On 25 - 26 May 2009, the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) conducted verifications on board the living quarters facility MSV Regalia. The activities were directed at conditions relating to maritime systems, emergency preparedness and the working environment.

The facility was located at the Keppel Verolme shipyard in Rozenburg, Holland for maintenance, modifications and upgrading.

The audit was conducted as document reviews, interviews and verifications on board the facility. The audit was part of the administrative procedure related to Prosafe Offshore Ltd.'s (Prosafe's) application for Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) for the facility.

Background for the audit MSV Regalia is a mobile living quarters facility built in 1985, and has classification certificates in Lloyds. The facility is registered in Singapore, where Lloyds is the flag state representative.

Prosafe has applied for AoC for the facility. After the stay at the shipyard, the plan is for the facility to go to the Norwegian shelf for BP on the Valhall field.

Purpose of the audit The purpose of the audit was to verify that conditions relating to the maritime systems, emergency preparedness and working environment were in compliance with regulatory requirements. The verification was conducted based on the AoC application, as well as information received from Prosafe and the project team at the shipyard.

Result of the audit Maritime systems: As regards the maritime systems discipline, we identified two nonconformities relating to the remote closing system for watertight closing mechanisms.

We also identified six items with a potential for improvement relating to control panels for watertight closing mechanisms and the ballast system. We have also asked to receive updated documentation when this is available.

Emergency preparedness: In connection with the emergency preparedness discipline, we identified two nonconformities, one relating to the lack of marking and signposting of escape routes where the floor consisted of grating, and one nonconformity resulting from a lack of knowledge about the emergency preparedness manual.

Two items with a potential for improvement were identified. It was not possible to conduct an audit of the facility's emergency preparedness equipment, as this had been placed onshore during the facility’s stay at the shipyard. We also requested to receive updated documentation for this discipline.

Working environment: Our general impression after the audit is that the living quarters on MSV Regalia (both new and old accommodation module) are able to provide good recreational and working environment conditions for personnel and guests on board.

Currently the greatest working environment-related challenges concern deficient mapping of a number of working environment conditions on the facility, and the handling of identified nonconformities in connection with the working environment, mainly related to the areas outside the living quarters.

At the time of verification, the PSA was unable to obtain an overall view of the working environment status on the facility, since Prosafe had not completed its verification of working environment conditions in light of the current requirement basis. Substantial work still remains in mapping light, noise and chemical health risk, HVAC and qualitative working environment conditions on the facility.

Thirteen nonconformities are listed in the audit report, along with four improvement items which were identified during the activity. The nonconformities are mainly related to lack of physical/technical design of specific areas and rooms. We also refer to the preliminary results from the ongoing mapping activities, with information on other nonconforming working environment conditions.

Tags: Petroleum Safety Authority