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Event Report
IMCA Security Seminar
25 September 2003, Paris, France
IMCA's Safety, Environment & Legislation committee, together with the new Europe & Africa Section, organised a one-day seminar on 25 September 2003 in Paris to address this area of much concern for contractors operating offshore West Africa and to raise awareness of and discuss security and health management issues when working offshore in that region.
The event brought together key operational and managerial personnel from across the industry and around the world, in order to share experiences and addresses issues of common concern in this area.
Programme
A full programme included presentations from senior managers, specialist consultants and operational personnel working in West Africa, along with panel and general discussion sessions.
Welcome and Introduction - Robin Davies, Subsea 7 - Chairman, IMCA Europe & Africa Section
- Working in West Africa
- Security Issues in West Africa - Dennis Amachree, Security Manager, Halliburton Nigeria
- Manpower Movements - Martin Fraser, Oceaneering
- Panel Discussion
- Marine Security
- Marine Security, including Kidnap Threats - Bertrand Huet, Stolt Offshore
- Panel Discussion
- Developing Security Programmes
- Developing Security Programmes - Bill Egerton, Olive Security (UK) Ltd
- Panel Discussion
- Health Management
- Development of Health Management Programmes - David Jenkins, Technip
- Panel Discussion
General Discussion and Way Forward - Identification of IMCA Actions - Chairman
Report
IMCA members had previously voiced their concerns about vessel security, particularly offshore West Africa. This seminar was planned to address this issue and expanded to cover personnel security and health issues. Organised by the SEL core committee with Marine Division input, the event was jointly sponsored by the new IMCA Europe & Africa Section, which held its inaugural meeting immediately afterwards.
Dennis Amachree, of Halliburton Nigeria, had been invited to speak by Subsea 7 and his experiences and openness set the tone for the day. His keynote speech described the root causes of difficulties, gave examples of problems and set out his company's approach to avoiding them, together with recommendations for evaluating and managing the risks.
Subsequent speakers focused on individual issues - Martin Fraser (Oceaneering) described concerns about risks to personnel in transit, whilst Bertrand Huet (Stolt Offshore) focused on risks to personnel from piracy and kidnapping after arrival at the worksite. Bill Egerton (Olive Security) recommended ways to develop security programmes to counter these risks, while David Jenkins (Technip) continued the theme of recommended practices, targeting health management, particularly the ever-present and underestimated risks of malaria.
In the usual IMCA style, there was plenty of time for lively interaction for the large group of about seventy delegates. A number of common themes emerged, together with action items for future IMCA work:
- There are serious risks, which proper management and planning can help to minimise;
- Members have a variety of in-house programmes, which a number undertook to share to provide a basis for IMCA to develop industry best practice;
- Personnel are fearful of the unknown in some locations. Pre-travel information, perhaps including the use of videos, could be developed. Ignorance is counter-productive;
- Some well-developed oil company guidance and systems are already in place. IMCA will aim to work with them and their collective oil company bodies where appropriate, to ensure good and consistent practice in these areas.
Proceedings
The full proceedings, including the presentations listed above together with reports on the discussions, have been produced on CD and issued to delegates and other IMCA members. Additional copies are available to them on request.
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