WASHINGTON – To complement its existing safety inspection regime for foreign-flagged vessels operating in U.S. waters, the U.S. Coast Guard Friday announced an additional layer of risk-based safety oversight for mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) as part of an ongoing review of marine safety policies following the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion, fire, and subsequent oil spill.

Currently, U.S.- and foreign-flagged MODUs operating in U.S. waters undergo annual examinations to verify compliance with domestic laws, regulations and international conventions – ensuring that a vessel’s major systems are in compliance and that crew training and performance, such as lifesaving and firefighting drills, meet all applicable standards.

When an examination reveals questionable equipment, systems, or crew competency issues onboard a MODU, the Coast Guard expands the examination as necessary to determine whether a deficiency exists, a process that may require additional tests, inspections or crew drills deemed necessary at the discretion of Coast Guard inspectors. The Coast Guard documents any deficiencies and mandates they be corrected; depending on the severity of the deficiencies, the Coast Guard may curtail vessel operations as appropriate until the deficiencies are corrected.

With today’s announcement, Coast Guard marine inspectors will add an additional, risk-based layer of inspection for foreign-flagged MODUs operating on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf –determine the risk they pose by examining accident history, past discrepancies, flag state performance and classification society performance to identify those vessels requiring additional oversight. Risk based targeting allows for more frequent examinations of the highest risk MODUs and efficient use of Coast Guard resources.

“We continue to work to increase the level of safety oversight on the outer continental shelf and find ways to better prevent an event like we saw on board the Deepwater Horizon last year,” said Rear Adm. Kevin Cook, director of Prevention Policy for the U.S. Coast Guard. “This additional, risk-based inspection process – coupled with the inspection program already in place – will ensure that flag states, owners, operators and other stakeholders are held accountable for the operations and conditions on board their MODUs.”

The new system is based on a current Coast Guard safety and environmental protection targeting matrix that has been successful at identifying high-risk foreign vessels of all kinds for more than 10 years. In 2010, the Coast Guard screened 76,372 foreign vessel arrivals and conducted more than 9,900 examinations to ensure the safety and security of the nation’s ports and waterways.

The policy letter outlining the new risk-based inspection program can be viewed here.

Whenever large numbers of people are returning from extended time away from the job, there’s a potential for mishaps to occur due to complacency or skills that have become rusty.

January is also a time when many Sailors and Marines enjoy winter sporting activities such as skiing and snowboarding. There’s a greater likelihood for inclement weather, deteriorated driving conditions and slips, trips and falls.

All these factors combine to make this a good time to remember the basics of risk management, said Derek Nelson, head of the Media Division at the Naval Safety Center (NAVSAFECEN). Nelson writes the popular weekly “Summary of Mishaps,” which is better known as the “Friday Funnies.” In this capacity, he pores through the mishap reports received by NAVSAFECEN, and he has noticed some trends.

“Snowboarding mishaps have really been on the rise in the last few years,” said Nelson. “People seem to have a hard time recognizing their limitations.”

Nelson said a lack of training contributes to many snowboarding mishaps. Others attempt to outdo their experience level, including a second class petty officer who had been on five separate snowboarding trips before he hit the slopes with some shipmates who had far more training than he had.

“He wasn’t completely inexperienced, but he went with people who knew a lot more, and he wanted to keep up with them. He ended up with a concussion and a lot of days on limited duty,” Nelson said.

Other mishap reports he has examined show a general complacency trend. He said one of the major problems is people who are in a hurry and cut corners.

“Whether you’re driving or performing a task around the house or on the job, being in a hurry to get things done is a needless risk that too often ends in a trip to the emergency room,” said Nelson. “Usually, the person doesn’t take time to make a risk assessment beforehand, and therefore, there’s no risk management that takes place.”

Nelson cited one particularly memorable example; a Sailor was using a gas-powered snow blower to clear his driveway after a winter storm. The blower became clogged, and rather than turning it off to clear it, the Sailor just reached his hand inside the still spinning blades.

“It chopped off one of his fingers,” Nelson said.

He also said he hoped Sailors and Marines would take time to reflect on risk management. It doesn’t have to be a formal military training session to be effective.

“When people simply talk about their experiences, it can be very helpful. Everyone’s got a story and sharing that story could help others. Talk about what could have been done to avoid the mishap or near miss,” he said.

Those who need resources to start a risk management discussion can find them on the NAVSAFECEN website. Nelson recommends a product called “Deckplate Dialogue,” which provides information and discussion ideas about numerous safety-related topics. This tool is available for download at http://www.public.navy.mil/navsafecen/Pages/media/deckplate_dialogue.aspx.

PHOTO: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Rosa A. Arzola/Released