The US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and Coast Guard have signed an agreement to regulate mobile offshore drilling units (MODU) on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
Under the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between BSEE director James Watson and US Coast Guard Rear Admiral Joseph Servidio, both the agencies will collaborate to identify and coordinate responsibilities for the inspection and oversight of MODUs.
As part of the current regulatory system, the coast guard and BSEE share jurisdiction over the regulation of MODU activities on the OCS.
The latest agreement will clearly define the responsibilities of each agency for inspection and oversight of the systems and sub-systems associated with MODUs engaged in offshore drilling operations.
Both the agencies will use the agreement to better align policies and procedures, while also collaborate on future regulatory projects.
The MOA has been reached in line as part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between BSEE and the coast guard on 29 November 2012.