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Press Release

ENSURING GOOD ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS

In a move to ensure that IMCA - the International Marine Contractors Association - and its work are better understood in France, the Institut National de Plongée Professionnel (INPP - the French diver training school) and the Syndicat National des Entrepreneurs de Travaux Immergés (SNETI - the French contractors association) organised a workshop for the IMCA Diving Division in Marseilles in early October.

Some 60 French contractors and clients attended the one-day workshop held at the Regional Council offices in Marseilles during the city's month-long celebration of the sea, and were welcomed by Robert Allione, Vice-Chairman of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regional Council in charge of the sea; and Jean Lelièvre, Chairman of the Hydokarst diving company, Chairman of SNETI and Vice Chairman of INPP.

Speakers during the day included Tony Read, IMCA's Chief Executive and Jane Bugler the Association's Technical Director, Troy Holford, Chairman of IMCA's Middle East and India Section from Fraser Diving; Georges Arnoux of Stolt Offshore; John Greensmyth of Coflexip Stena Offshore; Jean Lelièvre, SNETI; Jean-Pierre Bivan, General Manager, L.D. Travocean, Jean-Bernard Fay, Assistant General Manager, Coflexip and Dave Walker, Project Manager, Coflexip Stena Offshore.

In addition to an introduction to IMCA and presentations on the Association's international code of practice on offshore diving; the aims, objectives and publications of the Marine Division; DESIGN (diving equipment systems inspection guidance note); and IMCA's competence assurance and assessment scheme, the meeting considered the contractor's perspective, were given an introduction to SNETI, and looked at cable trenching operations and a new generation cable ship; and the new role of ROVs in deep oil fields exploitation. "It was an extraordinarily useful day in which all present gained a greater understanding of the work of our Association and how best we could help French contractors," said Tony Read. "We have held similar meetings in our Middle East and India and Asia-Pacific sections which have proved equally useful."

There was an added bonus for members of the IMCA Diving Division Committee - they were invited, during a break in their quarterly meeting, to meet Henri Delauze, Chairman Comex SA Group on board his vessel Janus, fully equipped to survey archaeological treasures under the sea.

Notes to Editors (common)

• IMCA is an international association with over 450 members in more than 50 countries, representing offshore, marine and underwater engineering companies. IMCA has four technical divisions, covering marine/specialist vessel operations, offshore diving, hydrographic survey and remote systems and ROVs, plus geographic sections for the Americas Deepwater, Asia-Pacific, Europe & Africa and Middle East & India regions, as well as a core focus on safety, the environment, competence and training. IMCA seeks to promote its members' common interests, to resolve industry-wide issues and to provide an authoritative voice for its members.
• IMCA publishes some 200 guidance notes and technical reports. These have been developed over the years and are widely distributed. They are a definition of what IMCA stands for, including widely recognised diving and ROV codes of practice, DP documentation, marine good practice guidance, the Common Marine Inspection Document, safety recommendation, outline training syllabi and the IMCA competence scheme guidance. In addition to the range of printed guidance documents, IMCA also produces safety promotional materials, circulates information notes and safety flashes.
• Judith Patten is here to help you if you want any additional information on IMCA; would like to discuss a feature article; want to organise interviews with key members of the IMCA team, etc.