Over 250 delegates gathered in Aberdeen for the eleventh annual seminar, sub-titled "Learning from Experience".

Onshore and offshore management and operational staff, together with a range of specialist consultants, equipment suppliers and client and regulatory representatives, attended the seminar. They heard a range of presentations on topical issues, practical experiences and the latest technological developments and operational achievements. They also participated in a number of workshops and viewed a range of equipment and services on offer at the associated exhibition.

Feedback from delegates on the wide range of topics covered and vocal discussions in both plenary and workshop sessions has been good and IMCA benefited from valuable feedback and input for current and future initiatives.

Joint Plenary Session - Keynote Addresses

• Marine contracting: Learning from the past to shape the future
  John Smith, Subsea 7 - IMCA President 2001-2
• The client perspective: IMCA's role in shaping the future
  Didrik Reymert, Shell Expro
• The choice between using divers and using ROVs
  Dave Turner, BP Exploration

Marine Sessions

• DP operations for subsea construction: A Gulf of Mexico perspective
  Paul Wilson, Stolt Offshore
• Havsule project: DP verification study
  Richard Harland, BP Norway
• West Africa: Getting rigs working offshore Angola
  Mats Rosengren, Ocean Rig
• IMCA-reported DP incidents
  Chris Jenman, Global Maritime
• DP operations: Use of simulators in heavy lift activities
  Rene Woots, Heerema Marine Contractors
• Marine risk assessment guidance
  Peter Boyle, Det Norske Veritas
• Rigid pipelay in deep water
  John Stretch, Technip-Coflexip
• BP Amoco King project
  Mischa Levit, Allseas
• Flexible pipelay offshore Brazil
  Rogerio Lacourt Rodrigues, Subsea 7
• Acoustic problems: Solutions for deepwater operations
  Alistair Birnie, Nautronix
• Marine communications: Application of new technologies
  Bob Buskie, Stratos Broadband Networks EMEA
• Well servicing: Flexible and rigid risers
  Eamonn McGennis, Well Ops UK and Ray Milne, Cal Dive International

Diving Sessions

• Experience and employment profile of diving personnel
  Jane Bugler, IMCA Technical Director
• FMEAs for dive systems
  Paul Shotton, Poseidon Maritime
• Emergency medical care in saturation: Implementation of DMAC 28
  Dr Stephen Watt, Aberdeen University
• Hyperbaric lifeboat testing: Experience from trials, update of IMCA protocol
  Geoff Crockford, Occupational Hygiene & Safety
• Diving in contaminated waters
  Steve Short, Technip-Coflexip
• Mechanism of Underwater Gaseous Explosions
  Andy Pettitt, Royal Military College of Science

Workshops

• Sharing good practice internationally
• FMEAs: What should they cover?
• Diving Delegates' Choice: Emergency medical care in saturation: Implementing DMAC 28
• Acoustic systems for deep water
• Marine communications: How to utilise new technology to aid training and operations
• DP sensors for survey purposes
• Delegates' Choice: Annual DP Trials