NOBLE REGINA ALLEN

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Dutch Safety Board calls for change after fatal allision with crane ship

After the fatal allision between the 'Noble Regina Allen' and the crane ship 'Saipem 7000' on Feb 21, 2024, the Netherlands' safety board has called on Rotterdam's pilots and on the Damen ship repair yard to carry out better planning before navigational evolutions in tight harbor basins. The accident happened when the crane vessel was docking at the repair yard in the Botlek. Winds were 13 knots, in excess of the standard docking procedure for the site, but the pilot had done this evolution in stronger winds and did not believe that the conditions would be problematic. Because of the tight quarters and the presence of the rig, there was no tug positioned on the 'Saipem 7000's port quarter. Despite the power of the crane ship's DP-3 thrusters and the assistance of six tugs, the wind was enough to push the vessel off course. Its stern swung to port as it was trying to enter its berth, and its port quarter struck the rig. A welder was working on scaffolding on the exterior of the drilling rig. When the 'Saipem 7000' made contact, he was trapped between the vessel and the rig, and he fell into the water. Multiple dive searches were conducted, but his body was not recovered for another three weeks. The board called for the Dutch pilots' association to systematically assess and improve procedures for navigating in the inner harbor.: "Pilots must prepare themselves well for the safe execution of complex activities such as docking a crane vessel. For example, they must continuously test assumptions among all those involved and speak out about possible risks. The Regional Pilotage Corporation Rotterdam-Rijnmond is responsible for ensuring that pilots indeed prepare in this way, according to the Dutch Safety Board, which also called on the shipyard to lead a joint risk assessment process for complex evolutions, incorporating input from all parties involved. "A more thorough approach is needed for complex operations that are carried out simultaneously. The shipyard must ensure that risks are clearly understood and managed," the board concluded. The Safety Board therefore makes the following additional recommendations. To the shipyard: Ensure a structured approach to risk management for operations that take place simultaneously on or near the shipyard and that can influence each other. Involve all relevant parties in risk management, both in the individual projects and in combination with each other. Also discuss the various scenarios that can arise and how these risks are dealt with. Record this approach. Make a joint reassessment with the parties involved of all risks that arise if there is a deviation from previously made agreements for carrying out simultaneous operations. Adjust the scenarios for risk management if necessary. Update and improve the Life-Saving Rules following this incident and have employees actively think about the implementation of this. Emphasize the importance of safety as a joint responsibility. In the Netherlands, a pilotage obligation applies on certain waterways. This pilotage obligation is fulfilled by one party, namely the registered pilots (except in the Scheldemonden region. Here, part of the pilotage obligation is fulfilled by the Flemish pilotage service). This monopoly position entails a strong responsibility to carry out the piloting and manoeuvring of ships as safely as possible. To this end, the Safety Board makes the following recommendations. To the Regional Pilotage Corporation Rotterdam-Rijnmond Based on the lessons learned from this incident (and then periodically), evaluate and improve the procedures in the Vademecum that must ensure proper preparation for a special transport, including the resources that are used. In doing so, ensure in any case that: – these procedures are known to the pilots and that they also comply with these procedures; – the available and most recent information is easily accessible to the pilots; – the pilots ensure that the parties involved (such as the shipyard and the captain) in the preparation and execution of complex operations also know what assessments and choices they are making, so that these parties can indicate where necessary if risks arise. Ensure that for voyages that are carried out by more than one pilot, the pilots concerned prepare and carry out the voyage together. To this end, they must: - be involved simultaneously in the preparation and have access to the same information; – be able to professionally address each other in the preparation (for example in simulation training) and during the execution of the operation, regarding risk management and make their assumptions explicit (for example by ‘thinking aloud’); – ensure effective use of NMS during the execution of complex operations. The client of a docking operation plays an important role in the way in which the risk management and execution of that operation takes place. That is why they make the following recommendation. To Saipem Ensure that the captain, his bridge team and the pilot(s) jointly make specific agreements about the execution of the docking operation so that everyone knows how the operation is carried out and what their task is. Record in the agreements: the division of tasks, the method of communication, different scenarios and how to deal with questions, doubts and ambiguities during the operation. Check with the shipyard to see if they understand the risks of a complex (simultaneous) operation such as the docking operation. Make this step part of the preparation for complex operations. Report with photo: https://maritime-executive.com/article/dutch-safety-board-calls-for-change-after-deadly-allision-at-repair-yard

Noble Corporation secures ExxonMobil contract in Canada

Offshore driller Noble Corporation has secured a new rig contract from ExxonMobil for a plug and abandonment (P&A) program off Canada, according to the company’s latest fleet status report. The company’s jack-up rig Noble Regina Allen will be deployed for the 22-well program, which is expected to commence between the fourth quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018 and require up to two years to complete. The day rate for the contract is $88,500. The rig is currently operating off UK under a contract due to expire in April. Noble also revealed in the fleet status report that it cold stacking semi-submersible rig Noble Danny Adkins from March. Source splash 24/7

Noble Corporation finds work for stacked jackup, extends with Hess at huge discount

UK headquartered offshore driller Noble Corporation has announced a new contract for one of its jackup rigs as well as an extension for a semi-submersible in its latest felt status report. 2013-built jackup rig Noble Regina Allen has found work in UK waters with an undisclosed client providing accomodation services. Noble said the rig, which is currently warm stacked in Danish waters, will commence work mid-October through to mid-April 201 with three further 30-day options available to the charterer. The contract value was not disclosed. http://splash247.com/noble-corporation-finds-work-stacked-jackup-extends-hess-huge-discount/