IMCA Newsroom

Press Release 11/08

IMCA TO HIGHLIGHT CAREERS AT OTC 2008

As an OTC supporting organisation, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is delighted that once again there will be an 'Energy Education Institute' aimed at 100 Houston area K-12 science teachers, and will themselves be taking an active role in promoting careers in the marine contracting industry to those teachers, and throughout the four days of OTC 2008 (Booth no: S14, Level 2).

"All over the world the industry is clamouring for new recruits and for school students to be taking steps towards joining the offshore oil and gas industry; at IMCA we feel passionately about the exciting career opportunities within the marine contracting industry and will be actively promoting them to the teachers attending the special day on 8 May," explains IMCA's chief executive, Hugh Williams. "Indeed we have a CD devoted to these opportunities and a website at www.imca-int.com/careers. All the teachers will receive a copy of the CD which enables them, and their students, to find out about the basic facts about career options, then to drill down to find stories behind the various career options with an interesting range of case histories; and to find out about the 'next steps' that need to be taken.

"Of course, the industry's recruitment drive is not just aimed at the very young through their teachers. Fresh blood at every age level, and with a wide variety of experience in a great many fields, is needed in the industry and OTC provides us with an opportunity to promote the opportunities to all. As we say on our website: 'Looking for a career that doesn't box you in to the same old routine year after year? You've found it in the marine contracting industry.'

And, he adds: "Those joining our sector of the offshore industry will find an exciting, fast-paced, forward-looking industry where the challenges - and the rewards - are all beyond the ordinary.

"As all working in the marine contracting industry can attest, it is a field in which skills in engineering, science or mathematics will find free rein across the design, planning, construction, operation and maintenance of complex, high-tech equipment ranging from tiny sensors to giant cranes. And, no matter what specialism or discipline new recruits bring with them, they'll soon discover unexpected pathways to use and develop analytical, numerical, interpersonal, interdisciplinary and supervisory skills too. It is an industry I feel passionate about - and indeed our careers website has a section that looks at individuals' strong feelings about their particular sector be it heavy lift, offshore survey, ROVs, materials - we're adding to it all the time, and inviting our members to share their particular passion. We believe our strength of feeling will rub off on all who access the CD or the website and look forward to meeting like-minded people at OTC and enthusing those 100 teachers, who can in turn encourage their students to take the necessary steps towards a highly challenging and exciting career."

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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