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The confict reveals an emerging industry challenge: im- needed to meet the evolving demands of SEMS. plementing the 4th Edition of API Recommended Practice 75 requires training the workforce to understand and ap- Launched with the support of the American Petroleum ply a performance-based SEMS. Institute (API), the RP 75 training series emphasizes how

SEMS functions as an integrated, performance-based man-

The Role of SEMS in Offshore Safety agement system, one that depends on leadership engage-

SEMS has long served as a foundational system for off- ment to coordinate safety and environmental programs shore safety, with its comprehensive framework designed across contractors, co-owners, and partners.

to help protect personnel, safeguard the environment, and prevent incidents. At the heart of this effort is API Recom- The three-part curriculum refects this approach. Mod- mended Practice 75 (RP 75), Recommended Practice for a ule one, a computer-based training, introduces the history,

Safety and Environmental Management System for Offshore principles, and structure of the 4th Edition, clarifying how

Operations and Assets, which defnes the structure and ex- its four core principles and thirteen elements work togeth- pectations for an effective SEMS. er. Module two, also computer-based, focuses on planning

SEMS audits, helping participants understand how to de-

First introduced in 1993, the 3rd Edition (2004) was fne scope, evaluate operational context, and develop audit later incorporated into U.S. regulations by the Bureau of strategies that lead to meaningful fndings. Module three

Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), establish- will launch in 2026 and will be delivered through hands- ing the document as a critical benchmark for safety on the on, onsite training, teaching participants how to conduct

Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). However, the growing management-system audits that look beyond individual complexity of offshore operations, along with advance- defciencies to identify the systemic factors that shape safe- ments in technology and the expanding global reach of off- ty performance.

shore projects, prompted an update of the standard: API

RP 75, 4th edition, published in 2019. Together, these courses provide a structured pathway for building the competencies required under the 4th Edition,

The 4th edition introduces signifcant changes from its ensuring that workforce personnel keep pace with the per- predecessor, emphasizing a performance-based framework formance-based expectations of modern SEMS.

designed to achieve measurable safety and environmental outcomes. This change requires operators to adapt their

A Foundation for Stronger Offshore

Performance approach to SEMS implementation, developing systems customized to their unique operations. Doing so effective- And these training programs couldn’t come at a more ly requires training that aligns the workforce with the 4th opportune time. The need for consistent, structured

Edition’s performance-based expectations. SEMS training is growing rapidly as offshore operations evolve. Today’s projects involve complex supply chains,

Training Designed for Today’s SEMS integrated technologies, and sprawling teams operating

Expectations across diverse geographies. The RP 75 training series

To support that need, the Center for Offshore Safety keeps pace with this shift, equipping today’s workforce (COS) has developed a comprehensive training series that with the knowledge, context, and practical skills needed focuses on the performance-based outcomes required by to implement a modern, performance-based manage- the 4th. ment system.

The training program builds on more than a decade of And by strengthening SEMS competency across the

COS leadership in fostering a culture of safety across the workforce, the industry reinforces its commitment to safe, offshore industry, providing operators with the guidance reliablem, and sustainable offshore operations.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025 OFFSHORE ENGINEER 9