OSRL is wholly owned by most of the environmentally responsible oil and gas companies around the globe, and its membership represents the majority of the world’s oil production. It currently employs 275 people across twelve locations around the world.
Media contacts Information:
Emma Smillie:
Global Marketing and Communications Manager
+44 (0)23 8033 1551
emmasmillie@oilspillresponse.com