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Press Release /10
TRANSFER OF PERSONNEL TO AND FROM OFFSHORE VESSELS – NEW IMCA PUBLICATION
Personnel transfers at sea can be a risky business. With ever-improved offshore safety in mind, it is a topic that has led to the publication of ‘Guidance on the Transfer of Personnel to and from Offshore Vessels' (IMCA SEL 025 / IMCA M 202) by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA).
"One of the activities specific to offshore operations is the transfer of personnel between vessels and other offshore structures," explains IMCA's Chief Executive, Hugh Williams. "Such transfers can include movements of personnel at crew change and shift change from vessel to vessel and also between vessels, offshore structures, barges and crew boats as well as to and from the quayside."
"Our new document is intended to provide guidance to the offshore industry on the safe transfer of personnel at sea. It covers risk assessment, training and competence, responsibility, equipment and communications, and focuses on the main methods of personnel transfer between vessels, offshore structures and the quayside."
"We identify the primary methods of personnel transfer as small boat or launch; larger crew boat or support vessel; personnel transfer basket; gangways, bridge or accommodation ladders, including motion-compensated hydraulic gangways; and mating 'surfer' structures allowing personnel to transfer safely."
"For each case the new guidance note covers the main safety issues and provides information on the specialist equipment that may be involved (such as 'surfers') as well as special duties or responsibilities of personnel involved, particularly with regard to communications. We do not cover transfer by helicopter as this is very much a separate subject, adequately addressed elsewhere by specialist publications."
Members can download the document free of charge from IMCA's members-only website; printed copies are available at £2.50 each for members and £5.00 for non-members and can be ordered online at www.imca-int.com/publications or from publications@imca-int.com.
Further information on IMCA and its work on behalf of members is at www.imca-int.com and from IMCA, 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0AU, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7824 5520; Fax: +44 (0)20 7824 5521.
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.
- Judith Patten is here to help you if you want any additional information on IMCA; would like to discuss a feature article; want to organise interviews with key members of the IMCA team, etc.
Press releases issued by:
Judith Patten at JPPR
34 Ellerker Gardens, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6AA, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8241 1912
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8940 6211
judithpatten@wwmail.co.uk
For more details, please contact Hugh Williams, IMCA Chief Executive
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