Introduction

These Guidelines are intended to provide masters and crews of emergency response and rescue vessels, OIM's and other relevant offshore personnel with general guidance on the conduct of their activities as part of the effective arrangements for the recovery and rescue of personnel. (The Guidelines do not cover the Merchant Shipping statutory requirements and rea not specific to any particular field or installation).

Legal Requirements - PFEER

The Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire, Explosion and Emergency Response) Regulations, 1995 (SI 1995 No. 743) (PFEER) is the principal legislation governing offshore emergency response.Regulation 17 of PFEER states that :"The duty holder shall ensure that effective arrangements are made, which include such arrangements with suitable persons beyond the installation, for :a) Recovery of persons following their evacuation or escape from the installation, and b) Rescue of persons near the installation, and c) Taking such persons to a place of safety

The Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) accompanying the above regulation states that :"There are many circumstances for which a suitable vessel standing by will provide effective arrangements and in these circumstances such a vessel will need to be provided."

Who is Responsible for Reviewing the Guidelines ?

OEUK and ERRVA jointly review the Guidelines with the support of the HSE, MCA, IADC, BROA, Cogent, Chamber of Shipping, Numast and other relevant industry bodies.