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Year: 2023

Contracting Principles for Offshore Wind at IPF 2023

Our campaign for sustainable contracting principles around offshore wind installation is heading to IPF 2023 in Baltimore, USA with IMCA taking part in an industry panel discussion on the topic of allocation of risk in offshore wind contracting.  IPF 2023 is the 10th anniversary of the International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum, organised by the Business Network for Offshore Wind. The event, which is the premier offshore wind energy conference in the Americas, welcomes more than 4,000 delegates across three days with global leaders and businesses in the supply chain discussing the latest technical and policy developments in this space.  Iain

New Technical Director for IMCA, Jim Cullen

IMCA is pleased to welcome Jim Cullen as its new Technical Director. Jim has around 30 years’ experience in the marine contracting industry as an engineer, project manager, and project director and HSEQ director. This included working internationally on projects in the UK, South Korea, Canada, Azerbaijan, and Angola. He joined the Brown & Root graduate engineer development scheme in 1990, advancing through the organisation and working on onshore and offshore projects. In 2006, Jim joined Subsea 7 in their London office as part of the core team establishing a new engineering and project management centre. In the subsequent 10-year

Campaign for sustainable offshore wind continues

IMCA’s campaign for fairer contracting principles continues with CEO Allen Leatt recently interviewed in leading industry publication, Energy Voice recently. Speaking to editor Allister Thomas, Leatt reiterated the main point that the supply-side of offshore wind is currently unprofitable, putting at risk global ambitions for the sector. He said: “The allocation of risk is one-sided from developers and their bankers to the supply chain, which is not the case in the oil and gas industry which understands the dynamics of offshore construction and marine environment. As a consequence of this risk allocation, the supply side is largely loss-making, with an

Thirteenth unit launched for Diving Supervisor CPD App

IMCA has launched a thirteenth unit for its well-respected Diving Supervisor CPD App. The App, which initially launched in 2020, is aimed at facilitating Continuing Professional Development (CPD) which became mandatory for certified IMCA Diving Supervisors in January 2021. Designed to enable supervisors to easily demonstrate that appropriate CPD has been completed, it is available on both Apple and Android phones and tablet devices. For those working at sea, or with poor data connections, the content including interactive tutorials can be downloaded to be completed offline.Commenting on its publication, Bryan McGlinchy, Diving Manager at IMCA, said: “We’re delighted to share

Making Waves – March 2023

CEO Update Read the latest from IMCA CEO Allen Leatt who reflects on IMCA’s proposed Leading Offshore Wind Industry Competitiveness programme for a sustainable supply chain and fairer contracting. Read more IMCA News Approving ROV introductory training courses IMCA introduces new requirements for ROV course providers to create an industry baseline and improve safety. Providers have until 30 June 2023 to apply. Read more Supporting the development of offshore wind in Taiwan Around 25 representatives from developers, contractors, suppliers, and regulators attended the inaugural Taiwan Focal Group meeting held by IMCA. Read more IMCA calls for Offshore Wind Competitiveness Programme

Approving ROV introductory training courses

Following an increase in false certificates in circulation claiming to offer IMCA approved ROV training courses, IMCA has introduced a new scheme to address the safety concerns of this unauthorised activity.   The new approval process will mean that training providers who wish to offer IMCA approved courses will be required to apply for T2 ROV membership. Current T2 ROV members will need to have submitted the application and submission by 30 June 2023, with the audits completed by the end of the year.   Once fully approved, courses and their providers, will be listed on IMCA’s website alongside other approved courses.  

Supporting the development of offshore wind in Taiwan

Around 25 representatives from developers, contractors, suppliers, and regulators – all active in offshore wind in Taiwan – attended the inaugural Taiwan Focal Group meeting held by IMCA on 8 February 2023. Taiwan has ambitious plans for offshore wind, with targets for 40GW to 55GW of production – and half of that to be built by 2035 – to support their commitment to reach Net Zero by 2050. Aiming to influence and shape the development of safe and efficient marine operations in the waters off Taiwan to support the delivery of these ambitions, the group’s first meeting was led by

IMCA welcomes workboats with new membership category

IMCA has introduced a new membership category enabling workboat owners and operators around the world to join the Association. The new category is uniquely for the owners and operators of small workboats – including crew transfer vessels, mooring assist vessels, and survey vessels – which are less than 500 gross tonnage and with a load line length of less than 24 metres. Workboat membership will provide companies with full access to IMCA’s offering, including its extensive technical library and the opportunity to participate in technical committees and specialist workgroups. Mark Ford, IMCA’s marine and quality manager commented: “The workboat community

IMCA welcomes new communications lead

IMCA welcomes a new communications lead, James Ketchell. James joins as head of communications and marketing and has around two decades of experience working in a variety of sectors, most recently with membership associations in the UK.He was previously head of communications at the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) which represents the companies which design, deliver, and manage the UK’s built environment and national infrastructure. Alongside this, he also led activity for its sister organisation, the Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) which represents companies working in environmental technology and services. Separately, he has held a role as national media manager

IMCA CEO Allen Leatt to retire in 2023

After 46 years working in the industry, Allen Leatt, CEO of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), is retiring in 2023. As a result, he will be stepping down from his position. The work to find his successor is already underway with a small nomination committee of the board overseeing the process and making recommendations to the full board. A specialist third party executive search company has been retained to conduct the search process on IMCA’s behalf. The process will be finalised later in the year once a suitable successor has been identified. More details will be shared with IMCA

IMCA calls for Offshore Wind Competitiveness Programme

A week after launching the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA’s) newly updated Renewables Contracting Principles (IMCA LCIC 014) with the call for industry collaboration essential to address supply chain losses, IMCA’s CEO, Allen Leatt spoke on 7 February at the Offshore Wind Journal Conference in London with one of his recommendations being the formation of LOWIC:  Leading Offshore Wind Industry Competitiveness programme, saying: “IMCA is keen to contribute to this with others”. In a hard-hitting presentation ‘Wind Targets at Risk’, he looked at offshore wind CAPEX, the difficult economic situation being faced by OEMs and contractors and the fact that

Guidance on the provision, acceptance and handling of breathing gases for diving

A newly published document – ‘Guidance on the provision, acceptance and handling of breathing gases for diving’ IMCA D 075 – from the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) aims to raise awareness of the issues that industry has faced when procuring breathing gases used for diving. As Bill Chilton, IMCA Technical Adviser – Diving, explained “Over the years there have been a number of incidents where divers have been injured or even killed during the course of their work after being supplied with incorrect breathing mixtures.  Following recent incidents of this nature IMCA was asked by industry to assist in

IMCA successfully retains ISO 9001 and 27001 certification

ISO 9001 ISO 9001 is defined as the internationally recognised standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). It is the most widely used QMS standard in the world, with over 1 million certificates issued to organisations in 178 countries.  It provides a framework and set of principles that ensure a common-sense approach to the management of your organisation to consistently satisfy customers and other stakeholders. In simple terms, ISO 9001 certification provides the basis for effective processes and effective people to deliver an effective product or service time after time. ISO 27001 ISO 27001 is the standard created by the International Organisation for

Global offshore wind energy targets at risk

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published an update to its contracting principles in the marine renewable energy industry. This major piece of work has been essential due to progressively poor market conditions created by unrealistic expectations of the capital costs and risks of developing offshore wind energy. The new publication IMCA Renewables Contracting Principles (IMCA LCIC 014) reviews in detail the contractual challenges faced by industry. IMCA’s CEO Allen Leatt explained the challenges: “Marine contracting in offshore renewables has become increasingly unsustainable, which in turn places the long-term sustainability of the offshore wind energy industry at risk. This

Contracting Principles address sustainability of offshore wind

I am pleased to report that our Legal, Contracts, Insurance, and Compliance Committee (LCIC) has recently completed a major piece of work in updating our Renewables Contracting Principles (LCIC 014 Rev 3); and has developed a companion Guidance Document (LCIC 14A) for members highlighting key issues which they need to consider when contracting in the renewables sector. This work has been essential due to market conditions created by the unrealistic expectations of the capital costs and risks of developing offshore wind energy. Greater flexibility and fairness are needed in contracts by allocating the risk to the party who created it,

G+ Stakeholder Forum – 23 March 2023, Madrid

G+ Global Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation annual forum to discuss progress in global offshore wind health and safety. The annual event, led by the G+ Global Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation, for anyone passionate about offshore wind health and safety. Attendance is free. To register please click here. The event provides an important forum for discussions regarding health and safety in the offshore wind industry. The day will comprise of presentations, breakout groups and networking sessions covering current and future workstreams. Speakers and a detailed agenda will be published in the coming weeks. The event will be

IMCA launches NE USA Focal Group

Following IMCA’s seminar in Providence Rhode Island in November 2022, IMCA kicked off a new North East USA Focal Group at a two-hour seminar chaired by Dustin Varnell on 26 January 2023. Dustin is Osbit’s US Country Manager and IMCA’s Advisor – US Atlantic. The aim of the focal group is, “to influence and shape the safe and efficient operations on the NE Atlantic Coast of North America.”Its objectives are: Identify common matters of interest in the region. Identify the relevant guidance required to be able to be able to operate safely and effectively on the Atlantic Seaboard. Improve communications

Going to Subsea Expo? Visit IMCA on stand 43

IMCA is delighted to be exhibiting at Subsea Expo 2023 and working with the Global Underwater Hub as a supporting organisation for this event. IMCA is proud to support Subsea Expo,  the world’s leading annual subsea exhibition and conference, held annually at P&J Live in Aberdeen, and also includes the industry’s prestigious awards ceremony, the Subsea Expo Awards. We are hosting an open pavilion area on stand 43 and welcome all our members to drop in to meet with our team and share the space to network with each other alongside other organisations in this sector of the oil and

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Guidance on protecting divers during underwater excavations

A newly published document – ‘Guidance on Underwater Excavation Works Involving Divers’ IMCA D 074 – from the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) aims to raise awareness of the hazards associated with subsea excavation works and, in particular, the significant risks to divers who engage in such work. As Bill Chilton, IMCA Technical Adviser – Diving, explained “Over the years there have been many incidents where divers have been trapped, injured, or killed either by direct contact with excavation equipment or by collapses while working inside various types of excavations below seabed level. Recent accidents have highlighted the need for

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