Risk Management StrategyFor

Large Scale Petroleum OperationsIn Orkney and Scotland

Captain Graeme R Smith

Scapa Flow

• Strategically Positioned• North of Scotland• Oil Terminal• Pipeline Import of Oil• Shuttle Tanker Import of

Oil• Oil Export• Ship to Ship Transfers• Effectively an Oil Hub

Scapa Flow

• Sheltered Oil Port

• South of the Orkney Mainland

• Approximately 55 square miles

• Almost entirely deep water

• Port Authority is Orkney Islands Council

Historically

• Base Port for Hudson Bay Shipping Co.

• Anchorage for British Fleet in times of war

• Holding anchorage for captured German Fleet after WW1

• Scuttled in 1919

• Marshalling for Murmansk (WW2) Convoys

• Oil Port since 1976

Circa 1919

Present Activities• Oil Port

• Flotta Terminal since 1976

• Pipeline imports

• Shuttle Tanker imports from Atlantic fields

• Exports to N America, NW Europe, Worldwide

• 2 SPMs and a Jetty for VLCCs

• Ship to Ship transfer anchorages

• 220 Crude Oil Vessels per year

• Extensive Pilotage and Towage Operation

• Prospect of a Container Hub Development

Ship to Ship Transfer Tanker Jetty

Scapa Flow Approach Channels

What is Risk Assessment ?

• Combination of two elements

• Frequency of occurrence of a hazard

• Consequences

Risk Matrix Table

• Risk = likelihood x consequence

Likelihood1 2 3 4 5 6

1 L L L L L M2 L L L M M M3 L L M M M H4 L M M M H H5 L M M H H H

Consequence

6 L M H H H H

Why Risk Assessment ?

• Forewarned is forearmed

• Protect the Environment

• Protect the Port Operation

• Protect the Customer

• Comply with the Port Marine Safety Code

Hazards to Consider

• Meteorological

• Geographical

• All extremely physical

Not Forgetting

• Berthing and Unberthing Tankers

• On Jetty

• To SPMs

• Ship to Ship

Meteorological

• High Wind Speeds at times• Causes rough seas for Pilot boarding

• Berthing Difficulties

• Problems for Pilots and Tugs

• Leeway effect on a ship underway

Geographical

• Relatively Narrow entrance to port

• Strong Tides

• Shallow areas

Other Considerations

• Quantity of Pollutants carried

• Manoeuvrability of vessel

• Gross Tonnage

Hazard Areas

A. Strong Tides

B. Proximity to land

C. Vessels moving or at anchor

How to Mitigate these Dangers

• Risk Assessment

• Traditional Measures– eg Pilotage and Towage

• Modern Methods– Safety Management System– Standard Operating Procedures

Strategy

• Identify the Hazards and Threats

• Identify Control Measures

• Apply Control Measures

• Safety Management System (SMS )

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

• Maintain and Review SMS and SOPs

Identify the Hazards and Threats• Through Consultation and Discussion with:

-Harbour Personnel

-Marine Services

-Tug Masters

-Port users

-Ships Masters

• Assessment of Data

Assessment of Data

• Traffic Flows

• Meteorological Data

• Ships Technical Specification Data

• Hydrographic Data

• Incident Statistical Data

Main Factors to Consider

• Pentland Firth• Pilot Boarding Stations• Strong Tidal Flows• High Winds• Rough Seas

• Entrance to Scapa Flow

• Narrowing Channel• Tidal Flow• Winds• Shallow Areas• Other Vessel

Movements• Mechanical Failure

Hazard Areas

A. Strong Tides

B. Proximity to land

C. Vessels moving or at anchor

Traditional Control Measures

• Aids to Navigation

• Traffic Routing

• Pilotage

Additional Control Methods• STCW 95 Regulations• Port State Control• Licensed Competent Pilot onboard• Pilot/Master Information Exchange• Pilot Card • Port Pilotage Plan• Scheduled II Tanker Checklist• Equasis Ship Vetting• OCIMF SIRE Ship Vetting• Tug Escort• Trim Limits and propeller immersion• Ship ISM System• Traffic Info Broadcast• Vessel Traffic System (VTS) Monitoring and Automatic Information System (AIS)

In addition we have

• A Comprehensive Oil Pollution Contingency Plan

• A Large Quantity of Oil Pollution Containment and Recovery Equipment– Held both at Orkney Harbours and on Flotta

Terminal– A Workforce Trained in Pollution Control and

Recovery

Orkney Harbours today?

• Robust and workable Safety Management System

• Standard Operating Procedures covering all aspects of our Port Operation

• A Safe, Reliable and Clean Port Operation

• A Safety Record to be proud of

• Capability to Safely Handle New Oil Flows

The Future

• Review and Revise Management Strategy

• Adapt to New Technology in Port Operations

• Promote the Ports Development with Evidence of Safe and Efficient Practices

Thank You

1 5 Ma y 20 0 1O rkn ey C on t ain er T ra nsh i pme nt H u b