In 2005, the U.S. Coast Guard established a voluntary program to gather information on the evacuation status of manned faculties, including MODUs, in the Gulf of Mexico during the course of significant weather events, especially tropical storms and hurricanes. This Regulatory Alert is a reminder of this program and provides further details on implementation.

Background

Being responsible for search and rescue in the Gulf of Mexico, the Coast Guard wishes to enhance its knowledge of where and how many persons may be offshore during a significant weather event. To collect facility and rig evacuation information, the Coast Guard in 2005 established a voluntary evacuation reporting program.

The Coast Guard voluntary evacuation reporting program is operated by the Chief, Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection Division, Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans.

Procedure

When a storm threatens the Outer Continental Shelf, the Coast Guard will issue a Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB). The MSIB will specify the geographic area for which evacuation reports are requested. All operators of manned facilities, including MODUs, within the specified area are requested to report the number of personnel remaining offshore at each individual company facility.

The Coast Guard will attach a reporting form to the MSIB. The form is to be filled out by the company and will collect the following information:

• Company Name
• Person Submitting Report
• Phone Number
• Date and Time of Report
• Facility Name(s)
• Area and Block(s)
• Personnel on Board (POB) Count for each facility
• Will there be any further evacuations?

The form should be completed in accordance with the instructions provided in the MSIB, and returned to the e-mail or fax number stated in the MSIB.

Reporting forms are considered “Sensitive Security Information”, and are not subject to Freedom of Information Act requests, and are not available to the public, media or other operators.

Minerals Management Service Evacuation Reporting Requirements

This Coast Guard voluntary evacuation reporting program is not related to, and does not replace an operator’s requirement to submit hurricane evacuation and production curtailment statistics to the Minerals Management Service (MMS) in accordance with Notice to Lessee (NTL) 2007-G16.