Russia introduces new oil safety regulations
About the same time as oil company BP managed to seal its leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico, Russian authorities approved the introduction of a set of new national oil preparedness regulations.
Among the regulations is the development of a new national system on early and efficient reaction in cases of potential spills, B-port.com reports. That includes also a set of new regulations on the admittance of foreign expertise, equipment and specialized aircrafts and vessels to the country in cases of a crisis.
The new regulations outlines how a foreign assistance mission is to approach Russian authorities when preparing to send expertise and equipment to the site of the accident.
In addition, the government will commit Russian shipbuilders and engineering companies to adopt new standards when constructing new vessels and offshore equipment. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in a government presidium meeting this last week, stressed that the new regulations will help secure safe shipping both at sea and on the country’s rivers.
-These regulations are needed in order to improve security within shipping, and for the construction of more modern, safe and efficient marine equipment by the domestic industry, Putin said, adding that this is vital both for the trade fleet and the fishery fleet, as well as for the fleet which is to engage in mineral extraction on the shelf.
He also said that the government this year alone allocates 14.3 billion RUB to the shipbuilding industry, and that it therefore expects full compliance from the respective companies.
Russia is about to significantly expand its oil and gas activities on the shelf, both in its Far East, the Caspian Sea and in the High North. In addition, the country is shipping huge loads of oil both on its rivers and on open sea.
