IMCA Press Release » IMCA publishes software QA/QC guidelines

With software updates provided on disk, via e-mail and from the Internet, it has become increasingly important for vessel operators to have a control system in place to manage software installed on their systems. Having identified the need for guidance in this area, IMCA - The International Marine Contractors Association - has published Guidelines for the Quality Assurance and Quality Control of Software (IMCA M 163).

"We first identified the need for this type of guidance when working on ensuring vessels were Y2K compliant," explains IMCA's Technical Director, Jane Bugler. "Member feedback has kept the matter on the agenda and our annual Station Keeping seminars have provided opportunities for workshops on the topic. Indeed, at this year's event, Gerard Stenfert of Allseas related a wholly fictitious tale of somebody using a DP computer to process other work resulting in a viral infection and a system crash. Though imagined, this scenario proved a useful, and highly memorable, reminder about the importance of QA/QC in this area. His presentation was followed by a review of the new QA/QC document by Richard Cox of C-Mar."

The new report provides structured guidance on the processes needed and is illustrated with flow charts that can easily be incorporated into a company's management system. The extensive and expert advice, although originally intended for DP, active mooring and position measurement systems, is equally applicable to the QA/QC of all software applications.

The new document's themes include control at the design stage, in documentation, in normal usage processes and in maintenance situations, as well as verification, and include specific sections on training and archiving. A chapter is devoted to the life cycle model and record. The appendix to the document features some nine extensive flowcharts, with related tables and spreadsheets, to clearly illustrate the concepts and processes talked through in the document.

"An electronic version is available to our members to allow for customisation and incorporation into company-specific management systems," explains Jane Bugler.

The report is available to members at £30 and to non-members at £100. Further information from, and orders to IMCA.

Notes to Editors (common)

IMCA is an international association with well over 800 members in 60 countries, as at September 2011, representing offshore, marine and underwater engineering companies. IMCA has four technical divisions, covering marine/specialist vessel operations, offshore diving, hydrographic survey and remote systems and ROVs, plus geographic sections for the Asia-Pacific, South America, Europe & Africa, Middle East & India and Central & North America regions. As well as a core focus on safety, the environment, competence and training. IMCA seeks to promote its members' common interests, to resolve industry-wide issues and to provide an authoritative voice for its members.
IMCA publishes some 200 guidance notes and technical reports. These have been developed over the years and are widely distributed. They are a definition of what IMCA stands for, including widely recognised diving and ROV codes of practice, DP documentation, marine good practice guidance, the Common Marine Inspection Document, safety recommendation, outline training syllabi and the IMCA competence scheme guidance. In addition to the range of printed guidance documents, IMCA also produces safety promotional materials, circulates information notes and safety flashes.
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For more details, please contact Hugh Williams, IMCA Chief Executive

IMCA PUBLISHES SOFTWARE QA/QC GUIDELINES