OTC: Gulf of Mexico platforms meet security directives

May 5, 2005
All 53 large Gulf of Mexico oil and gas platforms subject to federal requirements of the Marine Transportation Security Act (MTSA) complied with and met deadlines for initial directives, a Coast Guard officer reported at the Offshore Technology Conference.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, May 4 -- All 53 large Gulf of Mexico oil and gas platforms subject to federal requirements of the Marine Transportation Security Act (MTSA) complied with and met deadlines for initial directives, a Coast Guard officer reported at the Offshore Technology Conference.

The first MTSA requirements were for large facilities to establish security plans and practices, explained Capt. Ronald W. Branch, chief of marine safety, security, and environmental protection in the Coast Guard district based in New Orleans. Congress passed the law in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

MTSA greatly increased the monitoring of vessels entering US waters and set security requirements for ships, waterside facilities, and oil and gas installations on the Outer Continental Shelf.

Having established security plans and practices based on risk assessments for individual facilities, operators of affected platforms now must conduct annual drills subject to Coast Guard inspection.

"This is a way of life and a way of doing business now," Branch said.

Generally, facility operators and crew members must show they can recognize dangerous substances and devices, behavior likely to threaten security, and efforts to circumvent security.

They also must be able to work with other vessels and facilities during period of heightened security, prohibit admittance by unauthorized persons, screen and verify the identities of unauthorized persons, verify package security, inspect stores and goods before taking them aboard, prevent delivery of unexpected materials, screen persons arriving at the facilities and their belongings, monitor facility access points, respond to and report security incidents, and comply with maritime security directives from the Coast Guard.