IADC advocacy teams continue to monitor the worldwide pandemic, working alongside members to advocate for the essential nature of worldwide oil and gas drilling activities. Items of note: IMO Issues Recommendations Concerning Movement of Offshore Energy Sector Personnel The International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently released Circular Letter No.4204/Add.13, Recommendations for Governments and relevant national authorities on facilitating the movement of offshore energy sector personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. IADC, along with other trades representing the global offshore energy prepared the recommendations in consultative status with IMO.The recommendations address the needs of workers in the offshore energy sector who face challenges similar to those of seafarers. It strongly encourages governments to recognize offshore energy sector personnel as “key workers” and to facilitate their movement while recognizing the need to manage risks posed by COVID-19. The document also encourages Member States to exercise a practical and pragmatic approach with regard to issues like personnel changeovers, repairs, survey and certification for the offshore energy workforce.IMO has encouraged Member States and international organizations to make use of the document and circulate to other interested parties.The recommendations can be found on IADC’s COVID-19 focused webpage under the IMO heading. APPEA Guidelines for Worker Movement IADC and our members worked closely with APPEA on a guide for movement of critical oil and gas personnel (and families) into and out of Western Australia. The guide provides information on processes to follow for interstate workers and marine crews moving in and out of State. More information about APPEA’s response to the pandemic can be found on the APPEA website. Helicopter Transfer Flowchart IADC and our members worked alongside Oil and Gas UK to develop a COVID-19 Helicopter Transfer Flowchart to determine movement of offshore personnel and considerations related to transporting workers amidst the pandemic. The flow chart can be found on the OGUK website Essential Worker Designation for Oil and Gas Personnel – IADC joined together with PESA, API and IAGC on a letter to petition U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, to include the oil and gas sector in its list of essential workers. The letter, issued on 24 March, argued this industry needs to do the work to protect critical energy infrastructure during the pandemic. IADC and PESA joined together on a separate letter urging the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to ensure that energy employees have the ability to maintain critical services during the national crisis. On 28 March, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security amended their guidance, to include the oil and gas industry. The updated guidance can be found here: :https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce
