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Offshore Industry Issues New Guidelines to Improve Cargo Handling Safety

Friday 18 May 2001

Offshore Industry Issues New Guidelines to Improve Cargo Handling Safety

Increasing concern about the safe handling of goods and equipment destined for offshore oil and gas platforms in the North Sea has led to the publication of a new set of guidelines for cargo packing and handling to be launched in Aberdeen later this month (30 May 2001) and Great Yarmouth next month (6 June 2001).

Presentations on the new Guidelines for the Safe Packing and Handling of Cargo to and from Offshore Locations in the industrys two key home ports are expected to attract interest from oil companies, supply boat operators and their crew, contractors, vendors and logistics experts. The document, which has been produced by the UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) on behalf of a pan-industry workgroup set up by the Marine Safety Forum (MSF), highlights what is considered by the industry to be good practice in the packaging, securing, labelling and handling of cargo. While the guidelines are not mandatory, it is hoped that they will gain widespread acceptance across the industry and help improve safety on offshore installations, supply vessels, onshore supply bases and warehouses.

Each year over 200 vessels ply the North Sea shifting an estimated one million tonnes of cargo to and from the 220 oil and gas fields offshore, providing a critical service that keeps the offshore platforms in production.

"As a result of the Step Change pan-industry safety campaign, general awareness of safety offshore has increased, leading to a rise in the reported number of incidents on supply vessels," says Brian Turnbull, MSFs chairman. "These can be straightforward problems associated with badly packed goods or poor documentation, but they can also be serious. In 1999 a seaman was badly injured when he was struck and crushed by a container. It is these types of incidents that the guidelines aim ultimately to eliminate."

Presentations on the new Guidelines will be held throughout the day at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on 30 May (see below for times) and at 10.30am, repeated at 12.30pm on 6 June at AMEC Offshore, Edison Way, Gapton Hall Industrial Estate, Great Yarmouth. Further information from Jim Bennett at JB Fire and Safety Ltd on 01224 860345.

UKOOAs Guidelines for the Safe Packing and Handling of Cargo to and from Offshore Locations are available from the UK Offshore Operators Association, Tel. 0207 802 2400. The guidelines will be available free to those attending the launch presentations. Thereafter, they will cost £25 for UKOOA members and £50 for non-members.

Note to editors

1. The UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) is the representative organisation for the UK offshore oil and gas industry. Its 32 members are licensed by the British Government to explore for and produce hydrocarbons in UK waters.

2. Aberdeen launch details

Date: 30 May 2001 Times: 09.30am; 11.00am; 2.00pm; 3.30pm Venue: Aberdeen Conference and Exhibition Centre(Conference Room 5), Bridge of Don, Aberdeen

3. Great Yarmouth launch details

Date: 6 June 2001 Times: 10.30am; 12.30pm Venue: AMEC Offshore, Edison Way, Gapton Hall Industrial Estate, Great Yarmouth

For more information, please call 020 7802 2400.