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There are significant organisational challenges in dealing with underwater UXO as a recognised subsea contractor, especially when managing through contracts which have different national considerations regarding operational best-practice.
Technical and Environmental Challenges
Commercial best-practice risk-management frameworks remain embryonic and are essentially linked to the mandated contractual requirements with focus on risk-transfer between stakeholders, predominantly dealt with via the ALARP principle (managing risk ‘As Low as Reasonably Practical’). Disposal methodology is also subject to peer-review from the developer’s technical representatives, the national legal obligations, and agencies responsible for the environment. This informs UXO Contractors to utilise specific methodology that is tested and evaluated at the right level, whilst being operated by suitable qualified and educated technical personnel, to achieve the desired method in order to protect the environment, which is under increased scrutiny when subjected to the presence of marine mammal activity, or areas of significant historical interest.
Low Order Deflagration
Traditionally, both the military and commercial Contractors have conducted High Order disposal operations, which is designed to dispose of items using a bulk disposal donor charge – subsequently, this can be a very noisy activity. Low Order disposal has become the default method used to clear any type of UXO in the UK marine environment. Low Order Deflagration is conducted by N-Sea’s UXO Control with the Cobra Mine Disposal System, using a small quantity of explosives, in a shaped charge, designed to burn the contents of the UXO – a low noise clearance operation.
Presentations:
Richard Battrick, N-Sea UK and UXO Control Office – Challenges & Technologies for dealing with Underwater UXO
Keith Broughton, Beazley – Mine Clearance in the Dark – An Underwriter’s View of Commercial Maritime EOD Operations
A review of how the risk is presented to The Insurance Market and how Insurers can collaborate to ensure a safe and certain outcome.
Speakers
Richard Battrick
Director, N-Sea UK and UXO Control Office
Richard is a former Royal Navy Clearance Diving and Bomb Disposal officer, and Commanding Officer of the largest diving and bomb disposal group in the RN’s Fleet Diving Squadron, currently working as N-Sea Group’s Director Business Development, Innovation & UXO Licensing, supporting commercial subsea operations in underwater survey, diving, UXO, inspection, repair and maintenance, which also includes subsea cable repair. Previous experience in dealing with underwater explosive ordnance includes collaborative engagement with the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the Mine Action community. He has supported underwater Explosive Ordnance compliance initiatives such as CIRIA C-754 best practice and has helped develop National and International Mine Action Standards as a technical author, Fellow of the IExpE, Fellow of the Chartered Quality Institute and recognised technical specialist with the Institute of Risk Management.
Currently, Richard supports the UK Institute of Explosive Engineers (IExpE) Standard Setting Body for Explosives, Munitions and Search Occupations (SSB for EMSO), responsible for national explosive occupational standards and is the British Standards Chair of CII/61 Explosives for civil use.
Keith Broughton
Underwriter, Beazley
Dates and prices
All prices shown exclude VAT
Non-member price
£12.00
Member price
£8.00
Cancellations and refunds
Cancellations are subject to a 25% administration fee where the cancellation is made more than one calendar month before the date of the training course. No refund is payable for a cancellation made within the calendar month immediately prior to the training course – in this event the full sum shown on the invoice remains payable.
Delegates may wish to nominate a substitute in their place.
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