IMCA 2030: Building the Future of Offshore Construction

The offshore construction industry is entering a period of profound change.

AI and automation are transforming how we work. The global energy transition is creating new opportunities and new demands. Governments and regulators are introducing increasingly complex requirements. And, at the same time, our sector faces growing competition for talent and skills.

For more than 50 years, IMCA has supported the offshore construction industry through technical leadership, collaboration, and the development of globally recognised good practice. As our industry evolves, IMCA must evolve alongside it.

That is why we have launched IMCA 2030, a new strategy designed to ensure that our association remains relevant, authoritative, and valuable to Members in a changing world. 

As the voice of the offshore construction industry, our role is to champion, protect, and support our industry and its workforce, ensuring it is safe, sustainable, and fit for the future. 

Strategy 2030 focuses IMCA's efforts around three strategic pillars:

• Advocating for technical excellence and standardisation,
• Championing a safe, skilled, and diverse workforce, and 
• Supporting sustainability and operational efficiency.

These pillars will guide every decision we make, every investment we prioritise, and every service we deliver. 

IMCA's reputation is built on convening our industry to define technical excellence and improve safety, consistency, and operational performance. As technologies such as AI, marine autonomy, and digital systems become more prevalent, we will ensure that our technical guidance keeps pace. 

IMCA 2030 defines where IMCA will lead, where we will collaborate, and where we will support others. IMCA will continue to be recognised as a global authority in diving, dynamic positioning, safety, and ROV operations, while building on our deep expertise in offshore survey and lifting and rigging. 

A key theme will be strengthening the work of our marine division – elevating the status of our Dynamic Positioning Committee and creating new special interest groups that bring together technical experts from across our membership to lead our work in three crucial areas – autonomy and remote operations, decarbonisation, and offshore wind. Alongside this, we are committed to investing in eCMID, our safety management system health check for offshore vessels.

Second, we will place a greater emphasis on people. Our industry's future depends on its ability to attract, develop, and retain skilled professionals, so we will work to increase awareness of offshore careers, strengthen support for early-career professionals through our Next Generation Network, and 
create a more connected and accessible competence ecosystem for the global offshore workforce. 

This will be supported by initiatives such as digital logbooks and our IMCA Skills platform, delivering curated CPD for individuals with global, on-demand access to training, professional development, and competence assurance.

Third, we will support sustainability and operational efficiency by bringing together expertise, sharing best practice, and supporting Members as they navigate evolving environmental expectations and regulatory requirements. We will advocate for practical, evidence-based approaches that improve sustainability while recognising the operational realities of our industry. 

Beyond these pillars, IMCA 2030 recognises the need for a stronger industry voice. We are enhancing our policy and advocacy work to engage more actively with governments, regulators, and policymakers. Our goal is simple: to help shape legislation and regulation that supports safety, operational efficiency, decarbonisation, and industry growth while avoiding unnecessary complexity and cost. In an increasingly regulated environment, effective representation matters more than ever. 

The strategy also reflects what Members have told us they need from their association – greater engagement, stronger representation, simpler membership structures, broader access to technical resources, and more opportunities to connect and collaborate. 

Ultimately, this strategy will ensure that IMCA remains the leading voice of the offshore construction industry while delivering greater value to Members worldwide.

The pace of change that we see in our industry is significant, but so are the opportunities. By investing in technical leadership, championing skills and competence, supporting sustainability, and strengthening our collective voice, IMCA 2030 will help ensure our industry and its people continue to thrive in the years ahead.