The OCS Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) has released MSIB 20-04, Hurricane Season Reporting Requirements, to provide guidance for operators on the Outer Continental Shelf. Hurricane season begins on June 1 and operators are advised to review the Emergency Evacuation Plans to ensure readiness.
The OCS OCMI works in collaboration with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Gulf of Mexico Region to track hurricane impacts on the OCS and to coordinate post-storm assessment and response.
In 2014, the Eighth Coast Guard District implemented a “report by exception” OCS hurricane evacuation reporting policy. This policy will continue for the 2020 Hurricane season. The Eighth Coast Guard District is requesting that operators of ALL manned facilities and Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) report only when personnel, who otherwise intended to evacuate the unit due to approaching heavy weather, were stranded on board AND not able to evacuate due to extreme circumstances; or if a MODU intends to, but is unable to relocate for storm avoidance. Reports of personnel remaining offshore will allow the Eighth District to prepare for potential post-storm search and rescue operations.
For OCS facilities with an approved Emergency Evacuation Plan pursuant to 33 CFR 146, we request that you notify the Eighth District anytime personnel will remain on board in exception to your approved plan or if you are not able to execute any portion of your plan related to heavy weather preparations. All reports should include the location of the facility or MODU, the number of personnel to be left on board, and the means by which the operator and/or the Eighth District can communicate with the facility or MODU.
Notification shall be made to the Eighth District by contacting the following: Email: D8CCwatch@uscg.mil and OCScorrespondence@uscg.mil
Phone: 504-589-6225
This policy is designed to reduce duplicative effort and emphasis following the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement reporting requirements, per 30 CFR 250.192. However, there will be times in which Coast Guard personnel may reach out to particular units or companies in an attempt to gather additional information related to specific weather events. This outreach should not be construed as additional requirements but viewed as requests for information to support overall Coast Guard hurricane planning and response efforts. Your cooperation in these efforts is greatly appreciated.
For questions or clarification on this MSIB contact Lt. Cmdr. Michael Dougherty at (504) 671-2106.
Additional OCS guidance can be found on the Eighth District Outer Continental Shelf webpage.
This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official source documents, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These documents remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.