Advisory: Offshore Wind O&M Health & Safety Summit

Ensuring that safety remains a high-level priority as projects get underway

For Immediate Release:  January 26, 2022

Media Contact:  Melinda Skea | melinda@offshorewindus.org | 202-709-9793

BALTIMORE – The Business Network for Offshore Wind is hosting its inaugural O&M/ Health & Safety Summit next week, February 3-4, in New Orleans. As the offshore wind industry continues to mature, it is critical that its support systems – operations and maintenance, health and safety, and data – are strong and resilient across the industry. The two-day summit will bring together industry stakeholders to discuss the nexus of support systems and critical needs to ensure worker safety and industry growth.

2022 promises to be another banner year as the industry continues to grow. In the last week, the U.S.’s second offshore wind project was approved to begin construction and a 7 GW lease auction on the New York Bight will take place in late February. While the industry grows, its standards for operations and maintenance must keep up with the new demand. As a result, not only is data collection necessary but also understanding how to interpret, use, store, and protect that data is essential to the future success of the industry. Attendees will hear from government officials as well as industry experts, including Proserv, INPower, RWE Renewables, the Wind Energy Institute, Trauma Resus, Baker Donelson and more about how to prioritize the safety of the workforce needed to support the growing U.S. offshore wind industry and the domestic supply chain.

Inaugural OSW O&M Health & Safety Summit
Presented by the Business Network for Offshore Wind

NOPSI Hotel
317 Baronne Street
New Orleans, LA 70112

For press credentials, contact Melinda Skea.

February 3

O&M 101: An Overview of Operations & Maintenance in Offshore Wind
8:00 a.m. CST
featuring Business Network for Offshore Wind’s Ben Brown

Welcome Remarks
9:00 a.m. CST
featuring Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards and Business Network CEO Liz Burdock

 U.S. O&M Market Overview
9:25 a.m. CST

 Transitioning From Onshore to Offshore: Challenges & Lessons Learned
10 a.m. CST
featuring Samuel Tasker, CEO, Boston Energy, Diego Ramirez, HSE Director at Ørsted, Jane Heidingsfelder, partner at Jones Walker

Networking Break
11 a.m. CST

 Turning Tides: Going from Reactive to Predictive for Cables O&M
11:15 a.m. CST
featuring Proserv’s Paul Cook, and JDR Cables’ Brian Davis

Lunch Break
noon

Using Drones For O&M
1:05 p.m. CST
featuring Brian Connon, VP of Saildrone 

Understanding Insurance Needs for The Unique Landscape of OSW O&M
1:30 p.m. CST
featuring INpower’s Bradway Widing, Wx Risk Global’s Rebecca Leonardi, Cauffe McCall’s Tom Forbes, US Offshore’s Monica St. Claire, and Lloyd’s of London’s Peter Townsend.

Networking Break
2:35 p.m. CST

Physical Movement Demonstration: Investing in a More Resilient Workforce
3:00 p.m. CST
featuring Vimocity CEO Kevin Rindal

 Creating a Sustainable and Effective Safety Culture in the Offshore Wind Environment
4 p.m. CST
Featuring The Reach Group’s President Jennifer Medcalf and CEO Dave Massey, Gate Energy’s COO Lee Jordan, and NOIA President Erik Milito

Networking Reception
5:00 p.m. CST
Sponsored by Baker Donelson

February 4

Transferring Skill Sets from Oil and Gas
9:05 a.m. CST
Featuring Techniques International Corporation’s Tania Zachari

 Carrots or Sticks? Which is More Effective in Creating the U.S. Offshore Wind Industry
9:40 a.m. CST
Featuring RWE Renewables’ Marcus Peters, GWO’s Dan Ortega, and Wind Energy Institute’s Beate Hildenbrand

Networking Break
10:45 a.m. CST

 Above And Beyond: The Case for Exceeding Minimum Safety Standards
11 a.m. CST
featuring Trauma Resus’s Rob Griffiths

The OSW Safety Regulatory Regime – What Will It Look Like in The U.S.?
11:35 a.m.featuring Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s Cheri Hunter, Baker Donelson’s Chris Hannan, Hart & Pitre’s Loulan Pitre, and BSEE’s Cheri Hunter

Closing Remarks
12:30 p.m. CST

This year’s Summit is sponsored by INpower, with the Networking Reception sponsored by Baker Donelson, and Lunch sponsored by Jones Walker. For more information or to obtain media credentials, contact Melinda Skea at melinda@offshorewindus.org or 202-709-9793. 

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The Business Network for Offshore Wind is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a robust offshore wind supply chain in the U.S. It advances the industry forward through education, facilitating partnerships, and events, including the International Offshore Wind Partnership Forum, the largest offshore wind conference in America.  Learn more at offshorewindus.org.