(Maritime Executive) The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) has suspended operations at Husky Oil Operations’ SeaRose FPSO after investigation into an incident last year when an iceberg entered the vessel’s 0.25 nautical mile Ice Exclusion Area.
The SeaRose FPSO is located in the White Rose Field, approximately 350 kilometers (215 miles) east of St. John’s.
On March 29, 2017, an iceberg entered the SeaRose‘s 0.25 nautical mile Ice Exclusion Area. There were 84 people and upwards of 340,000 barrels of crude on board at that time. In accordance with Husky’s Ice Management Plan (IMP) filed with the C-NLOPB, the SeaRose FPSO should have disconnected and sailed away from the threatening iceberg. That action was not taken and personnel were at one point instructed to muster and brace for impact. Ultimately, the iceberg did not make contact with the SeaRose or subsea infrastructure. There were no injuries, no environmental damage and no damage to the facility.
The decision to suspend operations was taken now because of the preliminary report findings into the incident included: Husky did not follow its IMP; onshore senior management did not ensure the IMP was followed; and the Offshore Installation Manager failed to disconnect in accordance with the IMP.
The C-NLOPB has determined there are serious issues respecting Husky’s ice management, management systems and organizational decision-making. “Based on the enquiry’s preliminary findings, the C-NLOPB lacks full confidence that appropriate action will be taken by the Operator during an emergency situation,” said C-NLOPB in a statement. “The SeaRose FPSO’s petroleum-related operations will remain suspended until the C-NLOPB is confident that corrective and appropriate actions to address the findings related to its ice management, management system and organizational structure have been addressed.”
“We could have and should have responded differently according to the pre-existing plan, and we will learn from this incident. We will work with the C-NLOPB and take the actions necessary to satisfy the regulator,” said Husky Energy CEO Rob Peabody. He says the company will undertake all steps necessary to comply with the directives of the C-NLOPB. A number of measures have already been put in place to improve ice management operations
