API Strengthens Offshore Wind Safety with New Standard

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2024 — The American Petroleum Institute (API) today released the first edition of API Recommended Practice 75W (API RP 75W), Safety and Environmental Management System for Offshore Wind Operations and Assets. This landmark standard leverages API’s extensive experience with offshore oil and natural gas development to provide a comprehensive framework for safety and environmental integrity in offshore wind operations.

“API RP 75W sets a new benchmark for safety and environmental management in the offshore wind industry, upholding the highest standards of safe and sustainable operations,” API Senior Vice President for Global Industry Services Anchal Liddar said. “By drawing on our expertise developing standards for the offshore oil and natural gas industry, we are helping to ensure safe and responsible development of offshore wind.”

Key Features and Enhancements

API RP 75W addresses the unique challenges of offshore wind operations by establishing a robust performance-based approach to systematically review and manage risks and promote the safe operation of offshore wind energy.

Developed in collaboration with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and industry stakeholders, including the Offshore Operators Committee (OOC) and representatives from the wind energy sector, the document covers all aspects of safety and environmental management. This includes risk assessment and procedures for safe work management as well as safe work practices, management of change, emergency preparedness and incident investigation. It provides guidance for the systematic evaluation of assets and operations to better identify risks and accounts for evolutions in technology, operations and knowledge. RP 75W can be used globally for offshore wind operations.

Regulatory Significance

“BSEE has been working with offshore wind developers and standards development organizations for over a decade to develop offshore wind standards,” said Kevin Sligh, Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, whose agency sought the support of API and OOC in developing the standard. “BSEE shares API’s dedication and commitment to fostering a clean energy future, one where safety is the No.1 priority for the offshore wind industry and workers on the Outer Continental Shelf.”

The final language in RP 75W parallels the approach detailed in RP 75, 4th edition, Recommended Practice for a Safety and Environmental Management System for Offshore Operations and Assets, and therefore drives consistent expectations for safety management systems for operators of offshore wind energy activities. The release of the document reflects API’s commitment to protecting workers, communities and the environment while advancing an all-of-the-above energy approach.

API represents all segments of America’s natural gas and oil industry, which supports nearly 11 million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. Our approximately 600 members produce, process and distribute the majority of the nation’s energy, and participate in API Energy Excellence®, which is accelerating environmental and safety progress by fostering new technologies and transparent reporting. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization and has developed more than 800 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.

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