Page 25 - Suncor 360

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MAY 2014
360

or mid-July, says Brad. The Ice Management 2012, when a

team, which also includes representatives large tabular
from the FPSO and the drilling rig that’s iceberg

operating for Suncor, discusses the approached
situation up to twice a day. Everyone takes the vessel. The

a proactive approach, says Jason.
berg measured
400 metres by
“We monitor ice that is still 80 kilometres
150 metres
(50 miles) out but that could become a and weighed

threat. If the weather is expected to an estimated
deteriorate and we don't know where the 1.6 million tons. By comparison,

berg is headed, we can connect early and the Golden Gate Bridge weighs less
tow it away.”
than 900,000 tons.

If required, the iceberg is ‘connected’ to a In the 2012 incident, with less than
support vessel by ropes or nets released
seven hours before a possible impact, the
from a huge winch. The vessel encircles the support vessels Atlantic Eagle and the
iceberg, wrapping the rope or net around
Atlantic Kingisher jointly towed away the
it. The berg is then towed just enough to iceberg, removing the threat from the
delect its course from the FPSO or the rig.
FPSO and the drilling rig. Brad, the FPSO’s
It is released only when it is no longer marine vessel lead at the time, remembers

deemed to be a threat to any of the the event:
offshore installations.

“Initially, I was pretty nervous,” he says.
Safety comes first
“But you’ve got your emergency response

Vessel crews follow established safety plan in front of you and your experience, The team sure is putting all these skills to
and that helps you through the situation. work this year: several icebergs were
procedures taking into account weather
conditions, visibility and the state of the The incident proved that our emergency already towed early in the season. Data
systems work.”
sea. Jason remembers a captain deciding from the Canadian Ice Service indicates
that more than 600 bergs are expected to
against towing an iceberg during reduced As a last resort, the FPSO can disconnect
visibility. Luckily, there was enough time to and sail away.
loat past Newfoundland this year, which
would make 2014 a ‘heavy’ season. Brad,
wait till the following morning, when
visibility improved. Crew members may also A dedicated team
Jason and their team are helping to ensure
the safety of our East Coast assets and
risk injury by slipping on icy decks. “When
it is not safe to make a connection to an What experience do you need to work on we’re thankful for their support.
the ice crew? Jason, a marine engineer,
iceberg, we will not do it,” explains Jason.
spent seven years on an Arctic icebreaker
Offshore operators continuously strive to before joining the East Coast logistics

improve the safety of their equipment. team at Suncor.
Suncor and Husky have partnered to

enhance the design of the ropes and nets Brad is a Newfoundlander from a seafaring
family. He was a chief oficer on product
used to tow icebergs. They are currently
testing a lighter rope. The reduced weight tankers before joining the crew of the Terra
Nova FPSO and serving as marine vessel
may lower the risk of injury for crew
members handling the rope while it is lead for four years. He has almost
30 years of experience navigating ice in
under intense stress when attached
to an iceberg.
the North Atlantic. Jason says the Ice
Management team is composed of

If icebergs are too large to be towed and professionals who are safety conscious,
stay on a course toward the facility, the proactive and able to crunch plenty of

team can evoke an emergency protocol to data to make informed decisions about
shut down the FPSO. This was the case in
how to handle the ice.