2001 Maritime Services Directory  Reserve your copy now! Also available on CD-ROM

Click here for details of our upcoming GULF OFFSHORE 2001 event Biloxi, MS, June 5 & 6 May 4, 2001 Rep. Gene Taylor to keynote Gulf Offshore The keynote speaker at Marine Log's Gulf Offshore conference in Biloxi, MS. will be Rep. Gene Taylor (D.-MS). A long time marine industry advocate, Congressman Taylor escribes himself as a conservative Democrat and serves on two major committees in the House of Representatives. He is a ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee and a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. As the skipper of a search and rescue boat for 10 years, he is one of only a handful of members who have hands-on experience in the U.S. Coast Guard. Taylor served in the Coast Guard Reserve from 1971-1984. While serving in the Coast Guard he received the Commandant's Letter of Commendation for fire fighting and a letter of Commendation for saving the life of a crew member. Meantime, the program for Gulf Offshore is promising to make this a particularly significant event. Click here for details! ABS to develop Brazilian offshore regulations ABS Group Inc. has been selected by Brazil’s Agência Nacional do Petróleo (ANP) to develop that country’s "Operational Safety Regulation for Exploration and Production Operations." The contract calls for the development of a comprehensive regulatory model to address all aspects of operational safety throughout field life for Brazil’s offshore exploration and production, says Dr. Henrique Paula, vice president, South America, for ABS Group. " ANP ranked bids on: (1) Specific experience of consultants; (2) Adequacy of the proposed work plan and methodology; and (3) Qualification and competence of key staff. "Our experience in researching and drafting Brazil’s offshore regulatory model will place us in a knowledgeable position to assist operators worldwide that are eager to participate in Brazil’s burgeoning deepwater market," said Paula. A final report on Brazil’s offshore regulations, adds Paula, is expected to be in place before year-end. "ABS Group’s extensive experience in the regulatory arena, and its global expertise with floating production units, make it uniquely suited to write Brazil’s offshore regulations," said Paula. Dr. Malcolm Sharples, ABS vice president of Offshore Project Development, explains that ABS developed the offshore industry’s first regulations in 1968; classed the industry’s first mobile offshore drilling unit; the first floating production/storage offloading unit; and the first Spar. Most recently, ABS issued the industry’s first Rules for Floating Production Units in 2000. "This experience will contribute to the effectiveness of Brazil’s regulatory model as the industry tackles deepwater challenges," said Sharples. ABS has classed some 15 floating production facilities operating offshore Brazil. ABS Group will develop Brazil’s regulatory model using a five-stage plan, says Paula. It will include a series of four workshops, where international expertise in regulatory development and application can be considered. Experts from ABS Group and government officials from Australia, Canada, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States will be invited to participate in the first, second and third workshops and present regulatory models used in these countries. During workshop 4, ABS Group will present ANP with a regulatory model for review and discussion. "The workshops will allow for free and open discussion of relevant issues, with the goal of developing a regulatory model that best meets the needs of ANP. The fourth workshop will engender significant discussion, with a final regulatory model to result," said Paula. During Stage 1, ABS Group will perform a thorough assessment of international regulations, drawing on its global expertise while considering regulatory concepts applied in other Latin American countries, including Venezuela and Mexico. Stage 2 will analyze existing Brazilian regulations, including specific rules, international codes and agreements, with an assessment of overall effectiveness. A number of Brazilian agencies will participate During Stage 3, ABS Group will write a first draft of Brazil’s offshore operation safety model. ABS Group also will consider procedures for inspection, identifying both successful and unsuccessful inspection experiences, both internationally and in Brazil, while considering necessary costs and resources. Using the model selected, during Stage 4, the ABS Group team will determine the scope and methods for regulatory sanctions. Stage 5 calls for the drafting of a detailed regulatory model for Brazil’s E&P operational safety, incorporating agreements reached throughout the project stages and workshops. The comprehensive operational safety model will address: Planning Installation Maintenance Operation Decommissioning Procedures for periodic inspections, audits Establish types of sanctions and introduce rules Assess regulatory resource and training requirements "The final regulatory document will provide Brazil with an ideal model for its local conditions and its life-of-field requirements," said Paula. . HOME