17 March 2025

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has identified a rise in the number of incidents of attendant ships colliding with offshore oil and gas and renewable energy structures. Failure of navigational watch processes and systems, is resulting in allisions or risk of allision.

Incidents are occurring because:

• Personnel who are responsible for watchkeeping and the safe navigation of a vessel are being distracted with non-navigational tasks
• Situational awareness is not being maintained at all times
• There is insufficient communication between all members of a bridge team

Duty holders and vessel operators should have in place processes and systems, as part of a wider safe system of work, to ensure that, during connected activities, vessels are operated in a way that ensures, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of people on nearby installations.

A link to the full safety notice can be found below:

Risk of collision with offshore installations from attendant vessels - HSE

British marine members can receive advice or guidance by emailing technical@britishmarine.co.uk