Press Release

PROGRAMME PUBLISHED FOR IMCA'S ANNUAL MARINE DIVISION SEMINAR

Practical Experience and New Ideas is the topical theme of the IMCA - the International Marine Contractors Association - Marine Division's 10th Annual Seminar and Workshops being held in Stavanger, Norway, 13-14 September 2001.

This year's programme, sponsored by OLF (Oljeindustriens Landsforening) the Norwegian Oil Industry Association - features parallel sessions on offshore diving on 13 September. This innovation brings together IMCA's Marine and Diving Divisions for the first time at the event with both cross-industry and sector-specific presentations and workshops; while on Day Two presentations and workshops continue the long established station keeping focus and will relate to DP and other specialist marine specific topics.

"We have a packed two days with presentations addressing a wide range of issues and challenges currently facing the industry," explains Jane Bugler, IMCA's Technical Director. "Our annual event is far from being 'just another talking shop' as our final session with its title Concluding Remarks and Actions for IMCA indicates. We plan to go away from Stavanger with actions to undertake on behalf of our members and the industry as a whole.

"We have a particularly hard hitting opening session on Day One. Opening remarks by Hugo Bekker of Allseas, Chairman of our Marine Division Management Committee and session chairman Sigmund Lunde of Norkse Hydro will be followed by speakers addressing The Roles and Value of DP Vessels in Marine Emergency Intervention looking at case studies reflecting the regulator's perspective, and how a contractor responds - using examples like the Kursk and Estonia (Jens Christian Terjesen, Halliburton Subsea); Regulatory Developments in the Norwegian Sector for DP Vessels and DSVs (Olav Hauso, Norwegian Petroleum Directorate); and IMCA's President, John Smith of Halliburton Subsea will address the issue of Diving - the Future of the Industry."

Topics to be discussed in the Marine-Specific session that follows include the contentious issue of 'Safest Operating Mode: How it should be determined'; Experience of the West Venture DP Drilling Semi including Analysis and Testing; and Shallow water well intervention. Those interesting in diving will be able to attend a parallel session at which Thermal Testing of Hyperbaric Lifeboats: The Issues Arising in a Tropical Environment; Diving in Contaminated Waters; and Experience and Employment Profile of Diving Personnel will be discussed.

The Workshop sessions at IMCA's annual marine division seminar have a reputation for addressing highly topical issues not least of all because one of the sessions is traditionally left to delegates to choose the issue they want to discuss. This successful formula will be repeated in Stavanger. Topics already programmed for the other workshop sessions on Day One are DP Bridge-Dive Control Communications; DP Incidents; Thermal Testing of Hyperbaric Lifeboats; and Diving in Contaminated Waters.

Day Two

DP and other specialist marine-specific tools are the topics for Day Two. The day opens with two parallel sessions. The first dealing with key issues in DP operations on shuttle tankers and deep water drilling rigs - DP 2000 - Progress and Impact on Offtake Operations; DP Advisory Status - The Driller's Approach; and The Advantage of Riser Information to DP Drilling Units. The second with three challenges for specialist vessel operators - Halon Phase-out - Timing and Alternatives; Ballasting and Stability - Controlling the risks; and Offshore Lifting Operations - How to Reduce Downtime from the manufacturer's and the operator's perspective.

"Specialist consultant David Catchpole, who until recently was a highly level adviser to BP, tackles the dilemma faced by ship owners by the phase-out of Halon. His talk will cover five specific topics in his presentation on Halon Phase-Out," explains Jane Bugler.

• A regulatory summary of the Montreal Protocol, IMO requirements and the new European regulation EC 2037/2000. How these affect the maritime industry, nationally and internationally
• The availability of recycled halon
• What to look for when evaluating an alternative
• The currently available alternatives to halon that are suitable for use on-board vessels
• What the future holds for the maritime industry

This will be followed in the afternoon by a workshop in the form of a question and answer discussion on each of these topics.

Following the split sessions the conference will re-convene for a plenary session addressing QA/QC for Control Systems Software with Gerard Stenfert of Allseas providing The Contractor's Viewpoint and Richard Cox of C-Mar addressing the IMCA QA/QC Document. Other presentations include Does Better and More Information Make DP Safer and More Efficient (Allan Meahan, Alstom Power Conversion), Class 1 DP Vessels - Design and Familiarisation Problems (Carl Rob Schumacher, Alliance Technology AS), and Acceptance Criteria of Petrobras for DP Drilling Units.

In addition to the Halon Phase-Out workshop in the afternoon, other topics will be Riser Management on DP Drilling Rigs, Current Training Issues - Practical Operation of the Competence Scheme, and a Delegate Choice session. Following these workshops delegates, chairmen and speakers come together for concluding remarks and actions for IMCA led by Hugo Bekker, Chairman of IMCA's Marine Division and Tony Read, IMCA's Chief Executive.

More than a Conference

IMCA's Annual Seminar and Workshop also features a small exhibition enabling delegates to learn about the latest technological developments and services from IMCA members - including ABB, Fugro Seastar, Nautronix and Sonardyne - supplying the marine contracting sector.

Networking will yet again play an important role in the event - it's the event where the key operational personnel from the DP world meet. IMCA expects it will come to fill a similar role for offshore diving. There is a welcoming reception for delegates on Wednesday 12 September, a seminar dinner on 13 September and a barbecue at Flor and Fjere to close the seminar on 14 September. "From past experience we know that delegates use these social events to meet colleagues from around the world and keep discussions going," says Jane Bugler.

The 2000 Seminar held in Noordwijk aan Zee in The Netherlands attracted over 200 delegates. The Proceedings are now available at £30 for members and £100 for non-members.

Information on all aspects of the 2001 IMCA Marine Division Seminar are available from IMCA - e-mail: events@imca-int.com; website: http://www.imca-int.com/events (programme updates will appear on the website). The delegate fee is £325 for IMCA Members and £375 for Non-members; attendance for just the one day of the diving seminar is £200 for members and £225 for non-members. There is an additional charge of £40 for the final night's barbecue.