From the President - October 2003
Echoing one of the cover stories for this issue of the IMCA Newsletter, I must welcome the establishment of the Europe & Africa Section and praise the enthusiasm of the new section's members for getting down to work quickly on a number of issues. Initial work already includes health, security and safety issues in West Africa and offshore platform decommissioning in Europe.
Meanwhile, across the globe, IMCA's membership is still growing rapidly. There are now over 230 members with a number of applications outstanding, a figure nearly double what it was five years ago. Moreover, the pattern of communications intended to flow from the new global structure is helping to raise the Association's status. Most notably, BP recently announced that, as of January 2004, all diving contractors that work for them must adhere to IMCA guidance. This shift by such a major player in the sector is highly significant and I am confident that several other large client companies will soon follow this lead for future work.
With safety at the top of our agenda, the secretariat is doing more to promote awareness of specific topics. Currently, IMCA is finalising a new DVD on safety issues associated with working at height and is currnetly in the process of producing a set of new pocket safety cards. These small but important details all help to show the industry globally that IMCA consistently shares best practice for the offshore contracting sector.
On the business front, recent statements from several IMCA members - large and small - suggests that the general downturn is continuing as clients continue to push down costs and look for the most economic solutions to their particular needs. Tighter margins and greater levels of general business insecurity inevitably create an incentive to cut corners. In a more frenzied climate, it becomes doubly important for members to maintain good practice and to continue to improve the industry's safety performance. Likewise, we must also remember every opportunity available to us to communicate the value of this commitment to our clients.
With that in mind, I look forward to opening IMCA's first major seminar to be held in North America since forming the Americas Deepwater Section, when I welcome delegates to the joint annual marine and safety meeting in Houston on 5-6 November. I find it particularly encouraging that this two day event on Deepwater Marine Operations & Safety will see key clients, such as BP and Shell coming along specifically to give keynote speeches. Please book soon to secure your seat!
Steve Preston, Heerema Marine Contractors
IMCA President 2003-4
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