Offshore regulator warns Saipem over safety breaches on Scarabeo 8 rig

Norway’s offshore safety agency, the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA), has issued a notification of order to Saipem over its Scarabeo 8 semi-submersible following an audit which identified safety breaches on the rig. 

Between 4 and 7 March 2019, the PSA carried out an audit of Saipem Drilling Norway within the domains of emergency preparedness and logistics on board Scarabeo 8 rig.

The objective of the audit was to verify Saipem’s management of emergency preparedness and materials handling on board Scarabeo 8.

The safety body identified regulatory breaches and, as a consequence, issued Saipem with a notification of order.

The audit revealed that previous non-conformities had not been rectified, within both emergency preparedness and logistics.

In addition, the audit detected new non-conformities related to system for training of the emergency preparedness organization; system for the follow-up of findings from previous investigations and audits; analyses; MOB preparedness, including use of personal protective equipment in MOB operations; outside mustering stations at lifeboats, and lifeboats; maintenance; evacuation routes; sound level on bridge and emergency preparedness room during incidents.

Further non-conformities were identified related to maintenance of lifting facilities – Enterprise of Competence; management system – cranes and lifting; maintenance of steel wire ropes – offshore cranes; use of specially designed lifting appliances in the drilling area (SDLA); and technical conditions.

The audit also detected improvement points relating to readiness of fire stations and lifting forum.

Regulator’s orders 

Following the audit, the offshore safety watchdog ordered Saipem to review its management system for the follow-up of training and the emergency preparedness organization offshore in order to
ensure necessary improvements and adherence to the system for following up the competence of the individual member of the emergency preparedness organization; and, non-conformities and ensure necessary improvements and adherence to the system for compliance with regulatory requirements.

In addition, Saipem was ordered to undertake an analysis to identify proximate and underlying causes of why the PSA’s findings were not identified and corrected earlier.

The deadline for complying with the regulator’s order is May 27, 2019.

It is worth reminding that Saipem was recently reported to be in talks for the sale of its drilling business, both onshore and offshore.

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