The US Coast Guard (USCG) shared reporting requirements on hurricane season 2020 for operators on the Outer Continental Shelf. Hurricane season begins on 1st June and operators should review the Emergency Evacuation Plans to ensure readiness.
The MSIB 20-04, Hurricane Season Reporting Requirements follows a US NOAA outlook, forecasting a 60% chance of an above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.
The USCG OCS Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) collaborates 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.
As such, the 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 onboard 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 onboard, and
- the means by which the operator and/or the Eighth District can communicate with the facility or MODU.
