The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has released a new High Speed Offshore Service Craft Code along with a new legal framework through Statutory Instrument (SI) - Merchant Shipping (High Speed Offshore Service Craft) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022 No.41).
The standards in the Code were developed to provide levels of safety for personnel, ship construction, equipment and operation, equivalent to those of SOLAS, while facilitating operations with the required number of persons onboard.
The UK has the largest installed capacity of offshore wind, with around 10GW currently in operation off their coasts. The Government’s commitment made in October 2020 towards net zero emissions by 2050 was in support for more green energy and its growing wind farm industry.
The Code has been developed adopting the principles of the Special Purpose Ships (SPS) Code published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Section 9 of Marine Guidance Note MGN 515 for “Walk to Work” type operations, taking into consideration the particular characteristics of transporting and transferring trained and fit personnel at sea, to offshore renewable energy installations.
The code entered into force on 9th of February 2022.
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