The UK Government’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has identified a rise in the number of incidents of attendant ships colliding with offshore wind and oil and gas energy structures.
The warning comes after the recent tanker collision in the North Sea off the UK.
Failure of navigational watch processes and systems, is resulting in collisions or risk of collisions.
HSE stated that incidents are occurring for several reasons.
Personnel who are responsible for watchkeeping and the safe navigation of a vessel are being distracted with non-navigational tasks
Situational awareness is not being maintained at all times
There is insufficient communication between all members of a bridge team
HSE stated that “duty holders and vessel operators should have in place processes and systems, as part of a wider safe system of work, to ensure that, during connected activities, vessels are operated in a way that ensures, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of people on nearby installations”.