Marine Mammals Observation Programme€¦ · Killer whale. 22 − − − − 22. Pacific short - beaked dolphin. 1 − − − − 1: Dall's porpoise. 37 − − 3 − 34. Harbour

Marine Mammals Observation Programme

WESTERN GRAY WHALE ADVISORY PANEL 18th meeting

WGWAP18/30 EN 15th-17th November 2017

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Goals and Objectives

• Ensure the compliance of vessel activities with Sakhalin Energy Marine Mammals Protection Plan and specific activity-based Mitigation and Monitoring Plans;

• Observations aboard every vessel involved in the activities where risk for marine mammals assessed as high;

• Determine the species identity of mammals, their position and numbers, and describe their behavior;

• Implement measures towards protection of marine mammals;

• Report on all sightings of marine mammals and cases of MMPP violations;

• Assess the adequacy of protection measures to maintain continual improvement.

Goal of the Program is to reduce the risk of vessel collisions with marine mammals and to minimize direct impact of offshore activities on the cetaceans

Key tasks:



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Collision mitigation measures Prescribed corridors between Piltun and Offshore feeding areas

Marine mammal observers (MMOs)

Corridor/Conditions Daytime

and visibility ≥ 1 km

Nighttime and visibility <

1 km

Crew boat corridors 35 knots 21 knots Navigation corridors 17 knots 17 knots

To the west of corridors and within technical inspection

corridors 10 knots 7 knots

Restricted vessel speeds

Safe distances between vessel and marine mammals

Western Gray Whale and other endangered

species

Other Cetaceans and Dolphins

Pinnipeds

≥ 1 km ≥ 0.5 km Not defined

Vessels must operate with caution

• All observers have a university degree in biology; • 100% of them are experienced observers; • >1/3 of them are candidates of biological

sciences.



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Collision mitigation measures in 2016

Species

Number of whales

sightings

Number of measures taken No

mitigation measures

were required.

Deceleration Full stop

of the vessel

Course change Course change

and deceleration

Gray whale 209 1 − 3 3 202 Fin whale 7 − − − − 7 Minke whale 52 − − 4 − 48

Killer whale 22 − − − − 22

Pacific short-beaked dolphin

1 − − − − 1

Dall's porpoise 37 − − 3 − 34

Harbour porpoise

82 − − 19 − 63

Total for all whales

409 1 – 29 3 377



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MMO program 2016 field results

From the beginning of the Company's operations in coastal waters of the north-eastern Sakhalin, no collisions of vessels with marine mammals were recorded

In 2016, 12 MMOs were on board of 7 vessels • 7 species of cetaceans and 4 species of pinnipeds

were registered (631 sightings, 1380 animals) • The case of deviations from corridors were related to:

o special monitoring of Gray whales o vessel emergency training for joint actions with

helicopters o bypass the 3rd part seismic vessels

• The cases of exceeding speed limits in general over the year amounted 1.1% of the total observation time



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Presenter

Presentation Notes

Polar Piltun and Baikal exceed speed limits in 3-mile zone of Kaigan Port, weather conditions and emergency evacuation. 7 Action for GW; 4 Action for MW; 3 for DP and 19 for HP 2016 – 317 sightings/ 2017 – 631 Mitigation measures. In total 33 actions taken: 1 - speed slowed, 29 - course changed 3 - speed slowed and course changed

Crew-change vessels speed limit

• MMO onboard each crew-change vessel • low frequency of GWs sighted in the transfer corridors; • relatively large distance between the vessel and the whales

recorded; • vessel movements in bad weather/poor conditions were very

limited; • the technical ability of the vessels to respond safely, based

on high maneuverability and rapid stopping confirmed.

Company’s justification

“The Panel advises that an increase in speed from 21 to 35 knots would be acceptable from a gray whale conservation point of view for a provisional period of 2 years, pending more refined estimation of the risk”.

For 17th WGWAP meeting (11-13 November 2016, Moscow, Russia), Sakhalin Energy prepared final proposal to increase in speed from 21 to 35 knots for company’s two crew-change vessels move within transfer corridors.

WGWAP Conclusion



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Presenter

Presentation Notes

Recommendation WGWAP-17/08 Item 8.2.3 Panel recommends that within the provisional 2-year period, consideration be given to installing dashcams on each vessel that would monitor the sea surface area in front of the bows. Each crew change vessel (Polar Piltun and Polar Baikal) have installed the video system for control of collision with MM at the sea. System include two outdoor Full HD (1920*1080, 25 frame) cams and digital video recorder. Each camera observed with 60-degree area and 200-300 m ahead of the course. Cams are configured to have an intersection in 10 degree on the vessel course. Video system conduct record during all time of route of vessel. Captain or navigation officer can observe the image on the monitor screen. Panel also recommends that accelerometers be installed with continuous recording, or selective recording of large accelerations. Marine department worked on possibility of installation of usual vehicle IVMS at vessel, but IVMS contractor could not guarantee 100% working capacity this system in marine conditions. Now Marine department with ship-owner work with Satellite Navigation company for installing separate GPS system for control of GPS coordinates, course, speed and heeling of vessel every 1-5 sec. The log of these data will be download to server automatically through GSM. We can analyze these data and calculate acceleration for detecting of case of impact. Organization of mitigation and control measure MMO conduct analyses of video records and log from GPS system after end of route if they have necessity in it or if they have any doubt concerning the suspicion of collision. Video be will stored during the year till next season. Sakhalin Energy is conducting simultaneously observation methods with using two MMOs during vessel route like additional mitigation measure for decrease of risk of collision with MM. Each MMO observe 90 degrees from each side of vessel.

Mitigation measures in 2017

• Additional mitigation and control measures o Analyses of video and log from GPS if

have necessity o Simultaneous observation of 2 MMOs on

the bridge, during vessel route

• Implementation of WGWAP recommendation related with speed limits increase

o Installed of the Video outdoor system (outdoor FullHD cams, video recorder) for monitoring sea surface area in front on the each crew-change vessel

o Special equipment for recording of GPS, speed and acceleration of crew-change vessels



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Presenter

Presentation Notes

Recommendation WGWAP-17/08 Item 8.2.3 Panel recommends that within the provisional 2-year period, consideration be given to installing dashcams on each vessel that would monitor the sea surface area in front of the bows. Each crew change vessel (Polar Piltun and Polar Baikal) have installed the video system for control of collision with MM at the sea. System include two outdoor Full HD (1920*1080, 25 frame) cams and digital video recorder. Each camera observed with 60-degree area and 200-300 m ahead of the course. Cams are configured to have an intersection in 10 degree on the vessel course. Video system conduct record during all time of route of vessel. Captain or navigation officer can observe the image on the monitor screen. Panel also recommends that accelerometers be installed with continuous recording, or selective recording of large accelerations. Marine department worked on possibility of installation of usual vehicle IVMS at vessel, but IVMS contractor could not guarantee 100% working capacity this system in marine conditions. Now Marine department with ship-owner work with Satellite Navigation company for installing separate GPS system for control of GPS coordinates, course, speed and heeling of vessel every 1-5 sec. The log of these data will be download to server automatically through GSM. We can analyze these data and calculate acceleration for detecting of case of impact. Organization of mitigation and control measure MMO conduct analyses of video records and log from GPS system after end of route if they have necessity in it or if they have any doubt concerning the suspicion of collision. Video be will stored during the year till next season. Sakhalin Energy is conducting simultaneously observation methods with using two MMOs during vessel route like additional mitigation measure for decrease of risk of collision with MM. Each MMO observe 90 degrees from each side of vessel.

Summary of vessels speed in 2017 navigation season

• 1/3 time on total vessels trips, the speed was less than 21 knots

• All gray whales were detected in beyond of vessel safety distance (1000-4000 m)



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Thank you, Questions?



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Marine Mammals Observation Programme€¦ · Killer whale. 22 − − − − 22. Pacific short - beaked dolphin. 1 − − − − 1: Dall's porpoise. 37 − − 3 − 34. Harbour

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