Safe DP Operations
Safe operation of dynamically positioned (DP) vessels is of vital importance to the global offshore oil and gas industry. Ian Giddings, Technical Adviser at the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) recently outlined at the Marine Technology Society (MTS) Dynamic Positioning Conference, how fundamentally important the guidance, information notes, safety notes and incident reports gathered by IMCA are to the industry.
Ian Giddings' presentation in Houston to an international audience looked at the work already done in the area and at what is to be done in the future. This includes updating existing guidance and providing new guidance on simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) and Well Specific Operating Guidelines (WSOG) and the review of new position measuring equipment. Over the past 16 years IMCA has collected data on over 800 DP incidents, according to Ian Giddings.