OSRL has announced the signing of a new agreement with Marine Environmental Solutions Limited (MES), an offshore services specialist, to enhance oil spill preparedness and response capabilities for OSRL members within the North Sea (initially Scottish waters).  

The agreement consists of two key elements, response and preparedness, and any subscribing member can now benefit from guaranteed access to: 

• Two fishing vessels with the trained crew within 24 hours of notification and a further two vessels with the trained crew within 36-48 hours.  
• Continuous availability of a minimum of four vessels, with a ‘best endeavours’ access up to eight additional vessels, until it is practical to demobilise. 

MES is a subsidiary of SFF Services Limited (SFFSL), which is wholly owned by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF), with approximately 100 SFF vessels identified as suitable for this service (out of a fleet of around 400+). As part of the agreement, OSRL will provide training to 12 SFF member fishing vessels annually, continuing a long history of delivering quality training in the North Sea, where OSRL is accredited to deliver UKCS specific education and preparedness.  

Commenting on the announcement, OSRL’s Preparedness Solutions Manager (EMEA), Lee Barber, added:

“Our members understand the difference recognised specialists can make in mitigating the potential consequences of a spill. The new agreement with MES strengthens our ability to support our UKCS members before, during and after an incident, providing rapid access to appropriate assets and trained personnel. It is a great addition to OSRL’s network of partnerships and another demonstration of OSRL’s commitment to the continuous improvement of our service offering.” 

Steven Alexander, Managing Director of MES and SFFSL commented:

“An oil spill is obviously a serious environmental concern for all, but especially for those who make a living from the sea – with fishermen being stakeholders in marine stewardship and viewing themselves as custodians of the sea, we are delighted to be working with OSRL as part of their overall service provision.” 

For UKCS operators that are already OSRL members, the new agreement will streamline the mobilisation process, helping to avoid issues around duplication of effort or potential misunderstandings with local parties. There are also cost efficiencies of adding this new service to the current contract, with the majority of management costs absorbed by the existing UKCS service agreement. 

In the event of an exercise or incident, activation of the new service will use the current mobilisation process, with a 24/7 phone number (023 8033 1551) and the same SLA provision whereby the OSRL Duty Manager will return the member’s call within 10 minutes.  

The proposed fee for providing this service will be £10,800 (excl. VAT) per operator. This annual fee is based on ten operators subscribing to the service and will decrease should the number of subscribers increase over time. This annual fee ensures the availability of SFF vessels but excludes costs associated with the mobilisation of these resources for an incident or exercise. 

Why OSRL? 

OSRL was formed 35 years ago by the most proactive and conscientious players within the oil and gas industry, designed to answer the need for an effective response to spill events worldwide. With over 160 members, every pound contributed is highly leveraged, leading to a very cost-effective service provision.  

In its 35-year history, OSRL has attended over 400 spill events, giving it a unique insight into managing spill risks and providing assurance that its members are doing everything practicable to mitigate the impact of a spill. 

OSRL was designed by industry, for industry, as the most cost-effective solution to preparing for and responding to major spill events. Membership enables you to tap into our world-leading expertise, which grows and develops as we attend more and more spills.  

Additional company info: 

Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) 

Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) is the largest international industry-funded cooperative. It exists to respond to oil spills wherever in the world they may occur, providing preparedness, response and intervention services. OSRL is wholly owned by most of the environmentally responsible oil and gas companies around the globe, and its membership represents the majority of the world’s oil production. It currently employs 275 people across twelve locations around the world. 

Media contacts Information:  

Emma Smillie: 

Global Marketing and Communications Manager 

+44 (0)23 8033 1551 

emmasmillie@oilspillresponse.com