IMCA expands its London base The IMCA secretariat has moved to new offices at 52 Grosvenor Gardens in London. The new building provides additional space and facilities for staff and member visitors, providing services to the growing membership and hosting various committee and workgroup meetings.
November 2009
IMCA launches CMID database website and e-CMID A new secure online database for Common Marine Inspection Document reports has been launched by IMCA, together with a new e-CMID application. Together, they aim to improve the quality, consistency and availability of CMID reports. The developments are fully funded by IMCA on behalf of the industry and are available for use without charge by members and non-members alike. Find out more at www.imcacmid.com
October 2009
New guidance on deep water acoustic positioning IMCA has published a new authoritative guide for users and potential users of acoustics for underwater positioning. The document particularly addresses deep water activities, although many of the techniques and applications are also applicable to shallow water. The document is intended to inform and bring a general understanding of deep water acoustics to the reader, while more detailed technical appendices are provided for in depth study
August 2009
New guidelines on installation and maintenance of DGNSS-based positioning systems IMCA has published new guidelines on the installation and maintenance of DGNSS-based positioning systems, covering the many technical, procedural and contractual issues before, during and after installation that users of this equipment need to be aware of.
Latest DP incidents report published The eighteenth annual report on dynamic positioning (DP) system station keeping incidents is now available. This analysis is now undertaken in-house by the IMCA secretariat, further enhancing the confidential nature of reporting and helping promote reporting by vessel operators world-wide. The 67 incidents are grouped into incidents and other undesired events. These are summarised and trends and common causes identified, enabling future work by IMCA to address specific aspects with vessel operators, system manufacturers and training providers, helping to keep the growing global DP fleet safe and operational.
New IMCA guidance on NDE for wire ropes IMCA has published new guidance on non-destructive examination (NDE) by means of magnetic rope testing - one of the five tools that can form part of a wire rope integrity management system. The document provides supplementary guidance to that set out in the more general publication on wire rope integrity management issued earlier this year.
Updated industry guidelines for DP offshore supply vessels Facilitated by IMCA, a cross-industry workgroup has published an updated version of the International Guidelines for the Safe Operation of Dynamically Positioned Offshore Supply Vessels. Over seventy interests, including vessels operators and relevant organisations based and operating around the world, contributed to their development, intended to set out good practice for global application and referencing a variety of related regulation and guidance. The new version is available now as a free download from this site.
June 2009
Registration open for IMCA's 2009 annual seminar in Rio Integrated Marine Operations in Challenging Times is the theme of IMCA's 2009 annual seminar, taking place on 4-5 November in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Full details on the extensive programme of presentations, workshops, social and networking sessions and the associated exhibition are available online with registration now open. Integrate with the global industry and join us in Rio!
New IMCA regional section for Central & South America IMCA has formed a new Central & South America Section to provide members in this region with the benefits of local meetings, briefing, representation and other work already enjoyed by members elsewhere in the world. A briefing seminar is to take place on 1 July in Rio with much more planned. At the same time, the remainder of the primarily Houston-based Americas Deepwater Section has been renamed to become the IMCA North America Section.
May 2009
New IMCA careers video available on YouTube IMCA has published a new video via YouTube (www.youtube.com/IMCAint) which highlights the exciting and diverse opportunities available working in the global marine contracting industry. This adds to the wealth of careers information available via this website, including factsheets, in-depth articles, recruitment links and other multimedia content provided by IMCA's marine contracting members.
April 2009
IMCA publishes UPS guidance IMCA Marine Division has published a new guidance document which aims to assist members in relation to the design, selection, installation and use of uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) onboard vessels.
March 2009
IMCA publishes updated Common Marine Inspection Document A new version of the Common Marine Inspection Document (CMID) is now available from IMCA. Prepared by a cross-industry workgroup, the new version has been thoroughly reviewed and rewritten with a clearer structure, removing previous subjectivity in the questions and incorporating updates to reflect technological, operational and regulatory developments. Additional guidance is provided on inspector competence while the vessel-type-specific supplements have been removed. Download the new version and read about future developments now.
January 2009
New IMCA guidelines on medical examination of non-marine crew IMCA has produced new guidelines to aid examining physicians in assessing the fitness of non-marine personnel working on offshore construction vessels. Such an assessment is complex and increasingly specialised, requiring knowledge of not only general medical problems, but also occupational medical issues and a thorough knowledge of the working environment. Such assessments of fitness should be performed by a suitably qualified examining physician who will be approved by an appropriate flag state administration (IMCA itself does not approve individual doctors).
Call for papers issued for IMCA annual seminar 2009 The 2009 IMCA annual seminar will take place on 4-5 November in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the theme Integrated marine operations in challenging times. A call for papers has been issued and is now available on this site.
November 2008
IMCA annual seminar 2008 breaks all records in Kuala Lumpur The 2008 IMCA annual seminar took place on 5-6 November in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and was a huge success, with over 430 delegates, 24 exhibitors, a new offshore/survey ROV strand in addition to the keynote, plenary, marine and diving sessions that have proved so successful over a number of years plus a range of social and networking sessions too. The CD of presentations and workshop reports has been issued to delegates and is now available.
October 2008
IMCA publishes guidance on wire rope integrity management for vessels in the offshore industry IMCA has published new guidance on wire rope integrity management for vessels in the offshore industry, developed by a workgroup including contractors operating around the world, wire rope manufacturers and regulatory representatives. The resulting publication sets out the elements required to achieve an acceptable level of ongoing safety for the use of wire ropes in the range of environments, including a variety of harsh conditions, in which marine contracting operations take place.
August 2008
IMCA highlights careers in marine contracting with new web-based material IMCA's careers information portal has been incorporated into the new IMCA website with a wealth of additional factsheets and in-depth feature articles, together with a fully refreshed collection of downloadable PDFs and print format materials.
June 2008
Registration opens for IMCA's 2008 annual seminar Global alignment in marine operations is the theme of this year's IMCA annual seminar, which takes place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 5-6 November. An expanded programme features plenary presentations and discussion with parallel diving, marine and new offshore survey/ROV sessions, as well as workshops, a record breaking exhibition and social events. Full details are available online, with registration now open.
New IMCA guidance on operational communications in lifting IMCA has published a second volume of its guidance on operational communications, this time addressing the wide range of lifting operations that take place in the marine contracting industry. The new guidance also complements the widely used IMCA guidelines for lifting operations published in 2007.
March 2008
New IMCA logbooks available for Offshore Managers and Offshore Engineers IMCA has extended its range of logbooks and competence records with two new publications, prepared for offshore managers and offshore engineers. Each enables recording of working experience, training and competence assessments in a common, recognisable format. The new logbooks extend the range to eleven books, covering a range of diving, marine and other offshore-related positions.
Latest DP incidents report - beginning of a new way The seventeenth annual report on dynamic positioning (DP) system station keeping incidents is now available. For the first time, the analysis has been undertaken in-house by the IMCA secretariat, further enhancing the confidential nature of reporting and helping promote reporting by vessel operators world-wide. The 59 incidents are grouped into incidents, undesired events, downtime, near-misses and hazard observations, with incident trees and analysis undertaken for each. These are summarised and trends and common causes identified, enabling future work by IMCA to address specific aspects with vessel operators, system manufacturers and training providers.
New 'open your horizons' careers micro-site goes live A new micro-site of careers facts, stories and information has gone live, ahead of our forthcoming website relaunch Packed with information in a bright new format, this expanding site tells potential recruits all they need to know about the exciting career opportunities available offshore
February 2008
New guidance aims to facilitate annual trials for DP MODUs While annual DP trials have been undertaken in most industry sectors for a number of years, due to the continuous nature of mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) operations such trials could proves impractical. IMCA has published new guidance aimed at facilitating such trials on a phased approach. It is stressed that IMCA guidance remains that it is best to undertake DP trials in one go if possible and that this guidance is for the special case of MODUs only.
December 2007
Key IMCA guidelines for DP vessels updated IMCA's Guidelines for the design and operation of dynamically positioned vessels have been revised. Fully reviewed and updated, the new guidelines reflect technological changes, operations in deeper waters and a variety of regulatory and standards-driven changes. The previously separate supplement on two-vessel operations has also been incorporated in the guidelines.
Marine inspection checklist for small workboats updated IMCA has reissued its Marine inspection checklist for small workboats, aimed at helping its members ensure the safety of various smaller vessels used for aspects of their own offshore operations. The checklist has been fully reviewed and updated to reflect current good practice and technical and regulatory developments.
November 2007
CD of Paris seminar proceedings now available A CD of the proceedings of the record-breaking IMCA annual seminar held in Paris on 6-7 November is now available and has been distributed to delegates and other members. The CD contains all of the presentations in full, together with extensive reports on the seminar as a whole, the highly productive workshops, exhibition and social events.
IMCA annual seminar draws record numbers in Paris The 2007 IMCA annual seminar attracted a record 350 delegates. With a packed programme on both commercial and technical issues, including presentations, workshops, an exhibition and social events, the event has been deemed a resounding success. A full report will be added to the website shortly.
October 2007
Changes to IMCA publication pricing IMCA has changed its pricing policies and issued a fully reviewed and updated publications catalogue, with many prices changed, often to a lower level. This website reflects all of the changes, with the updated catalogue also available for downloading - please download the new version and replace any earlier copies you may have.
IMCA publishes new guidelines for lifting operations Lifting is a key part of almost all offshore and subsea operations. It can range from lifting of stores and spares handling through to complicated and heavy lifts and there could be as in excess of 200 different lifting operations on a vessel. Each lift brings with it the possibility of injury to people and damage to equipment, but with proper planning hazards can be identified and risks reduced or eliminated. New guidelines produced by IMCA show essential components that should be in included in company procedures for lifting operations and to offer advice on the steps within a lifting operation process that will promote safety.
July 2007
Registration open for IMCA annual seminar - New Frontiers in Marine Contracting The 2007 IMCA annual seminar, entitled New Frontiers in Marine Contracting, will take place on 6-7 November at the Paris Rive Gauche Hotel & Conference Centre. An exciting programme of presentations, discussion sessions and workshops has been assembled, with the regular exhibition alongside and a variety of social and networking events. Online registration is now open, with the programme and reservation brochure available for downloading.
June 2007
Updated version of the Common Marine Inspection Document (CMID) now available IMCA has updated the Common Marine Inspection Document (CMID). Used widely around the world by operators and clients, it provides a consistent, recognisable format for auditing of offshore vessels, helping avoid unnecessary duplication and variation, improving efficiency and benefiting all parties. The latest version includes an updated supplement for seismic vessels together with other minor updates, with a user-friendly e-version and guidance also available.
Latest DP incidents analysis published The sixteenth annual report on dynamic positioning station keeping incidents has been published (IMCA M 176). Some 36 reported incidents which occurred during 2005 are covered in the document, with a comprehensive event tree for each together with analysis and summary of key findings and trends. Work on the 2006 is already well underway within the IMCA secretariat and vessel operators are being encouraged to submit their incident reports to IMCA.
April 2007
Recruitment links to member websites now live IMCA has established a new links system to help those looking for careers to find out more about specific positions and broader career options from its members operating world-wide. Members have been invited to submit their own recruitment web links - any not yet included should get in touch with the secretariat.
February 2007
Considerations about the use of hold-back vessels during DP diving operations IMCA has published new guidance which addresses situations where it may be thought that securing a towing vessel to a DP diving vessel may be necessary as an additional safeguard. Such operations, while addressing one risk, can introduce several others. This guidance sets out the various considerations that need to be assessed and concludes that in most situations, a full risk assessment will indeed identify a more appropriate solution.
December 2006
Call for papers issued for IMCA's 2007 annual seminar IMCA has issued a call for papers, inviting the submission of presentations for its 2007 annual seminar. The event will take place on 6-7 November in Paris, France, with have the theme New Frontiers in Marine Contracting. An exciting programme is already in development, which will address a full range of technical and commercial issues through presentations and workshops, accompanied as always by an exhibition and social events.
October 2006
IMCA publishes Crane Operator's Logbook (for Offshore Vessels) A new logbook for crane operators on offshore vessels is now available. One of a number of projects being taken forward by the IMCA Crane & Winch Operations Workgroup, It provides a clear, consistent and transferable means for recording of experience on different types of offshore crane in different scenarios, together with details on their training and assessment.
Proceedings of successful Copenhagen seminar now available The CD containing the presentations and reports from the 2006 IMCA annual seminar - Diversity in Marine Contracting - is now available. A broadened programme covering commercial issues, technological achievements, safety issues and more, attracted over 250 delegates to the Copenhagen Marriott Hotel. As well as a variety of interesting presentations, the seminar included workshops where delegates could express their views and identify future work items for IMCA, an exhibition and social events.
August 2006
Updated guides to careers in the marine contracting sector now available IMCA has published updated versions of its nine guides to careers in the marine contracting sector, covering all four technical sectors - marine vessels and construction; diving; offshore surveying and working with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Fully illustrated and with details ranging from entry qualification and fitness requirements through to the range of activities, work conditions and prospects, the new guides highlight a variety of exciting roles and are part of IMCA's wide-ranging work to attract new entrants to the industry and address the skills shortage.
May 2006
IMCA survey on simulators in training and operations published The results of an IMCA survey on the use of and requirements for simulators in training and operations have been published. A questionnaire exercise undertaken among IMCA members prompted responses from a variety of parties. Interesting findings and analysis are included in the report, which is now available.
Registration open for Annual Seminar The IMCA Annual Seminar 2006, entitled Diversity in Marine Contracting, will take place on 19-20 September in Copenhagen. A full and exciting programme has been published and registration is now open.
March 2006
New Cross-Industry Guidelines for DP OSVs available A cross-industry workgroup, facilitated by IMCA, has published "International Guidelines for the Safe Operation of DP Offshore Supply Vessels", setting out good practice as developed by experienced vessel operators and related organisations based and operating around the world. The guidelines are available now on this site for free download.
Latest annual DP incidents report published IMCA's analysis of dynamic positioning (DP) systems station keeping incidents for 2004 has now been published. Covering some 34 incidents, the report identifies latest trends and adds to the wealth of information collected over more than 25 years that helps prevent repeat occurrences and identify areas for future technical work. Vessel operators are encouraged to submit their reports to further enhance the reports for 2005 (preparation of which is about to begin) and for future years.
February 2006
Updated guidance on the training and experience of key DP personnel Following a thorough review, involving IMCA members and other key stakeholders, IMCA has updated its widely recognised guidance on the training, competence and experience required for key DP personnel working on dynamically positioned vessels.
January 2006
Call for papers as IMCA Annual Seminar 2006 announced The IMCA Annual Seminar 2006 will take place on 19-20 September in Copenhagen. Building on recent events in Abu Dhabi (2005) and Singapore (2004), this will once again be a division-wide seminar with both plenary sessions and separate marine and diving sessions - with an additional focus on senior industry speakers on more commercial topics to start day one. IMCA is keen to receive suggestions of papers, presentations and topics now for inclusion in the programme, including the range reflected previously of operational experience, technological developments and current issues.
Ten-year analysis of DP incident data published Recognising the value members place on the annual report on DP incidents, IMCA commissioned a review of the data held for the ten-year period 1994-2003. The resulting report provides interesting further analysis, identifying useful trends and contrast and addressing the effectiveness of incident reporting.
Technical work programme for 2006 underway The six core and divisional IMCA committees have set out their work programmes for the current year. As always, the programmes feature a number of ongoing initiatives highly valued by members world-wide, liaison with third-party organisations on areas of common interest and a number of new work items to address current issues and technological developments.
December 2005
IMCA updates DP incident classifications and reporting forms IMCA has set out revised categories for the reporting of dynamic positioning (DP) station keeping incidents. The aim is to simplify decisions on incident classification, enable more in-depth analysis and to encourage incidents reporting. Updated reporting forms are now available.
Proceedings of IMCA Annual Seminar 2005 now available Over 250 delegates attended the IMCA Annual Seminar held in Abu Dhabi on 22-23 November 2005, on the theme of "Expanding Marine Contracting - Shaping the Future of Diving, DP and Marine Construction Practices". Presentations ranged from topical issues such as marine contracting in the Middle East region through discussion of operational practices such as the use of tugs with DSVs and the latest technological developments to lessons learned from operational experience. The seminar also included a number of well attended workshops with useful discussion, the results of which will feed into ongoing and future work items.
October 2005
IMCA encouraging reporting of lifting incidents IMCA has reviewed and reissued its lifting operations incident forms as it seeks to develop a database on offshore lifting incidents. The intention is to perform regular analysis of such data to identify particular issues and lessons that can be learned, to help avoid repeat incidents in the future. The industry is being encouraged to make the small additional effort of completing the short IMCA report, which will be recorded anonymously, when incidents occur to help with this ambition.
IMCA encouraging reporting of lifting incidents IMCA has reviewed and reissued its lifting operations incident forms as it seeks to develop a database on offshore lifting incidents. The intention is to perform regular analysis of such data to identify particular issues and lessons that can be learned, to help avoid repeat incidents in the future. The industry is being encouraged to make the small additional effort of completing the short IMCA report, which will be recorded anonymously, when incidents occur to help with this ambition.
September 2005
Common Marine Inspection Document updated An updated version of the Common Marine Inspection Document is now available. Fully reviewed and updated in the light of regulatory and technical developments, the document has also been rewritten specifically with a world-wide focus, reflecting its global applicability and use by contractors and clients throughout the offshore industry. An enhanced CD and guidance on its use help make it even more user-friendly and enable vessel crews to both prepare for inspections and to keep it up-to-date as a 'live' document as part of their own documentation systems.
August 2005
New IMCA guidance on the use of cable laid slings and grommets Popular guidance formerly published by the UK Health & Safety Executive as its guidance note PM20 has been reissued by IMCA. The original was intended to be mainly of assistance to those concerned with the use of cable laid slings and grommets in very heavy lifting operations, developed specifically for use in the offshore industry and was found highly useful by contractors around the world. This note, fully reviewed and updated, gives advice on construction, rating, testing, certification, examination and use of such equipment.
New IMCA guidance on the use of cable laid slings and grommets Popular guidance formerly published by the UK Health & Safety Executive as its guidance note PM20 has been reissued by IMCA. The original was intended to be mainly of assistance to those concerned with the use of cable laid slings and grommets in very heavy lifting operations, developed specifically for use in the offshore industry and was found highly useful by contractors around the world. This note, fully reviewed and updated, gives advice on construction, rating, testing, certification, examination and use of such equipment.
July 2005
Registration opens for Annual Seminar The programme for the 2005 IMCA Annual Seminar has been published and registration is now open. An exciting line-up has been developed covering all aspects of today's marine contracting industry, addressing issues for those operating in the region together with broader topics on the latest developments around the world-wide industry. The seminar includes a variety of presentation, workshop and discussion sessions, an exhibition and various social networking events.
April 2005
FMEA Management Guide published Following on from extensive work in recent years on the reliability and safety of dynamic positioning (DP) systems, IMCA has now published its FMEA Management Guide. Using flowsheets and designed as a concise framework guide, the document is intended to help decision makers and implementations professionals within the industry assess the minimum requirements for carrying out FMEAs on new vessels and ensuring that existing FMEAs either already meet suitable standards or are reviewed and updated to the required level.
FMEA Management Guide published Following on from extensive work in recent years on the reliability and safety of dynamic positioning (DP) systems, IMCA has now published its FMEA Management Guide. Using flowsheets and designed as a concise framework guide, the document is intended to help decision makers and implementations professionals within the industry assess the minimum requirements for carrying out FMEAs on new vessels and ensuring that existing FMEAs either already meet suitable standards or are reviewed and updated to the required level.
March 2005
Latest DP incident analysis published The fourteenth annual report on dynamic positioning station keeping incidents has been published (IMCA M 177). Some 51 reported incidents which occurred during 2003 are covered in the document, with a comprehensive event tree for each together with analysis and summary of key findings and trends.
Common Marine Inspection Document updated The fourth issue of the Common Marine Inspection Document (CMID) is now available. This latest version addresses feedback from users and incorporates updates in the light of technological and regulatory developments. Extensive guidance on use of the CMID has also been fully updated, providing a worked example together with notes for auditors and identification of areas where vessel crews can prepare by assembling relevant documentation in advance. An updated CD version helps the CMID to be a 'living' document, kept up-to-date on board.
February 2005
IMCA Contracting Principles Launched IMCA has published its Contracting Principles, a discussion document that it believes will serve the long-term interests of all participants in the oil and gas industry by encouraging an equitable contractual balance based on the parties' respective risks and rewards. This, in turn, should improve relations, increase efficiency and reduce overall costs. The principles have been published with a comprehensive press release and are available for free download from this site.
Call for papers issued for 2005 Annual Seminar Plans are already underway for the 2005 IMCA Annual Seminar, which will take place on 22-23 November 2005 in the United Arab Emirates. A call for papers has been issued seeking contributions from members and others in the industry on a broad programme.
January 2005
Guidance on operational communications - Part 1 published The first in a planned series of guidance notes on operational communications has been published. Produced jointly by the Marine and Diving Divisions, the document includes a general section plus detailed guidance on communications between bridge and dive control, aimed at assisting companies in ensuring good standards of communication, vital to offshore safety.
December 2004
New Guidance Addresses Wire Rope Maintenance which rely on them is vital. To this end, a broad-based IMCA workgroup has, together with wire rope manufacturers, developed guidance on the inspection, testing, storage, transport, maintenance and general care of wire ropes not already covered by industry guidance.
IMCA Annual Seminar 2004 a Great Success Over 170 delegates gathered at the Regent Hotel in Singapore on 2-3 December for the first annual seminar to be jointly organised by all four of the Association's technical divisions - Marine (building on over a decade of previous successful events), Diving, Offshore Survey and Remote Systems & ROV. The CD containing the full set of presentations and proceedings is currently being prepared and a full report will appear on this site shortly.
November 2004
Review of Artemis Mk V Published Extending and updating its range of technical reviews, IMCA has published a review of the Artemis Mk V positioning system, setting out details of its principles of operation, with manufacturer's instructional material and a summary of operational experience obtained both from the manufacturer and IMCA members. The format is similar to that used recently for reviews of the latest laser positioning systems to allow for comparison.
September 2004
New Guidance on Selection of Vessels of Opportunity IMCA, led by members active in the Asia-Pacific region, has developed new guidance to assist both contractors and their clients when selecting vessels of opportunity from which diving operations are to be carried out. Nine chapters provide both generic guidance on assessing the general suitability of such vessels together with an indication of project-specific factors to be considered.
July 2004
Registration opens for IMCA Annual Seminar 2004 An exciting programme - developed jointly for the first time by all four IMCA technical divisions (Marine, Diving, Offshore Survey and Remote Systems & ROV) has been published. The seminar title - Marine Contracting: from Deepwater Construction Vessels to Offshore Diving - reflects the diverse range of operations carried out within the marine contracting industry, with common interest running thorugh each included theme. Download the brochure or register online now.
March 2004
Latest DP Incident Report Now Available The fourteenth annual report on station keeping incidents involving dynamically positioned vessels has now been published, covering 64 incidents which during in 2002. Work has commenced on the next volume and vessel operators are encouraged to submit their incident reports to IMCA as soon as possible. The wealth of data now held forms a major resource for helping the industry to prevent repeat incidents. The summary information gained from the annual analysis also provides useful input to assist the Marine Division in developing a technical work programme to address the technical issues facing specialist vessel operators.
2004 annual seminar details announced The 2004 IMCA Annual Seminar - to be organised jointly for the first time by all of the Association's technical divisions - is to be held on 2-3 December in Singapore. Check back soon for more details as the exciting programme is developed.
February 2004
Updated Guide to DP-Related Documentation for DP Vessels IMCA has updated its publication for owners and operators of DP vessels on a common approach to the documentation which ought to be carried on board DP vessels, through guidance and a checklist format.
January 2004
IMCA objectives for 2004 published IMCA's technical work programme for 2004 has been agreed by the Overall Management Committee, setting out the projects to be undertaken by the core activities and technical divisions over the coming year. Also published on this website are the strategic objectives enshrined in the revised IMCA Constitution, which was adopted in December 2003.
December 2003
Recent Safety Flashes Now Available for Download In a demonstration of its commitment to improving offshore safety, IMCA Safety Flashes for the most recent twelve months are now available for downloading from this site, enhancing their spread through the offshore sector. These flashes disseminate the key information relating to incidents, including what went wrong, in terms of equipment, procedural and other human failings and the recommendations and lessons learned. All companies are encouraged to use the system by sending their incident reports to IMCA, which will duly anonymise and seek authorisation from contributors before issuing its flash.
November 2003
Major IMCA Marine & Safety Seminar a Hit in Houston The third major IMCA safety event, combined for the first time with an IMCA Marine Division annual seminar, drew over one hundred delegates discuss the operational experiences, hear about the latest technological developments and share new ideas and best practice to help raise offshore safety around the world. The event included a range of presentations, panel discussions and workshops, together with an exhibition by IMCA members supplying equipment and services to the sector and a safety share fair - with stands from some of the world's leading offshore contractors sharing their safety initiatives.
Review of Marine Laser Positioning Systems Extended IMCA has now produced the second part of its review of the latest marine laser positioning systems, covering the CyScan system. Combined in a single volume with the Fanbeam system review produced earlier in the year, the document provides a review of the technical information and specifications, setting out the advantages and disadvantages of each system to aid members in selecting appropriate positioning systems for their needs.
October 2003
Competence Workshop Taking Place on 25 November As in previous years, IMCA is holding a workshop to review progress in implementing schemes to demonstrate the competence of personnel working in safety-critical positions in the offshore sector. This year's workshop, preceded by a questionnaire exercise, will review progress to date, bring in experience from the airline industry on its use of simulators (following on from guest speakers at previous events on topics including legal, insurance and client requirements aspects of competence assurance) and including extended syndicate sessions to address current issues in each technical sector.
August 2003
Major IMCA Marine and Safety Seminar goes to Houston Deepwater: Marine Operations & Safety brings the annual Marine Division seminar to Houston, USA while adding a further dimension with the inclusion of a third major IMCA safety seminar. Taking place on 5-6 November, the seminar will bring together key operational and managerial personnel from across the industry and around the world to participate in a wide range of sessions. The key themes for the event include DP operations and compliance/ enforcement issues in the Gulf of Mexico; vessel security and emergency preparedness/ response; DP system reliablity and safety; and improving contractors' safety performance.
IMCA Updates Competence Guidance Following five years' experience gained by members in implementing competence assurance and assessment schemes, IMCA has fully reviewed and updated its guidance which sets out a framework on which contractors can develop and implement their schemes. In particular, updated performance criteria developed by the Offshore Survey and Remote Systems & ROV Divisions, in light of the particular needs and wishes of those sectors. Work continues on further ways to assist contractor members implementing such schemes, including production of a set of FAQs and a workshop in late 2003.
July 2003
Crane Specification Document Produced While offshore crane design is unique, in that almost every new build crane will be a one-off to meet specific requirements, IMCA has responded to the needs of members by producing a generic guide to assist with the specification and ordering of cranes, either new from a builder for second hand purchase or for hire. With a comprehensive questionnaire and checklist supported by explanatory notes, the guidance has already been praised by contractors and certification bodies.
Introduction to Dynamic Positioning Produced A large number of marine contracting operations require the use of dynamic positioning (DP). IMCA has produced this article to provide an introduction to the principles of DP and describe its use, which also gives an insight into the fascinating range of marine operations that exist in the offshore industry.
Updated Guidance on Fires in Machinery Spaces on DP Vessels IMCA has reviewed and updated its guidance on vessel fires, taking account of recent technological advances and recent experience. Case studies are used to pass on lessons learned from previous incidents and guidance is provided on fire prevention, detection and extinguishment.
June 2003
Review of Marine Laser Positioning Systems Published The first part of a review of current marine laser positioning systems has now been published. Accurate positioning systems are essential in the offshore industry to enable continuous and safe operations to take place, particularly where a vessel is a base for subsea operations and needs to maintain position for the safety of divers, ROVs and drilling operations. This guide provides a review of the latest Fanbeam system, along with installation, maintenance requirements and training recommendations. The advantages and disadvantages of the system are considered, along with the likely failure modes. This adds to existing technical reviews and will be followed shortly by a second part, considering alternative systems on the market.
March 2003
IMCA's Objectives for 2003 Finalised At its recent meeting, IMCA's Overall Management Committee agreed a comprehensive work programme for the various technical committees in the coming year. As ever, the Association's widely adopted guidance in various technical areas is being reviewed and updated as necessary to maintain and enhance its usefulness to companies operating in the marine contracting sector. This year also sees a number of new initiatives in every area which aim to tackle key issues faced by members world-wide in 2003. Click above for more information, or see areas of the website relevant to your own work to find out just what IMCA is doing in for you.
February 2003
Latest Dynamic Positioning Incidents Report Published The report on station keeping incidents for 2001 has been published, adding to the wealth of previous information, identifying current trends and providing IMCA with detailed information on key topics to be considered in the coming year's work programme.
January 2003
2002 Seminar Proceedings Produced The proceedings of the 2002 Marine & Diving Divisions Annual Seminar have been produced, for the first time as a CD-ROM containing the various presentations, workshop reports and more, providing a variety of reference material on wide ranging topics for delegates and other IMCA members.
November 2002
Americas Sub-Groups Off to an Enthusiastic Start The newly-formed Americas Deepwater Section is already making its presence felt and adding a strong new dimension to IMCA's international activities. Regional sub-groups have been formed and are having their first meetings already, tackling local issues directly and providing valuable input into the work of IMCA's world-wide committees.
Helping Members Ensure and Demonstrate Personnel Competence The latest IMCA competence workshop brought together members from around the globe with a variety of technical operations to discuss implementation of IMCA's Competence Assurance & Assessment guidance, which provides a framework within which contractors can demonstrate the competence of their safety-critical personnel to clients, regulators and others. Included in discussions was a review of guidance documentation, which will be updated shortly in the light of four years' experience.
Annual Seminar A Great Success Again The 2002 Marine & Diving Division Seminar in Aberdeen drew over 200 delegates, who heard a range of fascinating presentations and joined in wide-ranging discussions on the theme "Learning from Experience", looking ahead to shape the future and providing valuable input to various current initiatives
October 2002
IMCA Americas Deepwater Section Established The first meeting of IMCA's latest regional section was well attended and saw an extensive work programme initiated and enthusiastic sub-groups formed to deal with various technical areas. The new section has a remit to maintain, promote and exchange information on good practice - click above for full details on how your company can get involved and reap the benefits.
Competence Workshop Details Posted Almost four years after the launch of this key IMCA guidance, the TCPC Committee has organised a workshop on 13 November 2002 to review progress in implementing the guidance in company schemes, provide a forum for discussion of areas of common interest/ concern and to hear from expert speakers on competence issues. A questionnaire exercise is also underway and you can register online now.
August 2002
Annual Marine & Diving Seminar 2002 - Programme Published The programme for this year's annual seminar, taking place on 5-6 November in Aberdeen, UK, has been published. Full details of this wide-ranging event are now available online. This year's theme is "Learning from Experience", with the keynote address by IMCA President John Smith (Subsea 7) on how this experience can be used to shape the future. Plan to be there with your managerial and operational colleagues - register online now!
IMCA Newsletter available for download From Issue 24 (July 2002), the IMCA Newsletter will now be available for download from the members-only website, enabling a wider distribution than ever before. Click above to get it - and pass it on to your colleagues.
June 2002
Guidance on Use of the Common Marine Inspection Document The latest Marine Division document provides a worked example on use of the IMCA/UKOOA Common Marine Inspection Document - a standard audit guide that has found wide take-up on a world-wide basis, enabling multiple clients to take advantage of a single audit to common standards and reducing the time previously taken up by multiple audits.
May 2002
New Chief Executive at IMCA Hugh Williams - formerly of Heerema, Noble Denton and Global Maritime - has joined IMCA as Chief Executive, taking over from Tony Read who will be retiring, following a three-month handover period, after leading the Association for the past five years. For full details, please read the press release.
April 2002
Guidance on FMEAs published This latest comprehensive guidance from the Marine Division highlights best practice in the use of failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) techniques when applied to technical systems associated with offshore vessels. The document answers frequently-asked questions about FMEAs, explains the background to and role of FMEAs and extensive guidance on using and reporting on the use of this powerful pro-active engineering quality tool.
2002 Objectives finalised A wide and varied programme confirmed addressing all sectors of members' operations in the offshore industry - click above for the full list of objectives, which are also available via each divisional and core activity homepage.
February 2002
Marine Inspection Checklist for Small Workboats published Second technical guideline from IMCA's Offshore Survey Division aims to help survey contractors ensure that the workboats they charter, or consider chartering, are operated safely.
Common Marine Inspection Document Updated The IMCA/UKOOA Common Marine Inspection Document (IMCA M 149) has been reissued, in both printed and electronic formats. For full details on the document and particular revisions in this issue, click above.
September 2001
IMCA Marine & Diving Divisions - Annual Seminar & Workshops The 2001 event took place in Stavanger, Norway and saw an expansion of the regular station keeping seminar into wider marine topics, also including a one-day seminar on offshore diving. Held immediately following the tragic events of 11 September 2001 in America, the event nonetheless was well attended, though our thoughts are with those who suffered and understanding is extended to those who were unable to travel to the event. A full report will shortly be available.
Guidelines for the Quality Assurance and Quality Control of Software It has become increasinly important for vessel operators to have in place a control system for managing the software installed on their systems, particularly so when various updates are provided on disk, via e-mail and downloaded from the Internet. Discussed at the recent Marine Division Seminar, this newly-published report provides structured guidance on the proceeses needed and is illustrated with flow charts that can easily be incorporated into a company's management system.
August 2001
Record Output from IMCA Safety Flash System By August 2001, IMCA has already issued more safety flashes in 2001 than in any previous year. More member companies than ever are contributing their own safety alerts, which are then anonymised and distributed through the IMCA membership, helping to pass on lessons learned from incidents and prevent repeat occurrences. Not being complacent, IMCA has re-emphasised the strengths of the system and urged all members to add the secretariat to their safety alert distribution lists. Click above for information on the system, including a full listing of recent safety flashes issued.
July 2001
IMCA Marine & Diving Divisions - Annual Seminar & Workshops The programme and registration details for this year's exciting event have been published and are available on this website. To find full information, register online and/or view the latest updates to the programme, click above.
June 2001
IMCA Marine & Diving Divisions - Annual Seminar & Workshops The programme and registration form for this year's seminar are now available from IMCA. The seminar has been expanded this year, continuing the station keeping focus, but also incorporating a special one-day conference on offshore diving and additional topics of interest to other marine contracting fields. Full details will be posted on this website soon - please e-mail events@imca-int.com to receive the printed version and check back soon for updates.
Employment Opportunities in Marine Construction IMCA has republished its main careers leaflet, which covers a wide range of positions across the marine contracting industry. The text has been reviewed and updated; and a collection of superb photographs illustrate the range of tasks undertaken. To view the online version and for details of how to obtain the glossy printed leaflet, click above.
Updated Guidance on Thrusters Published IMCA's Marine Division has published new and updated reports on thrusters, building on earlier reports addressing members' concerns in this area and incorporating the latest developments in the field.
Competence assurance and assessment - Implementation workshop, May 2001 Another successful workshop was held, where those implementing the IMCA Competence Assurance & Assessment Scheme met together to discuss developments and common issues. As on previous occasions, the day was split between presentations and discussion to the whole meeting and sector-specific sessions, this time with additional time provided for syndicated sessions for each area of operations in which the scheme is being implemented.
April 2001
Marine Division Annual Seminar & Workshops Preliminary details of the 2001 seminar have been announced - Taking place on 12-14 September at the Stavanger Forum in Norway, the event builds on previous successes with the addition of a parallel one-day offshore diving conference and additional topics in the marine operations field being covered in parallel sessions on the second day.
Guidance on Two-Vessel Operations Produced A supplement to the Marine Division's key "Guidelines for the Design & Operation of Dynamically Positioned Vessels" has been produced, covering the situation not covered in that report where a DP shuttle tanker undertakes cargo transfer operations in close proximity to another non-fixed structure at sea, such as an FPSO or an FSU.
