Offshore UK: Government Brokers Use of BP Emergency Vessel

The agreement between the government and BP allows HM Coasguard to call on a BP-chartered vessel in the event of a pollution incident.

An operational and commercial model has been brokered with the oil industry allowing HM Coastguard to call on a BP-chartered vessel, the Grampian Frontier, to provide support in the event of a pollution incident.

The Emergency Response and Rescue Vessel (ERRV) operates west of Shetland and the owner North Star Shipping is working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to ensure that the crew and equipment are able to respond. The involvement of the Frontier builds on the UK Government’s commitment last year to fund an Emergency Towing Vessel in waters around Scotland for the duration of the current Spending Review.

As a signal of their commitment to the industry scheme, BP also announced that it is investing up to $250,000 towards new towing equipment to upgrade its fleet of Caledonian regional support vessels. This investment will enhance their ability to also respond in the event of an incident.

The Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore MP said: “This is the first agreement of its kind in the UK, and I would like to thank BP and North Star for their commitment and enthusiasm for this work. The legacy of the Braer disaster has great resonance in Scotland and beyond. Today’s agreement shows a clear commitment and leadership by BP and North Star to support efforts to protect the environment.”

“This is a powerful signal of their support for counter pollution and they are setting a great example to the wider industry. I am hopeful that other companies will follow suit and register their vessels for the scheme. I am very grateful for Oil & Gas UK’s efforts to facilitate both this agreement and wider industry participation.”