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Dive technician competence and training published by IMCA

Competent and well trained technicians are vital for safe offshore diving operations. Equipment used to support and conduct diving operations requires technicians for its installation, maintenance, inspection, testing and repair. The correct functioning of the equipment is essential to the well-being of the divers and other members of the dive team. Contractors who use the services of dive technicians have an obligation to ensure that personnel are correctly trained and have the required level of competence for the equipment, and in the operations they are conducting. With this in mind, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published ‘Dive Technician

IMCA Golf Day 2013 results

The results are in from the IMCA Golf Day 2013! It was a good day for Oceaneering International’s Kai Evans, who scooped up a hattrick of prizes for Individual Winner, Nearest the Pin on the 6th and the Best Front 9. London Offshore Consultants picked up the team prize with an impressive score of 142. Golf Day report 2013 IMCA held its 9th annual Golf Day on 16 May at Newmacher Golf Club, Aberdeenshire. Over 70 golfers from across IMCA’s membership formed 19 teams to do battle for the famous IMCA Quaich trophy. However, it was not just about first

Competence: Guidance on Assessor Training from IMCA

A competent workforce is more productive, operating with reduced risk, shorter downtime and fewer injuries. At the same time, there is need for a rigorous assessment procedure to be in place against which the workforce’s skills, forethought and judgement can be measured. With this in mind, the IMCA Competence Assurance and Assessment guidance was originally launched by the International Marine Contractors Association in January 1999, updated in 2003 and, more recently, between 2009 and 2012. It is designed to facilitate improved safety in the offshore industry by providing a framework for IMCA’s marine contractor members to assess and demonstrate to

Competence guidance on assessor training

A competent workforce is more productive, operating with reduced risk, shorter downtime and fewer injuries. At the same time, there is need for a rigorous assessment procedure to be in place against which the workforce’s skills, forethought and judgement can be measured. With this in mind, the IMCA Competence Assurance and Assessment guidance was originally launched by the International Marine Contractors Association in January 1999, updated in 2003 and, more recently, between 2009 and 2012. It is designed to facilitate improved safety in the offshore industry by providing a framework for IMCA’s marine contractor members to assess and demonstrate to

IMCA publishes guidelines on ROV installation on vessels

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published ‘Guidelines for installing ROV systems on vessels or platforms’ (IMCA R018). The new publication is aimed at vessel and platform owner/operators and designers; ROV contractor representatives; client and contractor staff who prepare bid documents and contracts; installation and rig managers; vessel and ROV managers; and vessel designers and builders. The purpose of IMCA R018 is to provide guidance on the installation of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) System, or Systems, on to vessels and/or platforms. It is not intended to be a definitive guideline; instead it is intended to assist vessel and

Key IMCA document available for wide consultation

One of the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) key Diving Equipment Systems Inspection Guidance Notes (DESIGN) – IMCA D 023 ‘DESIGN for Surface Oriented (Air) Diving Systems’ has been substantially revised, and is in its industry-wide consultation phase until 14 June 2013. “This is an important document and we have distributed the draft widely throughout the industry, but are eager to hear from all who are interested to become involved with the consultation exercise,” explains Jane Bugler, IMCA’s Technical Director.”D 023 was initially published in February 2000, and offers examples of good practice and gives advice on aspects of a

Guidance on DP jack-ups and use of dumb barges for offshore renewables sector from IMCA

An increasing number of members of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) are involved with the offshore renewables sector and for this reason the association has published ‘Guidance for the Positioning of Dynamically Positioned (DP) Jack-up Vessels on and off the Seabed” (IMCA M 223) and an updated version of their information note The Inspection and Auditing of Manned and Unmanned Barges’. Both are aimed at ensuring and enhancing offshore safety. “The aim of IMCA M 223 is to provide the owners and operators of dynamically positioned (DP) jack-up vessels with guidance to create procedures for going onto and leaving

IMCA's Contractual Relevance – Lessons Learnt event

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has, over the years, published a variety of guides, templates and discussion documents aimed at raising awareness on contracting issues, promoting discussion and providing tools that may be useful for its contractor members, their clients and sub-contractors. In recent years it has held an annual contracting event aimed at updating members, and their clients, on key issues. The latest in this series ‘Contractual Relevance – Lessons Learnt’ will be held on the afternoon of Tuesday 21 May onboard HQS Wellington, Temple Stairs, Victoria Embankment, London. “In the past this has been an ‘invitation only’

Airmic Conference 2013

On 10-12 June, Airmic Conference 2013, the biggest Commercial Insurance event of the year, is taking place in Brighton, UK. Over 800 industry buyers and sellers of the insurance market will attend, seeking to keep up-to-date with trends, discover new service providers, learn and network with their peers, and be inspired by keynote speakers. The organiser, Airmic, is a members’ association who support those responsible for risk management within their own companies. To find out more about Airmic and attending Airmic 2013 click here.

IMCA supports record-breaking Ocean Business event

Once again, IMCA has been involved with Ocean Business and this year the event has been a bigger hit than ever before. Our new Chief Executive, Chris Charman, our Membership Co-ordinator, Michelle Killington and our Technical Advisers, Nick Hough and Neil Evans were present over the course of the three day event to discuss the work of the Association, answer people’s questions and meet prospective members. On Tuesday 9 April Chris Charman presented ‘Managing risk together – IMCA’s role’ at the Blue Economy Conference, held alongside the event, which highlighted the combined need for maritime knowledge and what industry and

Changes in regulation impacting DP under the conference spotlight

There are many recent changes in regulation and others on the horizon that will impact on dynamic positioning (DP). For this reason, Ian Giddings, Technical Adviser (Marine) at the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) will deliver a presentation ‘Guidance on the changes in regulation and legislation impacting on DP’ at the fifth European Dynamic Positioning Conference being held in London on 20-21 June 2013. “I will look at some of these changes and their impact on the sector, in particular on people and equipment,” he explains.”Firstly there are the changes to the dynamic positing operator (DPO) training, experience and certification

Griffin: official IMCA travel adviser

IMCA are pleased to share the news that Griffin is our new official travel adviser. The relationship will provide a new standard of travel and logistics for our events and meetings world-wide. After meeting with various travel companies, IMCA chose to work with Griffin thanks to its reputation as the most respected travel specialist for the marine and offshore industries. As part of the agreement Griffin will be sponsoring a special evening function on this year’s IMCA Annual Seminar in Singapore in November 2013. More details will follow as the seminar approaches.For more information regarding Griffin please visit www.griffinglobalgroup.com

Airmic: Roads to Ruin – A Study of Major Risk Events: Their Origins, Impacts and Implications

IMCA Members may be interested to hear about the publication Roads to Ruin – A Study of Major Risk Events: Their Origins, Impacts and Implications which has been produced by Airmic, a fellow members’ association. The case studies outlined in Roads to Ruin consist of some of the world’s biggest organisations, with the risk events having considerable, often catastrophic, impacts on these organisations. The report has huge value, not only to risk professionals, but to the boards of directors to which they report. Airmic support those responsible for risk management and insurance within their own companies. Like IMCA, Airmic provide

The importance of reporting DP station keeping incidents

Accurate station keeping is essential for dynamically positioned (DP) vessels, and learning from others’ experiences of incidents is vital. Ian Giddings, Technical Adviser (Marine) at the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) will be speaking on the importance of IMCA Station Keeping Incident Reporting at the DPBrasil, the 1st Brazilian Conference on Dynamic Positioning, being held in Rio de Janeiro 23-25 April 2013. “In my presentation I will be looking at the long-established IMCA system for station keeping incident reporting for DP vessels, and the subsequent analysis of these incidents and preparation of our annual station keeping report,” he explains.”I will

Call for papers published for 21st IMCA annual seminar

Addressing the Challenges of New Frontiers’ is the theme of the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) Annual Seminar, for which the Call for Papers has been published. The 21st event in the annual series will be held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore on Wednesday 6-Thursday 7 November. The call for papers, for which abstracts of around 500 words are requested, is open until 26 April, and a template is available on the IMCA website at www.imca-int.com or from [email protected] “The theme of this year’s event could cover the challenges faced by marine contractors – in terms of remote locations,

IMCA addresses EU offshore regulators

Keeping offshore regulators around the globe in the picture about the activity of offshore contractors is an ever-increasing aspect of the work of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). Last week, on Tuesday 9 April, IMCA attended a meeting of the EU Offshore Authorities Group (EUOAG) in Brussels, where Emily Comyn, IMCA Technical Adviser for Regulatory Affairs, gave a presentation on IMCA’s aims and objectives, the key role marine contractors play in supporting offshore drilling, and how IMCA’s work fits in with the EUOAG’s objectives of safety promotion and identification of best practices. The EUOAG provides a forum for the

IMCA to hold competence workshop in Kuala Lumpur

A competent workforce is a productive one, and operates with fewer risks, meaning shorter downtimes and fewer injuries. Effective competence schemes established by companies of all sizes ensure confidence in the offshore industry, and that all people appointed to safety-critical positions can carry out their jobs in an effective manner. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has established a highly effective competence assurance and assessment framework, and as part of its Asia-Pacific Section meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday 27 June will run a competence workshop, which is open to members and non-members alike. Chief Executive Chris Charman, Technical Director

Competence DVD published by IMCA

Competence and training are core activities for the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). It provides guidance on competence assurance and assessment, training, and information on recruitment and careers in offshore, marine and underwater engineering to companies around the globe. Now to promote the importance of demonstrating competence in the workplace, IMCA has published a DVD that can be played on vessels and installation systems as part of familiarisation and induction exercises. Available in English, Portuguese, French, Indonesian, Italian, Spanish, Malay, Russian and Tagalog, the video looks at the ‘Why?’, ‘What?’, ‘When?’, ‘How?’, ‘Where?’ and ‘Who?’ aspects of competence (and a

IMCA publishes updated DESIGN for saturation (bell) diving systems

Offshore equipment and operating practices are routinely improved in the constant quest for ever-greater levels of safety and efficiency. The International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) newly published ‘Diving Equipment Systems Inspection Guidance Note (DESIGN) for Saturation (Bell) Diving Systems’ (IMCA D 024 Rev 1) reflects the changes that have taken place since its initial publication in 2001. “It is intended that this document should be used in conjunction with IMCA D 018 ‘Code of practice on the initial and periodic examination, testing and certification of diving plant and equipment’, says IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler.”Cross-references to this Code are provided

eCMID and CMID inspection report guidance

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Common Marine Inspection Document (CMID) and its electronic version eCMID have proved invaluable by providing a standard format for inspection of offshore vessels. Its use promotes safety and efficiency and can help reduce the number of repeat inspections on individual marine vessels. It has nearly 1,750 users in 76 countries, and can be used by IMCA members and non-members alike. IMCA has just published ‘Guidance on using the eCMID and the CMID inspection report database’ (IMCA M 167 Rev 1). “The purpose of this document is to give guidance on how to carry out