Page 25: of Marine News Magazine (September 2018)

24 26

lack a clear and ? nancially secure chain of ownership. The shelf and close proximity to population centers, the Atlantic proposal is expected to be issued by the end of this year. seaboard is driving strong interest in offshore wind develop-

Also expected out this year is a revised version of the blow ment, and the offshore oil and gas supply chain stands to out preventer (BOP) and well control rule also issued in 2016 bene? t. In fact, the construction and installation of Deepwa- by the Obama Administration. After industry expressed con- ter Wind’s Block Island Wind Farm was aided by companies cerns that the rule included provisions that did not increase traditionally involved in offshore oil and gas work, including safety, but would rather increase risk, the Bureau of Safety Montco Offshore and Gulf Island Fabrication, proving that & Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) issued an amended offshore oil and gas and offshore wind can thrive together. version in May 2018 seeking feedback from industry and the While the offshore energy future looks bright, not all public. NOIA and allied trades submitted comments in Au- segments of the offshore industry are seeing much increase gust 2018 recommending that BSEE replace a prescriptive in business currently. Changes must take effect to broaden drilling margin requirement with a performance-based stan- the offshore recovery. Smart energy policy that includes dard, requesting that BSEE align its proposed BOP revisions increased offshore access, a regulatory regime that encour- with the 21-day testing interval outlined in API Standard 53 ages and incentives offshore energy development will cre- 4th Edition, and recommending that Real Time Monitor- ate jobs, spur broad offshore economic growth, strengthen ing be applied to operations using subsea BOPs and surface our energy and national security and provide affordable

BOPs from a ? oating rig de? ned by API Standard 53. and reliable energy for Americans and our allies.

The United States has an abundance of oil and gas and industry has the technology and the know how to tap these

Randall Luthi is the President of the National Ocean valuable resources. However, to keep up with growing en-

Industries Association (NOIA), an offshore energy trade ergy demands, we will need all forms of energy, including group located in Washington, D.C.

offshore wind. With strong winds, a shallow continental www.marinelink.com MN 25

MN Sept18 Layout 18-31.indd 25 MN Sept18 Layout 18-31.indd 25 8/27/2018 4:00:44 PM8/27/2018 4:00:44 PM