ADRIATIC MARITIME LAW CONFERENCE PORTORO 26 28 May

ADRIATIC MARITIME LAW CONFERENCE PORTOROŽ, 26 -28 May 2016 Marine Environmental Impact in the Process of Decommissioning of Offshore Structures in the European Perspective Jana Rodica LL. M.

Introductory outline • First attempt Cobb seamount in 1970 • Definition and Legal Status of Offshore Structure • There are more than 1000 offshore oil and gas installations operating just in European waters • The offshore energy industry has averaged 130 platform removals per year

Marine Environmental Impact in the Process of Decommissioning of Offshore Structures Activity Offshore dismantling Potential source of Environmental Potential environmental impact component affected effect Crane/barge/support vessels Resource users (e. g. fisherman, Reduce access to other users shipping) Operational emissions/discharges Adverse biological effects Water, air and marine sediments Accidental loss of debris Interference with fishing Resource users (notably activities Accidental spills fisherman) Adverse biological effects Water Sea disposal Presence of structural debris Resource users (e. g. fisherman Reduce access to other users and military) Leakage of contaminants Adverse biological effects from Water and marine sediments residual contaminants

Potential Ecological Consequences of Offshore Platform Decommissioning in the Gulf of Trieste • Total or partial removal • Sinking/toppling on site • Leave in place

Leave in place • The world has already lost 27% of its coral reefs from human activities. Leave the disused offshore structure in place can be helpful in making up for what has been lost • Several Rig-to-reef programs in place

Underwater Acoustic Pollution in the process of Decomissioning of offshore structures • IMO • The European Union • ACCOBAMS

Regulatory framework for the decomissioning of Offshore structures • • The Imo guidelines - Removal Guidelines The 1972 London Convention and its 1996 Protocol The 1958 Geneva Convention on the Continental shelf The 1972 Oslo Convention The Ospar Convention United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea The EU approach

Marine Pollution • Marine Pollution – Principles of Customary International Law • Main Forms of Responsibility for Environmental Harm in International Law • - Strict liability; - Liability based on fault. • Liability – “Slovenian Perspective”

Insurance related issues • Decomissioning is a multy-phased techical process more akin to construction that operation • Risk exposure to residual liabilities (including abandonment), pollution or contamination in the process of dismantling/removal • Damage to exiting property not intended for decommissioning next to the structures to be removed

Comments and Conclusion • Old problems, innovative solutions The group All Seas as well as group Heerema, are currently building “huge“ decommissioning vessels. Heerema is building a new crane vessel with two 10. 000 tons cranes. By far the biggest lifting capacity in the world.

Comments and Conclusion • ex. Pieter Schelte, the world’s largest platform installation / decommissioning and pipe laying vessel • https: //youtu. be/Uvi. T 9 ox-gok