The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published newly revised Technical Guidance on safety in shipyards (IMCA HSS032, M221 – Rev. 2), a comprehensive resource designed to promote best practices and enhance safety standards for vessel owners, operators, and shipyard personnel worldwide.
This updated guidance – Recommended Practice on Safety in Shipyards – reflects IMCA’s ongoing commitment to improving performance and safety in locations where marine contractors will work alongside other business sectors and stakeholders, and as such has been made available to IMCA Members and non-members alike.
The document provides recommended practices for shipyard safety during dry docking and extended maintenance periods, covering everything from pre-qualification and suitability processes to health, safety, and security controls.
Key features of the guidance include:
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Detailed procedures for shipyard pre-qualification and safety management systems,
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Scope of work planning, training, and familiarisation requirements,
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Kick-off meeting protocols and pre-docking phase recommendations,
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Operations and control processes for vessel and shipyard activities, including traffic management, lifting operations, working at height, scaffolding, hot work, and confined space entry,
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Health, safety, and security controls such as SIMOPS, permit to work (PTW), lockout/tagout (LOTO), management of change (MoC), daily meetings, toolbox talks, event reporting, stop work authority, and emergency response,
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Close-out and handover procedures, including testing and re-commissioning,
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Appendices with sample tender documents and generic HSE audit questionnaires for shipyards.
The guidance is intended for global use and is not restricted by geographical boundaries or country-specific regulations. It serves as a checklist for both commercial shipyards and in-house repair facilities, supporting safe, lawful, and proper conduct of operations.
IMCA decided to update this guidance and make it publicly available to address broad industry needs.
1. Shipyard work is inherently risky – Shipyards are complex environments where multiple high-risk activities such as lifting operations, working at height, hot work, confined space entry, and simultaneous operations take place. These activities expose workers to hazards like falls, fires, chemical exposure, and machinery accidents. Without robust safety protocols, the likelihood of incidents increases significantly.
2. Diverse workforce and operations – Shipyards often host a mix of vessel crew, shipyard employees, and subcontractors. This can lead to inconsistent safety standards and confusion over responsibilities. The guidance provides a unified framework to ensure everyone is trained, inducted, and aware of their roles and safety obligations.
3. Legal and regulatory compliance – Vessel owners and operators must comply with a range of international, national, and local regulations. The guidance helps organisations meet these requirements by outlining best practices for safety management systems, permit to work (PTW), lockout/tagout (LOTO), emergency response, and more.
4. Prevention of accidents and major incidents – The guidance offers practical steps to prevent accidents such as traffic management, proper use of PPE, and clear procedures for hazardous work. It also emphasizes the importance of reporting near misses, conducting toolbox talks, and empowering workers with stop work authority, all of which are proven methods for reducing incidents.
5. Protecting people, assets, and reputation – Implementing these recommended practices helps protect the health and safety of workers, maintain the integrity of vessels and shipyard assets, and safeguard the reputation of companies operating in the marine sector.
6. Continuous improvement – The guidance encourages regular review of safety procedures, learning from incidents, and updating practices as needed. This culture of continuous improvement is essential for adapting to new risks and technologies.
7. Global applicability – Shipyard projects occur worldwide, often under varying regulatory regimes. This guidance is designed to be universally applicable, providing a consistent safety benchmark regardless of location.
IMCA encourages all members and industry stakeholders to adopt this guidance as a minimum standard and to provide feedback for future improvements, at feedback@imca-int.com.
