The nineteenth IMCA annual seminar took place at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, New Orleans, USA on 9-10 November 2011. The theme for this year’s event was The Future of Marine & Subsea Operations and attracted more than 340 delegates. The seminar included a range of presentations, workshops, social/networking events and an exhibition with 19 stands. This year’s event was endorsed by Offshore Support Journal, IADC, OGP, MTS Dynamic Positioning Committee, API, ADC International, OOC and OCIMF.

Hugh Williams welcomed delegates before introducing Alan Allred of EMAS, who is the IMCA Central & North America Section Chairman. Allan gave the opening keynote address and introduced IMCA President Andy Woolgar – Subsea 7, Mike Casey – Chevron E&P, Randall Luthi – National Oceans Industries Association, Erik Milito – American Petroleum Institute and Secretary Scott Angelle – Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), who all gave keynote speeches on this year’s theme.

The morning plenary session included presentations on deep ocean seafloor extraction, a new reeling method for a state of the art multi-purpose vessel and better workability through DSV integration. The seminar then split into three parallel sessions: Marine, Diving and ROV & Survey. Presentations were given at all three sessions followed by focused technical workshops covering blackout recovery for DP vessels, ROV installation, working in arctic conditions, lifeboats and security issues. The day concluded with a seminar dinner on board the Steamboat Natchez while cruising down the Mississippi river. Delegates had a chance to sample local cuisine and view the steamboat's engine room.

Day two started with a keynote note address by Lars Herbst, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation & Enforcement (BOEMRE) and session chairman Bruce Gresham, Heerema Marine Contractors – Vice-chairman, IMCA Central & North America Section, introduced a plenary session. The plenary session included three presentations covering video games and the offshore industry, marine accidents and their investigation and the impact of fatigue on ships' watchkeeping officers. The technical session again split into three sections and included presentations on Marine, Diving and ROV & Survey. A final plenary session followed with two presentations covering process safety and a presentation which discussed the application of STCW 2010 and the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 to the offshore sector. The final workshop sessions covered the topics of the pitfalls of position references, the MLC and its impact on marine contractors, the diving industry for the 21st century, process safety and a delegate’s choice, which this year was on vessel assurance.

The workshop sessions and seminar were summarised by Hugh Williams who thanked all attendees and staff involved in the seminar. The seminar was concluded with a drinks and buffet reception at Audubon Nature Institute, Aquarium of the Americas.

Joint plenary sessions

• Introduction and welcoming address - Alan Allred, EMAS, Chairman, IMCA Central & North America Section
• Keynote addresses: The Future of Marine and Subsea Operations
  - Andy Woolgar, Subsea 7 - IMCA President
  - Mike Casey, Chevron
  - Randall Luthi, National Oceans Industries Associations - Erik Milito, American Petroleum Institute
  - Secretary Scott Angele, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
• Deep ocean floor mineral extraction - operational challenges and opportunities for a new industry - Mike Frazer, Nautilus Minerals
• Aegir, a multi-purpose vessel with a new way of reeling - Kees van Zandwijk, Heerema Marine Contractors
• Diver workability through DSV integration - Cor van der Harst, IHC Merwede
• Video games and the offshore industry - how gaming technology can help - John de Hartog, Saipem
• Marine incidents and their investigations - a case study - Pete Somner, Technip
• The horizon project on the impact of fatigue on the performance of ships' watchkeeping officers - Mike Barnett, Warsash Marine Academy
• Process Safety. Safety orientated design and realisation of control systems for offshore machinery - Giovanni Massari, Saipem
• Programmable Electronic systems - Ian Wilson, Subsea 7 & Mathew Bateman, Global Maritime
• The 2010 amendments to STCW and the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 - application to the offshore sector- Dwain Hutchison, Bahamas Maritime Authority