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Year: 2020

IMCA and Industry Group Lobbying IMO on Behalf of Offshore Workers

IMCA is playing a key role in an industry group lobbying the IMO to support a recommendation for Governments and national authorities to facilitate the movement of offshore energy sector personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. An industry group comprising IADC, IAGC, IMCA, IOGP and ISOA, having gained initial approval from IMO, has now formally written to the IMO Secretary-General to gain recognition of offshore energy sector personnel as key workers alongside seafarers and marine personnel. If approved, the IMO Recommendation should facilitate easier movement during mobilisation and demobilisation for crew changes. Read the Industry Group Letter here Read the IMO

IMCA Diving Experience Enhanced

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is pleased to announce that Phil Towers has joined the team as Technical Adviser – Diving. Phil Towers has extensive experience in the subsea construction industry having held diving roles with operators BP, ExxonMobil, Qatargas and Repsol Sinopec. A major part of his career was spent with what is now known as TechnipFMC as a discipline expert in their Diving and Operations Support Group, sharing project information and lessons learned, providing assurance to clients in the safe planning and best practice execution of projects. Phil was a working diver for 18 years working on

IMCA Supports Call to Recognise All Seafarers and Offshore Workers

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is supporting the call to action to recognise the significant efforts being made by seafarers and offshore workers globally during these challenging times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Associations such as the International Chamber of Shipping, its members, shipowners and port operators are encouraging vessel masters to participate in an act of recognition by requesting that all vessels in ports around the world sound their ship’s whistle on 1 May 2020 at 12.00hrs, providing it is safe to do so. This move is to celebrate and recognise the contributions and sacrifices that all workers,

IMCA Appoints DP Specialist to Technical Team

Mark de Barr has joined the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) as Technical Adviser – Marine specialising in Dynamic Positioning (DP) and vessel assurance. Mark has joined the global trade association after working as freelance consultant engineer providing project management, inspections, audits and marine warranty services. His extensive career has encompassed roles with Bue Marine, GEO Marine, Swire Pacific Offshore, Sealion, Gulf Offshore. Mark Ford, Technical Director, IMCA stated, “We are delighted to welcome Mark to the technical team. He brings a wealth of experience in offshore operations, vessel assurance and DP (Dynamic Positioning). He is expert in offshore lifting

IMCA Shares COVID-19 Guidance

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) continues to add to its dedicated COVID webpage a variety of information and links to be of use to its membership. The compilation includes COVID-19-related IMCA Safety Flashes and IMCA Information Notes, including those relating to the extension of renewal periods for certain industry recognised certificates e.g. for diver medicals and for DESIGN audits of diving systems. There is also specific DP information and links to relevant IMCA news and press releases. Various information and updates on operational matters from member companies are added as the situation changes and evolves. Additionally, the page features

IMCA Announces Successful Launch of Diving CPD Scheme

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is pleased to announce the successful launch of its App-based continuing professional development (CPD) scheme for diving supervisors. 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 scheme went live in early April with 250 diving supervisors who had pre-registered for enrolment. For 2020, the scheme is voluntary and free to all IMCA certified supervisors, and applications will be accepted from both DCBC and ADAS supervisors as well. However from 2021, it will become mandatory for all supervisors

IMCA COVID-19 Update

View COVID_19 update which collates the ongoing work of IMCA in tackling the many practical issues that have arisen as a result of lockdowns and travel restrictions. It also contains feedback from a number of Member companies and other associations on some current practices in addressing these problems. We would encourage our membership to share their solutions with us for the betterment of our industry. News Coverage Date Article Source 16 April 2020 The maritime industry remains active during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic in a bid to ensure the future of the industry…. Read more Industry active during COVID-19 pandemic Maritime Journal

IMO Secretary-General Seeks UN Support Over “Keyworker” Designation for Seafarers

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has asked the United Nations system agencies to support IMO in its request to governments to declare seafarers, port personnel and other crucial maritime workers as key personnel. Mr. Lim made the plea during a virtual meeting (1 April) with other UN chiefs and the UN Secretary-General.  The meeting addressed the impact of COVID-19 on, among other things, disruption and restrictions to travel, trade flows, global logistics, supply of food, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. During the meeting, Mr Lim highlighted the importance of welfare and well-being of maritime personnel and particularly seafarers and the significance of crew changes

IMCA Actively Participates in COVID-19 Pandemic Industry Group

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is part of a COVID-19 Industry Group which has collaborated with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labor Organization (ILO) to develop a preliminary list of recommendations for Governments and relevant national authorities on the facilitation of maritime trade during the pandemic. This COVID-19 Pandemic Industry Group comprises a broad cross section of global industry associations with consultative status at IMO representing the maritime transportation sector: ICS, BIMCO, CLIA, FONASBA, IACS, IAPH, IMCA, IMEC, INTERCARGO, INTERFERRY, INTERMANAGER, INTERTANKO, IPTA, ITF, P&I Clubs and WSC (plus ASA and ECSA). In

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for Diving Contractors

Guidance for Diving Contractors is provided below and also available to download here 1 BACKGROUND The novel Coronavirus disease, now named COVID-19, is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. It was first identified during an outbreak in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has since spread worldwide with increasing signs that it is spreading easily in the community. There is currently no vaccine to protect against COVID-19, and no specific treatment for the infection. The best way to protect against infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. The aims of this

Marine and DP Assurance – IMCA Advice During Ongoing COVID-19 Situation

In view of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, and the extremely challenging times that many are facing, IMCA recommends the following approach to marine assurance activities, should it not be possible to obtain assurance services as a direct result in the vessel’s region of operation. This information is also available as an Information Note which can be download from here eCMID/eMISW – for audits expiring between now (March) and July 2020, IMCA recommends that the validity be extended for four months. The eCMID database website is being temporarily updated so that all expired reports are automatically available for four months following

Pre-registration Open for Diving Supervisors Certification

IMCA is introducing a continuing professional development (CPD) scheme for diving supervisors, following a successful pilot which commenced in September 2019.  The CPD scheme incorporates the latest in training techniques to support diving supervisors in keeping up to date with the latest information and guidelines from IMCA. The CPD system will go live to IMCA’s global diving community in Q1 2020 and from Q1 2021 will be a mandatory requirement to maintain IMCA certification. More details will appear here shortly – in the meantime, please read our latest press release for more details. Pre-Registration The CPD scheme is due to

IMCA’s DP Competence Assurance in the Spotlight in Rio

Vessel and crew competence assurance were firmly in the spotlight at the South America Regional Meeting of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) in Rio de Janeiro which saw a record attendance of IMCA members and guests on 5 March. Following a global update on IMCA activity by Captain Andy Goldsmith, Technical Adviser – Marine, the attention turned to competence assurance, when Gisele Mangifeste, Marine Superintendent, Total, spoke on ‘Client requirements for dynamically positioned (DP) vessel and crew competence assurance’. The second guest presentation of the day on ‘IMCA assurance processes eCMID and eMISW’ was given by Alex Castro, Senior

IMCA Instrumental in IMO Establishing Correspondence Group to Revise Diving Code

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is pleased to announce that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE) at its 7th session has endorsed the establishment of an intersessional Correspondence Group to progress the revision and update of the IMO Code of Safety for Diving Systems (resolution A.831 (19) and the Guidelines and Specifications for Hyperbaric Evacuation Systems (resolution A.692 (17)). The Correspondence Group is tasked to: Consider key areas to be addressed for revising the Code of Safety for Diving Systems (resolution A.831(19)), based on document SSE 7/14, in particular, paragraph 6 of the

Changes to Schedule and Format of Some IMCA Events

In consideration of travel restrictions being adopted by many of our Member companies, and in order to minimise risk, uncertainty and potential costs for our members, we have taken precautionary measures to cancel two technical seminars scheduled to take place early in June. The Lifting & Rigging and Competence & Training Committees will review their plans for holding these events at a later date. Additionally, we have made the decision to change the format of our scheduled face to face regional meetings between now and the end of June. These meetings will now take the form of webinars which will

IMCA Driving Collaboration Offshore Brazil

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is presenting at The Global Offshore Brazil Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 3 March 2020. IMCA’s Captain Andy Goldsmith, Technical Adviser – Marine, and Fugro’s John Chatten, who is also IMCA’s South America Regional Chairman, will give a joint presentation on how IMCA is driving collaboration offshore Brazil. Setting the scene Andy Goldsmith explains: “We are delighted to participate in this event as it is an ideal opportunity for us to give an overview of how IMCA is working together with regulators and clients to assist as Brazil re-emerges as the world’s most prolific

IMCA Diving CPD App Exceeds Expectations in Trial Phase

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has successfully completed trials of its Diving Supervisor CPD App. IMCA launched a pilot Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme for diving supervisors in September 2019. This followed announcements of the programme in November 2018, outlining the development of an App based scheme incorporating the very latest in training techniques to support diving supervisors in keeping up to date with the latest information and guidelines from IMCA. Trials of the App have been completed by a representative cross-section of diving supervisors from leading contractors in the industry who were invited to participate in the consultation

IMCA Successfully Achieves ISO 27001 Certification

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has recently passed an ISO 27001 (Information Security Management) Stage 2 Audit in addition to its annual ISO 9001 surveillance audit. ISO 27001 is the standard created by the International Organisation for Standardization which deals with Information Security Management and is a way of ensuring that information security risks are managed effectively. The standard helps organisations to establish and maintain an effective Information Security Management System (ISMS) using a continual improvement approach. On news that the association’s audits have been successful, CEO, Allen Leatt said:  “Both audits were passed with zero findings which is

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