IMCA Newsroom

News from IMCA 2008

April 2008

• Lost Bell Survival guide now available on DVD
  The IMCA-HSE video on training for survival in the event of a lost diving bell is now available on DVD, together with a printed guide giving additional information for trainers. Together they provide a useful resource to help companies develop their in-house training sessions on this vital subject.
   

March 2008

• New IMCA logbooks available for Offshore Managers and Offshore Engineers
  IMCA has extended its range of logbooks and competence records with two new publications, prepared for offshore managers and offshore engineers. Each enables recording of working experience, training and competence assessments in a common, recognisable format. The new logbooks extend the range to eleven books, covering a range of diving, marine and other offshore-related positions.
   
• Latest DP incidents report - beginning of a new way
  The seventeenth annual report on dynamic positioning (DP) system station keeping incidents is now available. For the first time, the analysis has been undertaken in-house by the IMCA secretariat, further enhancing the confidential nature of reporting and helping promote reporting by vessel operators world-wide. The 59 incidents are grouped into incidents, undesired events, downtime, near-misses and hazard observations, with incident trees and analysis undertaken for each. These are summarised and trends and common causes identified, enabling future work by IMCA to address specific aspects with vessel operators, system manufacturers and training providers.
   
• IMCA Golf Day 2008 announced
  The IMCA golf day 2008 will take place on 22 May at the Newmachar course in Aberdeenshire, UK. Booking is open now for this fourth annual event, with fierce yet friendly competition expected for the IMCA quaich (best individual performance), Poseidon Maritime Challenge Trophy (best team performance) and a range of other prizes. Make sure your booking is made early and don't forget to invite your guests along too.!
   
• Booking open for the IMCA Midsummer Charity Ball 2008
  The 2008 IMCA charity ball will take place on 6 June at the beautiful Castle Fraser in Aberdeenshire, UK. With IMCA aiming to emulate the success of the 2007 Fyvie Castle event, high attendance is expected for a spectacular evening of feasting, dancing and entertainment. Don't miss out - make sure your booking is made early.
   
• New 'open your horizons' careers micro-site goes live
  A new micro-site of careers facts, stories and information has gone live, ahead of our forthcoming website relaunch Packed with information in a bright new format, this expanding site tells potential recruits all they need to know about the exciting career opportunities available offshore
   
• ROV seminar attracts over 120 alongside oi08
  A record number of delegates attended the 2008 IMCA ROV seminar - Developments in ROV Technology which took place alongside Oceanology International (oi08) in London on 12 March. Presentations covered ROV and AUV technologies, oceanographic and meteological forecasting and current and future training provision for the global industry. The proceedings have been issued on CD, with a report now online.
   

February 2008

• New guidance aims to facilitate annual trials for DP MODUs
  While annual DP trials have been undertaken in most industry sectors for a number of years, due to the continuous nature of mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) operations such trials could proves impractical. IMCA has published new guidance aimed at facilitating such trials on a phased approach. It is stressed that IMCA guidance remains that it is best to undertake DP trials in one go if possible and that this guidance is for the special case of MODUs only.
   
• Updated guidance on the use of chain lever hoists
  Chain lever hoists are used extensively in underwater construction activities. IMCA has now updated its guidance on the use of chain lever hoists in the offshore subsea environment. The changes in this version reflect the experience gained by the industry in using the guidance and incorporate lessons learnt during investigations into lever hoist incidents over the past five years, plus a new section on the use of chain lever hoists underwater.
   
• From the President - February 2008
  "These are turbulent times in the world economy ... but from the marine construction view this is not the picture we see. Our assets are achieving high utilisation, everyone seems to be busy and new people and new assets are continuously entering our business."
  Plus: Working with national oil companies, tackling geopolitical barriers and the latest IMCA safety seminar
   
• Safety exellence in a global environment - IMCA seminar a success in Abu Dhabi
  Over 120 delegates gathered in Abu Dhabi for the first major IMCA safety seminar to be held in the region. A packed two-day programme featured a variety of presentations and discussion sessions on good practice, covering both safety and environmental performance, as well as driving home the personal lessons learnt from incidents. Members displayed and discussed their own successful safety initiatives and ideas through a 'share fair' session. A CD of the proceedings has been issued, with a full report on this website.
   

January 2008

• IMCA addresses academic requirements for surveyors working in the offshore survey sector
  IMCA has updated its guidance on Academic requirements for surveyors working in the offshore survey sector. Updating the earlier (2002) guidance, a review has been undertaken and the text revised to fully reflect current practices and particularly new technological developments. Though its publication, IMCA survey contractor members aim to help ensure students are well prepared for joining the industry.
   
• IMCA updates guidance on basic safety training and vessel induction for non-marine personnel
  IMCA has updated its Guidance on basic safety training and vessel induction for non-marine personnel working offshore, including this revised title. Such personnel can include project and technical staff not normally based on a vessel but onboard to fulfill the needs of a given project. The guidance offers examples of topics to be covered in basic safety training programmes in a checklist form that can be adapted for the workforce, vessel and operations to be undertaken.
   
• New safety posters address ladder safety and dropped objects
  IMCA has published two new safety posters, entitled Working at height: safe use of ladders and Avoiding dropped objects. This adds to the growing range of IMCA safety promotional materials, which includes DVDs, fifteen pocket cards and the existing (2006) posters on manual handling and preventing slips, trips and falls. Members can also download the commercial printing files to enable incorporation of their own logos, names and references.
   
• IMCA holding second social reception aboard HQS Wellington
  Aiming to repeat the success of its 2007 event, IMCA is holding a second social reception aboard HQS Wellington, moored on the bank of the River Thames in London, on 5 March 2008. The event is intended to bring together and entertain a variety of members and guests, including international marine contractors, marine lawyers, insurance brokers and underwriters, P&I clubs, government representatives and other industry bodies. A beautiful floating museum, Livery Hall of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, HQS Wellington provides an excellent venue for a social and networking event to look forward to.
   
• Registration opens for IMCA's ROV seminar at Oceanology International
  IMCA is holding a seminar entitled Developments in ROV Technology on Wednesday 12 March 2008 alongside the popular Oceanology International event in London. The event is free of charge and open to both members and non-members. An interesting half-day programme has been assembled and registration is open now.
   

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