RR514 - Overview of collision detection in the UKCS
For many years the primary resource for monitoring and appraisal of the collision risks to UKCS offshore oil and gas installations posed by approaching vessels was the attendant ERRV and for the many units this is still the case. However, collision threat detection via radar watch keeping is just one of a number of duties that the ERRV crew needs to conduct. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is known that the tools they had to work with for collision threat detection were subject to a number of limitations. More recently there have been technological advancements leading to the relatively limited deployment of automated radar detection and tracking systems, the so called 'hybrid' radar, to supplement the work of the ERRV crews and assist in the overall collision risk management strategy. Other changes in the global regulatory regime of the marine industry has also seen the implementation of automatic identification system(AIS) equipment which may also have an impact on vessel identification and the processes through which an errant vessel may be warned off when approaching an installation. These factors were investigated in detail during the course of the study and the results are discussed both for how they affect current operations and may be adopted in the future to enhance offshore safety.
This report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy.
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