IMCA Newsroom

Press Release

IMCA'S JOINT MARINE & DIVING SEMINAR 2001

Despite world events, over 80% of the expected delegates arrived in Norway for the 13 September start of The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) annual marine seminar. This year, for the first time, it incorporated a one-day conference on offshore diving that ran in parallel to the marine seminar.

"We were delighted that over 180 participants from 14 countries were able to attend and participate in lively, constructive debate across a range of issues affecting the marine contracting sector world-wide," says Tony Read, Chief Executive of IMCA. "The introduction of parallel sessions on diving proved a valuable innovation and brought together key members of the offshore diving community from around the world."

A full report on the two day event, the tenth in the annual series, appears on the IMCA website at www.imca-int.com/seminar/ and highlights are published in the latest IMCA newsletter. The complete set of presentations and seminar proceedings will shortly be issued to participants and members of IMCA's Marine and Diving Divisions, as well as being made available as an IMCA publication. Further information from IMCA

The first half of September proved a busy time for Tony Read and Jane Bugler, IMCA's Technical Director. They were at Offshore Europe in Aberdeen at the start of the month where they were delighted to see members from all over the world and visitors from every continent. IMCA was also actively involved in the now traditional education day - the final day of the show, when 300 school leavers visit to find out about careers in the oil and gas industry. Jane Bugler, and Ed Danson, a member of IMCA's Training, Certification and Personnel Competence Committee gave a short talk and guidance about careers in the marine contracting sector to groups of students visiting the IMCA stand.

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.