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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE ogy (RBT) as a means to evaluate and manage safety and environ- mental hazards. For years, the USCG experience in making deter- minations in design equivalency has pointed to a need for using RBT. Unfortunately, for too many years the USCG dismissed this need as simply "too hard to do". As part of the USCG's new tech- nical-regulatory paradigm, we are joining forces with other U.S. and international interests to better define, and refine RBT in order to make risk-based approaches useful marine safety and environmental protection management tools. The USCG's Marine Safety Evaluation Program, called "M- STEP," is a cooperative effort involving the U.S. Navy, academia, global RBT experts and other lead- ers in the international maritime community to advance the science and utility of RBT in maritime applications. In addition to updating and aligning technical aspects of our regulations, the USCG is stream- lining and re-engineering the regu- latory process itself. For instance, the USCG is implementing a pro- gram called the Alternate Compliance Program (ACP), which has already begun as a pilot test. The ACP provides owners and operators of cargo ships and tank ships in international service with an alternative to the traditional way of demonstrating compliance with applicable laws and regula- tions. Under this program, the USCG recognizes the combination of applicable international conven- tions and rules of approved classi- fication societies as equivalent to U.S. rules. Therefore, vessels which comply with these interna- tional conventions and approved classification society rules will be considered to be in compliance with applicable U.S. laws and reg- ulations. The Alternate Compliance Program also elimi- nates areas of duplication where the USCG and the classification society check the same plans and inspect the same systems, thereby promoting greater efficiency in the vessel design, construction and inspection processes. ACP is just one of a "family" of new approaches to achieving marine safety and environmental protec- tion at less cost and greater effi- ciency. Other alternative approaches are being pursued on a pilot basis by USCG field units in partner- ship with selected industry groups. One example is a Streamlined Inspection Process (SIP). In SIP, vessel operators who develop a safety management system designed to keep their fleets in continuous regulatory compliance may enter into a safe- ty partnership with the USCG. As safety partners, qualified compa- ny personnel use USCG-approved test procedures to perform their vessels' scheduled inspections on their own, rather than in the pres- ence of a USCG marine inspector. In SIP, the USCG adopts an "audit" culture; USCG SIP inspec- tions involve checking company records, doing limited spot checks on critical safety systems, an assessing the crew's ability to dea with shipboard emergency situa tions. This approach returns th FLOATING PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IMA's new series of four quarterly business reports analyzing construction and conversion requirements for FPSO vessels, TLPs, production spars and production semisubmersibles over the next five years Price $1,200 for four reports • forecast of required new floating production units over the next five years analysis of the outlook beyond 2000 and Projected Contract Value of Installation Work for New Floating Production Systems Forecast Over the Next Three Years (data shown below indicate contract values in millions of $) • forecast of contract value for hull construction, machinery and installation work invol- ving floating production sys- tems • overview of 50 key players active in floating production systems — including the 20 major developers, owners and operators • list of 130 publicized new floater projects • description of 65 current and planned floating production projects — involving 40 FPSO vessels 10 production semisubmersibles 8 tension leg platforms 3 production spars 2 production and storage barges 1 MST tanker 1 FSO vessel • assessment of business conditions in the FPSO vessel fabricator base — including a summary analysis of the current business situation of each of 15 FPSO vessel builders • list of floating production systems currently on order — with estimated contract costs • analysis of technology changes likely to shape future system requirements To order the quarterly business reports — Just fax your order to 1-202-333-8504. Or mail your order to International Maritime Associates — 600 New Hampshire Ave., NW — Washington, DC 20037 USA. If you prefer, call us at 1-202-333-8501. The just published September report will be sent immediately on receipt of your order. Circle 382 on Reader Service Card 108 Maritime Reporter/Engineering New
