It is almost exactly two years since the Offshore Safety Directive 2013 (the Directive) was adopted by the EU, a move which stems from the European Commission’s concern following the Deepwater Horizon incident in April 2010 that the existing regulatory framework for offshore safety in the EU was “divergent and fragmented”.
Further, the Commission was concerned that it did not provide adequate assurance that risks from offshore accidents were minimised throughout the Union. As a result, the Directive now includes requirements on member states to ensure that operators of existing and future offshore oil & gas operations in the EU are appointed by licensees or licensing authorities.
They must also take all suitable measures to prevent major accidents in offshore oil & gas operations and prepare safety documents, including emergency response plans, corporate accident prevention policies and safety and environmental management system documents, and submit them to the relevant national competent authority.
There is mounting concern that Britain's bold offshore ambition could be stalling. Professor Paul Mitchell looks at what could happen up to and beyond 2020.
