IMCA Newsroom

Press Release 06/08

IMCA REVISES MARINE INSPECTION CHECKLIST FOR SMALL WORKBOATS

Safe operation is the key to success of workboats, which are essential to the offshore oil, gas and marine contacting industry. With this in mind the International Marine Contractors Association has published 'Marine Inspection Checklist for Small Workboats'.

"This revised document aims to provide a basic marine inspection standard for workboats which are used world-wide and are less than 500 gross tonnage and are, therefore, not required to have either an International Safety Management or an International Ship Security certificate, although the principles outlined within the two codes are worth following," explains IMCA's chief executive, Hugh Williams.

"In this document, 'small workboat' means a small vessel in commercial use, other than for sport, pleasure, pilot duties, surveying of harbours and their approaches, or dredging. The small workboats for which the document has been published could be used for various appropriate tasks such as inshore survey, repair of remote equipment, shallow water air dive support, construction support and personnel transfer.

"The main purpose of this checklist is to verify that the workboat is being operated in a safe manner. It is not intended to verify that the vessel has been constructed or is being operated in accordance with the requirements of any specific IMO, flag state or coastal state regulation; nor is it intended to indicate that the vessel is suitable for a particular role or job."

The introduction to the document covers vessel categories; inspector competency; and looks at the inspection process. The remainder of the publication is devoted to a whole series of forms for completion on vessel particulars, vessel condition, a summary of observations, document checklist, and then a 155-point checklist based on the approved code of practice for workboats. The appendix features invaluable grids detailing lifesaving appliances; the lights, shapes and sound appliances required by power driven vessels of various lengths; and minimum and recommended radio equipment.

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.
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