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IMCA produces a range of materials for its members as information notes, covering safety, technical, regulatory, commercial and various other issues relevant to its members.

Members can access all of these materials by logging in to this site. Non-members can view titles, for information, and a small number of individual articles deemed of wider public interest.

Browse our most recent information notes below, or use the filters to view our archives by subject and/or year.

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Combined Heading/Motion and Gyro Sensor Concerns

The IMCA DP Committee has been made aware of potential common-mode failures regarding Combined Gyro Compass and Motion Reference Sensors (MRU). These potential failures are discussed below and must be understood and considered while using/updating/purchasing combination MRU/Gyro, or gyro sensors that may rely on a GNSS signal to remain functional.

| Information Note number 1633

Field Arrival Trials

What are Field Arrival Trials? A pre-defined programme of tests and checks to be performed prior to the entry into the area of operation that are designed to confirm the […]

| Information Note number 1628

ASOG – The Decision Support Tool You Need

Following a review of the 2021 Annual DP Station Keeping Event Report published by IMCA in March 2022, the IMCA Marine Division Management Committee & DP Committee agreed that an objective for 2022 was to create an information note explaining the subject of Activity Specific Operating Guidelines (ASOG) and its

| Information Note number 1618

FMEA – Five Yearly Review

Guidance and lessons learned may be missed if the FMEA/FMECA document is not periodically refreshed.  A neglected DP system FMEA/FMECA may lead to a reduction in robustness, resilience, and single fault tolerance if it is only updated after deficiencies have been identified by a vessel DP Assurance process or after

| Information Note number 1605



eCMID and eMISW Findings Analysis

April 2020 – April 2021 IMCA has analysed 1517 vessel inspection reports uploaded between April 2020 and April 2021 into the eCMID database at www.ecmid.com and produced the following summary […]

| Information Note number 1576

IMCA Security Bulletin 03/21

The Gulf of Guinea Declaration on the Suppression of Piracy Every person deserves to be safe while carrying out their work, and to be able to return to their homes […]

| Information Note number 1569





GPS systems – Warning of interference

The United States Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) has issued revised advisory notice 2020-016-Various-GPS Interference on multiple instances of significant GPS interference that have been reported worldwide. This interference is resulting […]

| Information Note number 1525 | Original reference(s) IMCA M 15/20, IMCA S 01/20

eCMID/eMISW Temporary Validity Extension Ending

Further to information note IMCA M 01/20 – Marine and DP assurance – IMCA advice during ongoing COVID-19 situation, the temporary validity extension of eCMID/eMISW inspections ends in July. IMCA […]

| Information Note number 1517 | Original reference(s) IMCA M 14/20

eCMID and eMISW findings analysis

IMCA has analysed over 2,100 vessel inspection reports uploaded into the eCMID database at www.imcaecmid.com and produced the following summary of key findings. The eCMID system enables vessel operators to […]

| Information Note number 1512 | Original reference(s) IMCA M 13/20

Marine autonomous vessels

A Brief History of Unmanned Marine Vessels The first proprietary remotely operated vessel dates back to 1898, when Nicolai Tesla used radio control systems to remotely control a small size vessel. The same concept was used during the second world war to attack ships using a guided bomb which was

This content is only available to members.

| Information Note number 1509 | Original reference(s) IMCA M 12/20

IMCA security bulletin 02/20

The IMCA Security Committee is determined to raise awareness of security issues that can potentially harm member companies. Information provided in this regular Security Bulletin is intended to be used by members to either directly pass on to employees or use the material it contains as part of an existing

This content is only available to members.

| Information Note number 1504

DPO Certification – The available schemes

DPO Certification – The available schemes: There are currently three organisations offering DPO certification. Each organisation states that the training scheme is in accordance with IMCA M 117 – Guidelines for the Training and Experience of Key DP Personnel. This information note provides an outline of each scheme. It does

This content is only available to members.

| Information Note number 1501 | Original reference(s) IMCA M 11/20

IMCA COVID-19 update, 9 April 2020

This update 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 […]

| Information Note number 1500

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