IMCA Publishes Updated Guidance on Subsea Spoolpiece Metrology

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has released a new revision of its widely-used document IMCA S019 – Guidance for Subsea Spoolpiece Metrology, developed by its Offshore Survey Division.

This latest update follows an 18-month review by a specialist workgroup within IMCA’s Offshore Survey Committee. The revised document provides enhanced guidance on the methodologies, technologies, and considerations involved in subsea metrology, an essential process for ensuring the accurate connection of subsea structures and pipelines.

While the fundamental metrology methodologies remain unchanged, the new version significantly broadens the information available to practitioners. It offers detailed context on both established and emerging techniques, including acoustic long baseline (LBL) systems, inertial navigation systems (INS), photogrammetry, LiDAR, and simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) technologies.

Spoolpiece metrology is the precise measurement of a prefabricated pipe section to determine its exact 3D geometry for accurate installation.

IMCA S019 is designed to help surveyors, vessel teams, engineers, and offshore operators select and apply the most suitable metrology approach for their project needs. The document also emphasises the importance of accuracy, error budgeting, and data confidence – all critical for successful spoolpiece and jumper fabrication and installation.

Sara McQuillan, IMCA Assistant Technical Adviser – ROV and Offshore Survey, said: “This expanded guidance represents a valuable consolidation of industry knowledge and practical experience that will support IMCA Members in delivering this complex subsea operation. It reinforces IMCA’s commitment to continuous improvement and strengthens IMCA’s role as a hub for technical excellence and collaboration.”

First published in 2012 and last updated in 2017, the S019 document continues to serve a broad audience across the offshore energy and marine construction sectors. It will be of particular interest to hydrographic surveyors, ROV and diving personnel, design engineers and fabricators, and offshore operators seeking to ensure compliance with best practice in subsea measurement and installation.

The revised guidance document IMCA S019 – Guidance for Subsea Spoolpiece Metrology (Revision 2) is now available to Members in IMCA’s Technical Library.