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Year: 2017

IMCA takes action as countdown to deadline for submission on the Jones Act changes draws close – 4 days to go

Myth – Vessel equipment is merchandise The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is selecting a key fact-a-day on the 7-day countdown to the April 18, 2017 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) comment submission deadline, to highlight the potential risks if CBP revokes 40 years of precedent as reflected in its own rulings. Rulings that have brought decades of stability and billions of dollars in investment to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico. IMCA issued its vessel impact report on April 4, 2017 and it is crammed with information and facts and figures showing that the

IMCA takes action as countdown to deadline for submission on the Jones Act changes draws close – 5 days to go

Myth – Improved US jobs market The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is selecting a key fact-a-day on the 7-day countdown to the April 18, 2017 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) comment submission deadline, to highlight the potential risks if CBP revokes 40 years of precedent as reflected in its own rulings. Rulings that have brought decades of stability and billions of dollars in investment to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico. IMCA issued its vessel impact report on April 4, 2017 and it is crammed with information and facts and figures showing that the

IMCA takes action as countdown to deadline for submission on the Jones Act changes draws close – 6 days to go

Myth – Economic investment The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is selecting a key fact-a-day on the 7-day countdown to the April 18, 2017 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) comment submission deadline, to highlight the potential risks if CBP revokes 40 years of precedent as reflected in its own rulings. Rulings that have brought decades of stability and billions of dollars in investment to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico. IMCA issued its vessel impact report on April 4, 2017 and it is crammed with information and facts and figures showing that the U.S. coastwise

IMCA takes action as countdown to deadline for submission on the Jones Act changes draws close – 7 days to go

Myth – Coastwise Fleet Capability The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is selecting a key fact-a-day on the 7-day countdown to the April 18, 2017 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) comment submission deadline, to highlight the potential risks if CBP revokes 40 years of precedent as reflected in its own rulings. Rulings that have brought decades of stability and billions of dollars in investment to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico. IMCA issued its vessel impact report on April 4, 2017 and it is crammed with information and facts and figures showing that the U.S.

IMCA to hold marine seminar in the Netherlands

‘Practical Vessel Assurance for Safe & Efficient Operations’ is the theme of a two-day marine seminar to be held by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 June, at the Novotel Amsterdam Schiphol. The seminar will bring together IMCA members and guests eager to listen to presentations on four key topics – ‘Reactivation of DP vessels after a period of layup’; ‘Investigation and analysis of DP station keeping events’; ‘The role maritime bodies play in vessel assurance’; and ‘How IMCA’s Common Marine Inspection Document (eCMID) assists in the vessel assurance process’.  Two of the presentations

New report confirms potentially serious damage to the deepwater construction market in the US Gulf of Mexico from proposed Jones Act changes

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) issued its report on 4 April into the potential impact of the Jones Act proposals published by the US Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) on 18 January.  The report is available on IMCA’s website *. IMCA has conducted a detailed analysis of the technical requirements of conducting various operations in deepwater (>1,000m or 3,280 ft) cross-matched to the vessels active in the Gulf of Mexico in late 2016. The results confirm the practical reality that the US coastwise fleet is unable, on its own, to support activities in the deepwater market. For instance:

IMCA publishes report on offshore construction vessel capacity in the US Gulf of Mexico

Following the bulletin published by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on 17 January proposing to revoke or modify a series of rulings relating to offshore activities and the Jones Act, IMCA has completed an analysis of fleet capacity in the US Gulf of Mexico (GoM) should the revocations go ahead. The report, Marine Construction Vessel Impacts of Proposed Modifications and Revocations of Jones Act Letters Related to Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Activities, is now available to read. The full report and its executive summary are available to read below:

IMCA eCMID workshop to be held in Stavanger

DIARY DATE Event: eCMID Workshop Theme: ‘eCMID and eMISW contribution to vessel assurance processes’ Dates: Monday 3 April 2017 Venue: Oceaneering International’s facility in Stavanger, Norway Organised by: International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Registration/information: www.imca-int.com/events and [email][email protected][/email] The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) holds regular workshops to engage with the eCMID community including vessel operators, inspectors, and clients. The next workshop being held at Oceaneering International’s facility in Stavanger, Norway on the afternoon of Monday 29 May, like all such workshops in 2017, has as its core theme how IMCA vessel inspection tools can assist in vessel assurance efforts for

IMCA to hold two-day ROV seminar in Stavanger

DIARY DATE: Event: ROV Seminar Theme: ‘The future for remote systems and ROVs in the offshore construction industry‘ Dates: Tuesday 30-Wednesday 31 May 2017 Venue: Oceaneering International’s facility in Stavanger, Norway Organised by: International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Registration/information: www.imca-int.com/events and [email][email protected][/email] Significant opportunities and challenges face the subsea industry – increasingly strident requirements to satisfy environmental legislation is one; the challenges of ROV utilisation in the growing renewables sector is another. The need to recruit and retain properly trained, competent people remains vital. These challenges and opportunities have led the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) to organise an ROV

Are you prepared? New IMCA safety videos and pocket cards launched

Effective promotion of safe working practices is high on the workplace agenda, and keeping safety material fresh and accessible remains vital to putting over the message. This has led to the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) launching a new series of mini safety videos, each with a supporting pocket safety card. Scene from ‘Preventing slips and trips’ safety video The series launches with ten videos with ‘Be Prepared to Work Safely’ as part of the title. The first is ‘Be Prepared to Work Safely – Working at Height’ and there are nine others dealing with preventing slips and trips; toolbox

Making Waves #82 – Quarter 1, 2017

Making Waves 82 (PDF) In this edition of IMCA’s newsletter, Making Waves, we go behind the scenes of the first US offshore wind project, with the President of Deepwater Wind and former IMCA SEL Committee Chairman, Chris van Beek. In a wide ranging interview, he gives us a look at some of the operational, logistical, regulatory and contractual challenges that were overcome to deliver the project. Other highlights of issue 82 include: Progress on the transition to the new governance arrangements in 2017, particularly committee member tools and electionsThis new website and changes to document access and classificationLaunch of the new series of safety

New IMCA website launched

We’ve launched a new IMCA website.  Among the key changes are: larger, more legible text a responsive layout, which adapts for desktop, tablet or smartphone use navigation intended to help you quickly access the latest resources and find out how to participate at events and in other ways an updated colour palette and iconography which members will recognise from monthly summary emails. We’re keen to receive feedback on the new site, so that we can further improve our online presence – please use our website feedback form or email [email][email protected][/email].

Fugro Director Joins IMCA’s Board

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is pleased to confirm the appointment of Mr Mark Heine to its governing board. Mr Heine is a senior executive with Fugro, which has been a strong supporter of the Association for many years. Mr Heine is a member of the Management Board of Fugro and is the Director of the Marine Division. He has been with Fugro since 2000, and has served, amongst others roles as Director of Marine, Survey & Geotech, and Regional Manager Europe-Africa for the Survey Division. He holds an MSc in Geodetic Engineering from Delft University of Technology. “The

IMCA welcomes extra 60 days for public comment on Jones Act

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) and their members with vessels active in US waters have welcomed news that the period for public consultation and comment has been extended by an additional 60 days. “This means that we, and others, including our members, and their clients, have until April 18 to comment on the proposals put forward by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency to revoke longstanding decisions made over the last 40 years concerning the Jones Act,” explains Allen Leatt, IMCA’s Chief Executive. “The additional 60 days will enable us to undertake very necessary research into the

IMO accepts IMCA paper as basis for updating DP guidelines

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has agreed to continue using the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) document covering The training and experience of key DP personnel as the basis of the IMO Guidelines for Dynamic Positioning System (DP) Operator Training (MSC/Circ.738). The IMCA guidance (IMCA M 117) has recently been revised and earlier this week IMO Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 4) agreed to revise MSC/Circ. 738 to reflect the revision. In addition, the Sub-Committee decided to make a reference of IMCA Guidance in the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Code. “IMO’s circular

IMCA comments on potential wide sweeping changes to Jones Act decisions

Members of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) with vessels active in US waters, together with their clients, have expressed serious concern over the hasty proposals by the Customs and Border Protection agency to revoke longstanding decisions made over the last 40 years concerning the Jones Act. These proposals, which represent a major change in maritime policy, have been introduced with no prior consultation, in the final two days of the Obama Administration, allowing only 30 days for public comment. The intention is to prevent non-Jones Act qualified vessels transporting merchandise between coastwise points. However, the effect may be to

IMCA North America Region meeting considers challenges of using ISNetworld

The focus of the first International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) North America Region meeting of the year will be dealing with contractors’ difficulties when using ISNetworld, which was established to streamline the contractor-qualification process by collecting and maintaining current data in one central location, allowing Hiring Clients to assess contractor compliance. The meeting, being held at the Houston Marriott Energy Corridor on Thursday 16 February from 08:30 CST, will include a mini workshop on the use of the ISNetworld system by both clients and operators. The day-long meeting, with networking opportunities, will be attended by Richard Benzie, IMCA’s Technical Director

Busy spring for IMCA with an extensive seminar and workshop programme

During 2016 the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) announced it had changed its seminar strategy, replacing the traditional large annual event with a series of highly focused technical seminars. These proved very successful, and a commitment was made to build on this strategy in 2017. This has resulted in seven events being scheduled for spring 2017. “Our niche events are tailored to tackle specific topics, bringing together subject matter specialists to discuss solutions to industry issues,” explains Richard Benzie, IMCA’s Technical Director. The Spring 2017 events will be held in London, Stavanger and Amsterdam. Four of the seven events relate

IMCA liaises with EU offshore regulators

Promoting collaboration between key international and regional regulators – such as the IMO and the European Commission – to achieve common positions on matters which affect the operations of offshore contractors is a pivotal aspect of the work of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). Last week, on Thursday 19 January 2017, IMCA participated in the 13th session of the EU Offshore Authorities Group (EUOAG) in Brussels, where Eleni Antoniadou, IMCA Policy and Regulatory Affairs Adviser, gave a presentation on IMCA’s reporting tools (eCMID, Safety Flashes and Dynamic Positioning Station Keeping Event Report); the key role marine contractors play in

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