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Year: 2022

Making Waves – December 2022

CEO Update – December 2022 Welcome to the final edition of Making Waves for 2022. We recently welcomed Hans Dieteren, Group Director the Offshore Energy Division at Boskalis, to our Board of Directors, which now completes the planned expansion of the Board. Alongside our highly successful work plans carried out by our committees in 2022, we have been busy getting back on the road with a series of regional meetings, technical seminars, and industry events. We have certainly enjoyed reconnecting with our Members and colleagues across the industry. I was delighted to personally attend a number of these events which

Updates to IMCA’s eCMID and eMISW Inspection System

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) dedicated eCMID website at www.ecmid.com provides the marine and offshore industry with a wealth of information on what the eCMID and eMISW vessel inspection reports are, why they benefit the industry, how to use the database and inspection app, along with news on updates affecting the system. Over 1,500 vessels worldwide are currently covered by a live inspection report providing a safety management system health check for both operators and clients. The latest additions to the website embrace a new quality assurance process alongside updates to IMCA M 167 – Guidance on the IMCA

Hazards of using hold-back vessels during DP Ops

The International Marine Contractors (IMCA) has published guidance highlighting the hazards of using hold-back vessels during dynamic positioning (DP) operations. Richard Purser, IMCA Technical Adviser Marine explained why The Hazards of Using Hold-Back Vessels during DP Operations has been published: “IMCA realises that use of hold-back or push vessels is commonplace in certain parts of the industry, but we feel it is essential to stress the inherent risks of such activity. “Our newly published IMCA M 260 sets out the pitfalls of using towing and/or push vessels intended to provide additional propulsion force and/or security for DP vessels engaged in

IMCA’s Safety and Environmental Sustainability Awards

Nominations for two highly sought after International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) awards opened today [date]. The first, the IMCA Safety Award, re-enforces the message that safety lies at the heart of all that the association does for its members and the industries they serve. The second the IMCA Environmental Sustainability Award reflect the steps that IMCA members are taking on this front, using the IMCA Code of Practice on Environmental Sustainability as their guide. The criteria for both awards and submission information available online. All entries should be submitted via email to [email protected] by 31 January 2023. The Awards will be presented

How to enter IMCA 2022 Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) 2022 Awards programme presenting an opportunity to showcase our Member company initiatives in the key areas of Safety and Environmental Sustainability. These awards are open to all member companies irrespective of category of membership, length of membership, size of company, geographic location – share your initiatives to showcase your work. The Environmental Sustainability Award will be assessed on advancing environmental sustainability in areas such as the scale of environmental benefit; innovation; commitment of the workforce; social and economic benefits; quantification of the improvements; and the possibilities for future

Feature your innovative solution at IMCA’s DP Conference

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is inviting companies with new technology or innovations applicable to the offshore energy  industry to apply to take part in their ever-popular Quickfire, Totally Technology Session at the IMCA DP Conference 2023 (Amsterdam, 9-10 May 2023).Companies interested in being considered for a 10-minute presentation ‘against the clock’ slot in the session should send their proposed presentation; an abstract explaining the new (or evolving) technology or innovation (150 words max); and any additional supporting video/photographs/charts to [email protected] by 23:59 hrs GMT on 28 February 2023. Entrants should be companies, not individuals, and should be IMCA

Making Waves – September/October 2022

CEO Update – September/October 2022 Welcome to Making Waves. At last, I am able to report that we have held a successful series of face-to-face membership and industry events this year. We started in Aberdeen in February and by the end of next month we will have completed all our regional events together with two technical seminars. Many thanks go to all our members who have taken part and contributed to the success of these events. Thanks also go to the IMCA secretariat and in particular our communications team for getting us quickly back into the swing of being on

Focus on the ‘Energy Field of the Future’ at Joint Industry Event

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), The Society for Underwater Technology (SUT), and The Hydrographic Society UK and Ireland (THS: UK&I) Scotland Branch are jointly holding their well-respected joint industry seminar on 10 November 2022 in Aberdeen, UK. This year the seminar has a highly topical theme – ‘The Energy Field of the Future’.As Stephen Peet, IMCA’s Technical Director explained: “The energy industry is currently experiencing a period of significant change, with ever increasing focus on sustainability, while marine and underwater technologies continue to advance.“With this scale of change ongoing, what does the field of the future look like, and

IMCA’s Lifting Guidance Now Co-Branded with G+

The International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) recently reviewed and updated Guidelines for Lifting Operations (IMCA LR 006) has been republished with new dual branding featuring G+, the global offshore wind health and safety organisation. This is the association’s first dual branded publication and ensures wider circulation, acceptance and use of this key document, in the offshore wind industry.Mark Ford, IMCA’s Marine & Quality Manager explained: “LR 006 has safe and efficient operations at its heart and thus attunes with G+ aims. We are delighted to be linked with them in this way, their branding on this important document demonstrates their

Countdown – IMCA’s Lifting & Rigging Seminar looms large!

In just over a week more than a hundred lifting and rigging experts from marine related contractors, suppliers, academia, associations and related industry bodies, will gather in Amsterdam for the 11th International Marine Contractors Lifting & Rigging Seminar with its theme ‘Lifting Technology and Lifting in Offshore Renewables’. This year’s line-up includes speakers from key stakeholders including Van Oord, Lloyd’s Register, Seaway 7, Boskalis, Cadeler, Sapura Energy, Heerema, Huisman, Siemens Gamesa, Remazel, Sequalize and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). “People are definitely looking forward to getting back to meeting face-to-face,” said IMCA’s Marine & Quality Manager, Mark Ford. “Our

Safety Front and Centre for IMCA in Taiwan

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has a packed safety-focused itinerary lined up for its forthcoming visit to Taiwan with a range of industry, government and IMCA events alongside client meetings and visits to training centres. IMCA, as a supporting organisation and member of GWEC, will play an active role in the Global Offshore Wind Summit Taiwan (GOWST) 2022 (Taipei, 17-18 October) when Iain Grainger, the association’s Head of Energy Transition, takes part in a session devoted to ‘Training, Manpower, Safety and Other Needs in Offshore Wind Markets in Taiwan’.   As Iain Grainger explained: “Safety is like a golden

IMCA schemes designed to improve DP safety

Two schemes run by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) – the IMCA DP Practitioner Accreditation Scheme and their Key DP Personnel Continuing Professional Development (CPD) App (run with The Nautical Institute) – have a vital role to play in addressing the pressing issue of dynamic positioning (DP) becoming less safe, with human factors widely seen as the overwhelming cause. IMCA Contact Graeme Reid Technical Adviser – Marine Contact Error: Contact form not found. “We shared the worrying fact about increased numbers of events and incidents due to human factors with delegates at our DP Conference earlier this year, it

IMCA’s DP Expertise sought from Houston to Singapore

The International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA’s) expertise is acknowledged and sought all over the world; and its guidance, safety flashes, and dynamic positioning (DP) event reporting is followed by a global audience. Technical Adviser – Marine, Richard Purser’s involvement with two DP conferences within the space of five weeks and some 10,000 miles apart, exemplifies the interest in IMCA’s expertise and what IMCA is able to share on this subject. IMCA Contact Richard Purser Technical Adviser – Marine Contact Error: Contact form not found. IMCA Contact Graeme Reid Technical Adviser – Marine Contact Error: Contact form not found. On 11

IMCA publishes DP system network storm guidance

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published ‘Guidelines for the Management of DP System Network Storms’ (IMCA M 259) to raise awareness of the risks presented by the use of data communication networks on dynamically positioned (DP) vessels, especially when used to connect otherwise redundant components of the DP control system, power system or thrusters. The general effects of so-called ‘network storms’ are to cause disruption of data communication over a network and/or degradation of network controller performance, although the exact symptoms may be unpredictable, inconsistent and may increase over time or appear instantaneously. As IMCA Technical Adviser –

Major revision of key IMCA diving system guidance

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has fully revised and updated the principal documents within its DESIGN (Diving Equipment Systems Inspection Guidance Note) suite of documents which includes: IMCA D 018 Rev. 2 Code of practice for the initial and periodic examination, testing and certification of diving plant and equipment; IMCA D 024 Rev. 3 DESIGN for saturation (Bell) Diving Systems; IMCA D 063 DESIGN for Hyperbaric Rescue Unit (HRU) Life Support Packages (LSP) IMCA D 023 Rev. 2 DESIGN for Surface Orientated (Air) Diving Systems. IMCA Contact Bryan McGlinchy Diving Consultant Contact Error: Contact form not found. Together these

Full Programme for Lifting & Rigging Seminar now online

The full programme and biographical details of all the speakers at the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA’s) Lifting Technology and Lifting in Offshore Renewables Seminar, being held at the Novotel Hotel at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam on 27 October 2022, are online on the association’s website. This year’s line-up includes speakers from key stakeholders including Van Oord, Lloyd’s Register, Seaway 7, Boskalis, Cadeler,  Heerema, Huisman, Siemens Gamesa, Remazel, Sequalize and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). The eleventh seminar in the annual series is the subject of a podcast available below, it features a conversation between Mark Ford, Marine & Quality

IMCA’s DP Conference Report Available to all

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) held its first two-day DP Conference for some years in May 2022 in Amsterdam and has now made the 34-page conference report available to all. This includes concise summaries of all sessions and presentations along with relevant graphs, charts, and most importantly some of the findings that emerged With attendees from around the world the conference was aimed at those involved in offshore renewable energy and offshore oil and gas DP operations. Engagement was excellent throughout the conference and attendee feedback was extremely positive. This will now become an annual event with the 2023

Podcast – Lifting & Rigging Seminar

Lifting Technology and Lifting in Offshore Renewables IMCA is hosting its ever-popular Lifting and Rigging Seminar on 27 October 2022 focusing on the technical side of offshore lifting, with an increasing interest in the challenges created in the renewable energy market.  This event will be of interest to those involved in both offshore lifting and rigging, both in renewable energy and offshore oil & gas operations. We have an exciting line up of speakers and interactive sessions covering updates from the offshore installation contractors, the suppliers of the required lifting equipment and academia. Mark Ford, IMCA’s Marine & Quality Manager

Renewable Energy Lifting Ops covered in IMCA Guidance

The International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA’s) ‘Guidelines for lifting operations’ (IMCA LR 006) has been reviewed and updated to ensure that it properly covers all elements of lifting operations in renewable energy sector contracting activities.Mark Ford, IMCA’s Marine & Quality Manager explained: Offshore wind involves an ever-increasing number of our members; and so, our expert work group has thoroughly reviewed IMCA LR 006 and made a number of additions and amendments to ensure it provides an invaluable resource enabling work in the rapidly expanding global market to be undertaken safely and efficiently.” IMCA Contact Mark Ford Marine & Quality Manager

Shipping industry to remove the Indian Ocean High Risk Area

At 0001 UTC on 1 January 2023 the Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA) for piracy will be removed.The removal of the HRA reflects a significantly improved piracy situation in the region, but voyage preparation, threat and risk assessment is essential when following Best Management Practice 5 (BMP5). 22 August 2022. London, UK. After more than a decade of effective threat-reducing counter-piracy operations the shipping industry has removed the ‘Indian Ocean High Risk Area’ (HRA). Notification of the removal of the HRA from 0001 UTC on 1 January 2023 by industry bodies was forwarded in a submission today, 22 August,

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