Offshore staff
OSLO, Norway –Norway’s government is considering altering its regulations for lifeboats on offshore installations on the Norwegian continental shelf.
According to Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) Norway, the proposed amendments concern freefall and davit-launched lifeboats, the associated launch systems, and other rescue and evacuation equipment.
PSA is in dialogue with oil companies and unions via the tripartite Regulatory Forum.
Current offshore lifeboats and launch systems have weaknesses, PSA claims, and do not provide the level of safety assumed previously.
Shortcomings relate to the structural strength of superstructure and hulls, gravitational (G) forces acting on passengers, propulsion, and buoyancy/stability.
A consultation process on the draft of the amended regulations should start thus year, with the final text coming into force after 2014.
4/12/2012
