IMCA Newsroom

Press Release 14/07

IMCA MIDSUMMER BALL REAPS BENEFITS FOR WMU

A grand total of £2500 was raised for the World Maritime University (WMU) when the International Marine Contractors Association Ball (IMCA) held its annual midsummer charity ball at Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire.

"Education and training are of key importance to our member companies, so we can think of no more worthy recipient than WMU," says Hugh Williams, IMCA's chief executive. "Offering postgraduate courses, it serves the maritime community by providing high-level maritime education and training, mainly to developing countries, to promote IMO's safety, security and environmental protection mandate. We are proud to be associated with the university."

"Founded in 1983 by the IMO, a specialised agency of the United Nations, the university receives no funding from the UN system, but is financed by voluntary contributions from governments, organisations and companies worldwide," explains Roger Jones, VP Business Development. "We would like to thank IMCA. This contribution will support the university's planned international conference in April 2008 on 'Professional Women in Maritime Development' and will help finance scholarship for our women graduates' participation in the conference. We look forward to talking to individual IMCA member companies about aspects of our work in the future, including the mentoring programme and the fellowship programme."

The students who graduated in 2006 brought the total of WMU graduates to almost 2,300 from 151 countries around the world. About 39% are from Asia, 29% from Africa; 13% from Latin America and the Caribbean, 13% from the Middle East and North Africa; and 6% from Europe and North America. "As graduates take up senior positions as managers, administrators, policy advisers and educators in the maritime field, many will interact with IMCA members or may consider posts with our member companies based in 47 countries around the globe," says Hugh Williams.

During the course of the midsummer ball, IMCA's President, Knut Boe of Technip, presented his predecessor, Frits Janmaat of Allseas Group, with a framed picture as a memento and in recognition of his valued contribution as IMCA President during 2005 and 2006.

Further information on all aspects of IMCA and its work is available at www.imca-int.com; and there is information on WMU at www.wmu.se

CAPTION: the accompanying jpeg shows (left to right) Hugh Williams presenting a cheque to Roger Jones, with Ian Giddings, IMCA Technical Adviser looking on.

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.