Oil & Gas UK has today (14 June) published an updated set of guidelines for tandem loading to help operators of Floating Production Storage and Offloading facilities (FPSOs), Floating Storage Units (FSUs) and offtake tankers implement agreed good practice when transferring crude oil between FPSOs and shuttle tankers.
Initiated by Oil & Gas UK as a joint industry project, with input from operators of FPSOs and offtake tankers and the HSE, this 2011 edition is an update of the original 2002 guidelines, published in response to concerns regarding the risks of collision, pollution, loss of mooring, fire and explosion during tanker loading activities.
Paul Dymond, Operations Director at Oil & Gas UK, said: “We reviewed North West European industry practices and experience, the implications of UK legislation, existing industry guidance and international initiatives to see how we could further reduce the risks associated with transferring oil between FPSOs and offtake tankers. The new guidelines incorporate all the lessons learned from across the industry over the past few years as well as advances in technology and operating practices. In producing these guidelines, our aim is to reduce the risk of a major accident to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) in accordance with the goal-setting philosophy of UK legislation.”
[mappress] Source:Oil & Gas UK , June 14, 2011;