National Ocean Industries Association Annual Meeting

Sea Technology, Jun 2006 by Kearns, Michael

From March 28-30, 2006, the members of the National Ocean Industries Association (N(JIA) gathered at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Washington, D.C.

The three-day gathering featured a number of prominent general session speakers and working committee sessions, as well as numerous opportunities for attendees to connect with other industry representatives and government officials.

Safety in Seas Award

At the Annual Meeting, NOIA also announced this year's winner of the NOIA Safety in Seas Award. Acknowledging the significant contributions made by modern-day pioneers in their pursuit of the ocean frontier, Compass Publications Inc., publisher of Sea Technology magazine, established the NOIA Safety in Seas Award in 1978. The award recognizes excellence among those who, by their actions, design or influence, have contributed to improving the safety of life offshore. The award, now in its 29th year, continues to serve as a testimony to the high standards associated with the rapid growth of the ocean industry. This year's award was presented by C. Amos Bussmann, president of Compass Publications and publisher of Sea Technology magazine.

M-I SWACO's Cleancut automatic cuttings collection and transport system was announced as the winner of the Safety in Seas Award. In earning this award, M-I SWACO joins the ranks of the offshore energy industry's outstanding companies in the field of safety.

The Cleancut dense phase pneumatic conveying technology is a totally enclosed pneumatic system used to collect and transport drill cuttings from offshore rigs and platforms to onshore treatment and disposal facilities. Compared to the typical "skip and ship" approach, the system offers a safer and more environmentally acceptable method of collecting, storing and transporting drill wastes. A key benefit of the technology is a dramatic reduction in hazardous crane lifts.

Highlights

In an impassioned address. Congressman John Peterson (R-Pa.) described why a legislator from inland Pennsylvania would seek to open the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to oil and gas development. For him, the OCS represents a chance to enhance America's competitiveness. According to Peterson, the nation has to compete in a global market, yet the nation's policies lock up natural resources from development. Peterson added that, as a result, manufacturers suffer, jobs move overseas and the average American is left holding the "short end of the stick."

Committee Chairman Charles Fabrikant of Seacor Holdings Inc. chaired a meeting of the Government Affairs Committee that heard from NOIA staffers Kim Harb, Jeff Krauss and Nolty Theriot.

Harb, director of policy and government affairs, discussed the preparation of the Minerals Management Service's Five-Year Leasing Program for 2007 through 2012. For the current round, NOIA helped generate thousands of public comments in support of expanding access to offshore acreage, including consideration of those areas currently under moratoria, and will continue to urge its members to comment on every phase of the plan.

Krauss, director of external affairs, offered an overview of the state-level outreach program launched in January to improve NOIA's grasstops advocacy. NOIA is working with the agriculture and chemistry industries, manufacturers and state farm bureaus, manufacturing associations and chambers of commerce on the importance of OCS access.

Theriot, director of congressional affairs, gave a review of the status of pending legislation in Congress on OCS issues. NOIA is working closely with congressional staff, NOlA members and other trade associations to ensure the final versions accurately reflect the specific needs and interests of the offshore industry.

U.S. Department of Energy secretary Samuel Bodman detailed President George W. Bush's administration's energy policy priorities.

The administration, he explained, supports leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and is working with coastal states to increase access to the OCS to reduce reliance on energy imports.

Bodman said that reducing U.S. reliance on unstable foreign energy supplies remains a cornerstone of" Bush's energy policy. The Advanced Energy Initiative, announced in the President's 2006 State of the Union address, increases funding for clean energy programs and research at the U.S. Department of Energy by 22 percent. Bodman added that this will he offset by cuts in funding for research and development projects for industry, noting that current price levels are incentive enough for companies in this industry to fund these projects on their own.

Acting Assistant secretary of Land and Minerals Management for the U.S. Department of the Interior Johnnie Burton was welcomed back to speak before the NOIA membership this year. Despite setbacks from last year's hurricanes. Burton sees potential to increase the percentage of domestic production from the OCS to 40 percent of oil and 26 percent of natural gas in the next eight years.

Burton also described the Draft Proposed Five-Year Leasing Program that had been released in February. In particular, she highlighted the inclusion of new areas under consideration, such as in Alaska and off the coast of Virginia.