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Year: 2020

IMCA Offshore Renewables Webinar – ‘Health & Safety – Our Industry’s Priority’

With the aim of raising awareness of health and safety requirements, and the importance of sharing lessons learned within the offshore renewable energy industry, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is holding a webinar on ‘Health & Safety – Our industry’s priority’. This online event, hosted by IMCA’s Marine Renewable Energy Committee on 17 November at 14:00hrs GMT, provides an opportunity for IMCA Members to participate in a session focusing on health and safety in the offshore renewables industry. The current agenda is as follows: Moderated by Alan MacLeay, Chair of IMCA’s Marine Renewable Energy CommitteeAllen Leatt, IMCA Chief ExecutiveTrevor

IMCA to withdraw classic Windows eCMID Application

The International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) eCMID system provides the marine and offshore industry with standardised formats for vessel inspection. Since its inception it has consistently evolved enabling Accredited Vessel Inspectors (AVIs) to use current devices to ensure a user-friendly effective solution. In July 2020 IMCA launched a new, cross-platform eCMID Inspection App that has proved so successful that its predecessor, the classic Windows application, will be withdrawn at the end of 2020. The app, available via any modern browser, mirrors the features of the existing Windows application and allows AVIs to complete and submit inspection reports electronically while on

Making Waves – October 2020

Keep up to date with the latest information from IMCA – read our October 2020 issue. In this issue, we cover: IMCA adopts environmental sustainability roadmapDiving Supervisor CPD requirements for 2021eCMID Inspection App changesCOVID-19 updates and IMO reportLatest publications and event reports

IMCA Supports Industry Event on Sustainability: The Subsea Industry and the Evolution of Energy

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) continues to be involved in a jointly run industry event devised and run in conjunction with The Society for Underwater Technology and The Hydrographic Society in Scotland. This annual event is scheduled to take place online only for the first time and is scheduled to run over a period of three days (3-5 November) with each session lasting two and a half hours. Technology developments which are key to the sustainability of energy will be discussed across the three sessions. Each session will set the scene with a keynote speaker and feature elevator pitches

Register for IMCA’s Diving CPD

Register for IMCA’s app-based continuing professional development (CPD) scheme for diving supervisors, which incorporates the latest in training techniques to support diving supervisors in keeping up to date with current information and guidelines from IMCA. Register here The scheme is currently voluntary and free to all IMCA certified supervisors with applications being accepted from both Diver Certification Board of Canada (DCBC) and Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS) supervisors as well About the App and Scheme The app is user friendly and can be used across many mobile devices and operating systems, on or offline, allowing users the flexibility of choosing when and

IMCA Publishes Basic Training Document Aimed at Offshore Renewables Sector

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published ‘Basic Safety Training Requirements for Personnel Employed in the Offshore Renewable Energy Sector’ (IMCA C 018). It provides standard basic safety training requirements for inclusion at contract awards stage covering those employed on-board vessels during the construction and maintenance support phases of offshore renewable energy projects. The new guidance document incorporates an invaluable matrix to aid clarity for the sector. The ‘Basic Safety Training Matrix’ defines the minimum level of health and safety training, and medical fitness needed to work on, and from, vessels engaged on an offshore renewable energy project. It

IMCA Publishes a New Code of Practice for Offshore Pipeline and Umbilical Installation Systems

In April 2019 the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA’s) Marine Division Management Committee set up a workgroup to focus on developing a code of practice for offshore pipelines and umbilical installation systems. Bringing together world-leading pipelaying contractors, Allseas, Subsea 7, McDermott, Saipem and TechnipFMC, the workgroup came together to share knowledge and best practice in order to establish a standard for the industry. This has resulted in the publication of the new ‘Code of Practice for Offshore Pipeline and Umbilical Installation Systems’ (IMCA M 253). The new Code of Practice includes all equipment required to lay the product safely and

IMCA Awards – Still Time to Submit Your Nominations

The nominations process for 2020 IMCA Awards is still open. All IMCA Members are welcome to submit their nominations. There are three categories for 2020: SafetyEnvironmental SustainabilityCOVID-19 initiatives Read about the criteria for nominations, the submissions process and previous winners Details of how to enter are included below and in the Awards flyer. Previous Winners IMCA Awards – Winners 2018 IMCA Awards – Winners 2019 Environmental Sustainability Award 2019 – Subsea 7 and Eidesvik – Hybrid Life of Field Vessel ‘Seven Viking’.2018 – TechnipFMC’s Marine Operation Services – eliminating use of single use plastics Safety Award 2019 – Heerema –

IMCA’s Global Reach: AWEA Offshore Windpower Virtual Summit

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is presenting at the AWEA Offshore Windpower Virtual Summit on 13 October 2020. Captain Andy Goldsmith, Technical Adviser – Marine and Bruce Gresham, Director of Client Engagement, North America, will give a joint presentation on ‘Preparing the Workforce – Industry Education and Training’ (15:15 EST/20:15 GMT). “The material included in educational and familiarisation programmes is based on operational knowledge and experience. IMCA Members, like those involved in our Marine Renewable Energy Committee, share their experience and knowledge to produce industry accepted guidance documents. Prepared by the industry for the industry, IMCA Members are required

IMCA and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board Webinar

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) invites its Members to participate in a webinar on 7 October introducing the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), one of the globally recognised standards for reporting sustainability information.   Environmental Sustainability is a strategic theme for IMCA and as such hosting this webinar forms part of our approach to raising the profile of this subject across our membership. During this 40 minute webinar, IMCA’s Technical Adviser on Environmental Sustainability, Nadine Robinson and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)’s Director of Corporate Outreach, Neil Stewart will introduce the 77 industry-specific SASB standards, highlighting those of

IMCA Lifting & Rigging Webinar – 1 October

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is holding a Lifting & Rigging Webinar on 1 October 2020 with the theme ‘Crane-Systems: Offshore Lifting’. This online event, hosted by IMCA’s Lifting & Rigging Committee, provides an opportunity for IMCA Members to participate in an event dedicated to key aspects of lifting and rigging. This webinar will look at: Work programme – IMCA’s Lifting & Rigging Committee Interpreting Crane Capability – An Operator’s Perspective Offshore and Subsea Cranes – including digital innovations The Stability Frame – innovation in offshore wind turbine installation Offshore lifting at height – offshore wind turbine construction/maintenance  

Agencies in the United Nations issue a statement on Crew Changes

United Nations’ Agencies issue a Joint Statement calling on all Governments to immediately recognise seafarers as key workers, and to take swift and effective action to eliminate obstacles to crew changes, so as to address the humanitarian crisis faced by the shipping sector, ensure maritime safety and facilitate economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic Read the statement here on our website      

New Module for IMCA’s Diving CPD

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) launches the third module for its App-based continuing professional development (CPD) scheme for Diving Supervisors on 1 September. The App incorporates the latest in training techniques to support Diving Supervisors in keeping up to date with current information and guidelines from IMCA. The new module Module three is now available and covers the following areas: Trapped Diver umbilical in incidents Management of Change Hat Hygiene Diving Physics Decompression Illness (DCI) Bell Batteries Module four is scheduled for launch in December this year. The number of users has grown from the initial 250 at launch

Important Update to COVID-19 Diving Information Notes

Please note the issue of two recently published Information Notes advising Members of IMCA’s current policy on:   Renewal of Diver Medic Certification During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Rev. 1 Updated Information Note:  IMCA D05/20 – Rev 1  ( link)   Policy for the validity of diver medicals during the COVID-19 Pandemic Updated Information Note:  IMCA D19/20 – Rev 2.1  (link) Call to action Please ensure that you familiarise yourselves with these latest updates and share them with the appropriate individuals within your organisation. All previous versions of these documents have now been withdrawn.

IMCA continues to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis surrounding crew changes

IMCA is collaborating with its International and European maritime social partners, the European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) in writing to the EU institutions, i.e. the Presidents of the European Parliament, Council, Commission and to the German Presidency, as well as the heads of EU Member States on the urgent topic of crew changes. The letters call for political leadership and commitment to the welfare of seafarers. These letters highlight the fact that all industry stakeholders have been working incessantly over the past months to ensure crew changes are able to happen. While guidance

Survey on health protection measures on board ships in response to the coronavirus pandemic

The COVID-19 related restrictions on crew changes have a major impact on the health and well-being of seafarers. Although some Governments have taken action to alleviate the situation, more than 200,000 seafarers are still waiting to be repatriated, many remaining on board long beyond the end of their original contracts. We would like to invite you to take part in a short survey on health protection measures on board ships in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The objective of this survey is to gain further understanding of the health protection measures introduced by companies onboard their ships during the pandemic,

IMCA launches progressive web app for eCMID

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) announces the launch of its Progressive Web App (PWA) for its Common Marine Inspection Document system. IMCA’s eCMID system provides the marine and offshore industry with standardised formats for vessel inspection. It offers a safety management system (SMS) ‘health check’ and can help improve the quality and consistency of inspections, as well as reducing the frequency of inspections on individual vessels through the adoption of a commonly recognised inspection process. This new eCMID inspection app has been through a rigorous testing process with a group of accredited vessel inspectors (AVIs). The app mirrors the

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