The UK government has named Stephan Hennig as the new Secretary of State’s Representative (SOSREP) for Maritime Salvage & Intervention, a key role in the country's casualty management plan.
The former coastguard takes over the position from Les Chapman who left the role last year. Hennig has been deputy to the SOSREP since 2017.
He had previously been working with the Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) Counter Pollution Branch since 2012.
Henning first joined the MCA in 2005, working with the then Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in the Shetland Islands.
He later became the MCA’s counter-pollution and salvage officer for Scotland and Northern Ireland in 2012.
He has also served as a regional point of contact for a variety of groups and organisations, including ports, offshore operators, local authorities and environmental regulators.
The UK’s SOSREP is responsible for reducing the risk to safety and the environment arising from accidents at sea.
The role was created in 1999 and the SOSREP has overall responsibility for monitoring response in offshore incidents where there is a risk of significant pollution.
Incidents which were overseen by previous SOSREPs include the Transocean Winner rig grounding off Scotland in 2016 and the Hoegh Osaka car carrier incident off Southampton in 2015.
He has recently had a stint at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy working with the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning in Aberdeen.
“This is a role which lies at the heart of the MCA’s commitment to safety of life at sea and the environment through safer lives, safer ships, cleaner seas,” said Henning.
MCA chief executive Brian Johnson said: “As we have seen from the serious incidents in UK waters over the last years, the SOSREP has a unique and critical role in rapidly and effectively marshalling the resources of all parties to achieve the best possible outcomes.
“Stephan brings a wealth of experience from his years in the MCA both from HM Coastguard and the counter-pollution branch and I’m sure the maritime world will benefit from his expertise and personal qualities.”
