IMCA committee elections are on the horizon and a new cycle will start in 2024 with elections for Marine, Diving, Offshore Survey, Remote Systems and ROV, HSSE, and Europe & Africa all taking place next year. Being elected to our committees is a great way of influencing the future of your industry and offers the opportunity of shaping IMCA’s workstreams including the production of relevant guidance and information notes, inputting into our programme of industry events, and driving a proactive committee agenda. In return, IMCA expects committee members to provide between one and five hours a month (depending on the
The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (the BWM Convention) is intended to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic organisms from one region to another and damage to the marine environment from ballast water discharge, by minimising the uptake and subsequent discharge of sediments and organisms. The Convention entered into force globally on 8 September 2017 and requires signatory Flag States to ensure that ships flagged by them comply with standards and procedures for the management and control of ships’ ballast water and sediments by requiring all ships to implement a Ballast Water Management Plan,
IMCA is delighted to be chairing a panel discussion at Reuters Offshore & Floating Wind Europe 2023 in London on 25/26 October. Bringing together developers, suppliers, investors, and policymakers, the two-day event features a range of senior business leaders from across Europe and takes place at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, Tower Bridge, London. Despite an incredible 50GW of projects expected to roll out in the next 24 months, and billions of euros in contracts ready to be unlocked, the sector is facing supply chain, infrastructure, and risk challenges. IMCA has been highlighting the need for more to be done in
We preview the upcoming IMCA Regional Meeting in North America on 2 November 2023. Book your place now. IMCA’s hybrid regional meeting brings together leading voices in the offshore oil and gas and wind industry to discuss how we can overcome the performance challenges we collectively face in North America, and how alternative contracting models can help us collectively meet the huge expectations placed on our sectors. Challenging productivity, an adversarial and competitive working environment, and limited take-up of technology and innovation have impacted across the supply chain. Organising contracts around common goals with a focus on collaboration, cooperation, and
Underwater radiated noise (URN) from ships has been proven to have a damaging effect on marine wildlife and even marine plants of many types. Factors which have been identified as contributing to URN, include ship resistance and propulsion together with ship machinery systems and operational approaches. For several years the IMO has been working on guidelines to mitigate the effects of URN and in 2014 it approved its first set of guidelines on underwater noise (MEPC.1/Circ.833). Since those guidelines were approved there has been a doubling of noise levels in the ocean. IMCA Contact Margaret Fitzgerald Head of Legal &
The countdown is now on for our one-day Lifting & Rigging Seminar on Thursday 26 October 2023 in Amsterdam. This year’s event, the 11th in the series, focuses on “Lifting in the new offshore environment.” Over the years, it has generated a strong industry following due to an engaging line-up of prominent speakers, and this edition will be no different. It includes interactive Q&A sessions and practical technical workshops from offshore installation contractors, technology providers, academia, IMCA Members and the broader industry. Together, we will explore the challenges and opportunities in lifting and rigging. Curated by IMCA’s own Lifting &
IMCA has published two new Guidance documents to support the forthcoming Accredited Diving System Inspector (ADSI) scheme. Planned for release later in 2023, the scheme will become the industry-recognised professional accreditation for diving system inspectors. It also aims to improve the quality, professionalism and credibility of DESIGN diving system inspections – IMCA’s reference document for the equipment and set up required for safe diving operations. This will provide assurance that diving systems that have undergone a DESIGN inspection by an ADSI are both safe and fit for purpose. The ADSI scheme will be open to a range of personnel including
This week IMCA was named Best Maritime Compliance Organisation at the third International Maritime Club (IMC) Golden Shield Excellence Awards. The Golden Shield Excellence Awards recognise organisations who have earned national or international prominence in the marine, energy, cargo, oil & gas and offshore industries. They focus on leadership, statutory, regulatory compliance, innovation, management and administration, and trade and export services where the recipients have demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and served as a role model for current and future organisations. IMCA was nominated for our commitment to safety over more than 50 years. Sir Sohan Roy, President of
New guidance from IMCA has been published to support the increase in diving work related to offshore renewable energy projects and subsea power cables. While subsea power cables have been in use for many decades to provide electrical power to islands, offshore installations, and subsea plant and equipment, the demand for subsea power cables has significantly increased in recent years owing to a massive growth in offshore wind farm construction projects. IMCA D 079 Subsea Power Cables is intended to assist IMCA Members in the identification and mitigation of potential risks when planning their diving projects on, or in connection
Following an extensive programme of speaking events and individual engagements with Committee and Board members, recently appointed CEO Iain Grainger has been meeting a number of external stakeholders. In late July, Iain and Technical Director Jim Cullen visited the Oil Companies International Marine Forum’s (OCIMF) London office to meet with Managing Director Karen Davis and Offshore Advisor Graham Coles. In August, Iain visited the Kincardine floating wind farm project located 15 km off the coast of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Joining him on the trip was our Director for Client Engagement – Europe & Africa David Bloom. The pair were shown around
During a routine review of recent diving contractor Membership applications, IMCA uncovered forgeries of UK HSE diving certificates, IMCA DMT certificates, and CSWIP 3.1U certificates. The certificates had several inconsistencies, including false serial numbers and duration validity irregularities, which led our experienced team of technical advisers to suspect their authenticity. IMCA’s concerns were brought to the attention of the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) who confirmed that the submitted certificates bearing the Executive’s logo were, in fact, forged. As part of an IMCA diving contractor Membership application, companies are required to provide evidence that they can assemble an IMCA
IMCA has released updates to its eCMID system which is designed to provide the marine and offshore industry with standardised formats for vessel inspection. These include revisions of inspection templates to address changes to IMCA Codes of Practice and Recommended Practice, as well as IMO regulations and the latest user feedback. The updated templates feature new advice on closing meetings (also included in the revised IMCA M 167 – Guidance on the IMCA eCMID System), deal more closely with pilot ladder inspections, and include revisions to the DP supplement which rectify inconsistencies and issues fed back by industry experts. The
Two new additions to IMCA’s Secretariat will further enhance the team. Roger Moore has joined as a Technical Adviser for Remote Systems and Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV) and Offshore Survey. Roger has been working in the ROV sector for over 27 years having previously held positions offshore, ranging from Trainee Pilot Technician to OPM, and onshore as an ROV Operations Manager and Technical Authority. Prior to this, Roger served in the British Army for the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers working on Chieftain Main battle tanks and receiving electrical, mechanical and hydraulics trade training. He has written several training programmes
Following negotiations with authorities in the Netherlands, IMCA has reached agreement for the use of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to recognise Dutch NDC-CI offshore diving supervisor certificates. Last year the UK’s Health & Safety Executive (HSE) removed requirements for supervisors operating in UK waters to undertake an exam, and the examination was subsequently withdrawn. As a result, the previous route to certification – where Dutch candidates were able to convert their certificate by sitting the exam – is no longer available. The changes mean NDC-CI certificate holders are now required to complete CPD to the same standard as IMCA-certified diving
We have updated our Code of Practice for Developing and Conducting DP Annual Trials Programmes and the Code of Practice for DP Annual Trials for Mobile Offshore Drilling Units. The revisions were designed to strengthen industry practices and eliminate some of the less safe processes around Dynamic Positioning (DP) remote trials adopted gradually before the COVID-19 pandemic and inadvertently legitimised by it. The changes to IMCA M 190 and M 191 raise the standard of DP annual trials and enforce a more robust interpretation of IMCA guidelines. The updates are written in clearer, more definite language to discourage misinterpretation when
IMCA’s Regional Meetings bring Members together to explore the key issues facing the industry. They are not only an opportunity to hear first-hand from our team of technical experts on recent industry developments, they also offer attendees the chance to build vital connections. With guest-speakers invited from the offshore sector sharing their expertise and insight, they are must-attend dates in the industry calendar. Book your place now for IMCA’s upcoming Regional Meetings in Q3 and Q4 2023 in the links below. Agenda details will be shared soon. Middle East & India – Dubai, UAE (12 October). North America – Houston,
Our one-day technical seminar exploring lifting and rigging returns to Amsterdam on Thursday 26 October 2023. This year’s event, the 11th in the series, focuses on “lifting in the new offshore environment”. As in previous years, the Seminar – which is curated by IMCA’s own Lifting & Rigging Committee – welcomes industry experts from all over the world to explore a high-quality programme, featuring the latest tools, training and technological advancements in the sector. With a focus on development and training, lift plan processes, monitoring and maintenance, attendees will hear from experts working at Boskalis, Bridon-Bekaert, Cranemaster, Delft University of
The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80) have agreed to a revised GHG Strategy on the reduction of GHG emissions from ships with a commitment to reach net zero GHG emissions by or around 2050. Margaret Fitzgerald, representing IMCA, attended the week-long Committee meeting as well as the 15th session of the Intersessional Working Group on GHG the previous week and was joined on Thursday by Iain Grainger, IMCA’s CEO, who witnessed the historic agreement being reached. IMO’s work on GHG emissions reduction and future fuels is being closely monitored by IMCA’s Marine Policy & Regulatory Affairs (MPRA) Committee
A landmark moment at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as conditions for the entry into force of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (the ‘Hong Kong Convention’) have been met which ensure new approaches on ship recycling. The Hong Kong Convention was adopted at a diplomatic conference, attended by delegates from 63 countries, held in Hong Kong, China, from 11 to 15 May 2009, but it has taken 14 years for it to be ratified, the necessary legal process to trigger entry into force. With the ratification of the Convention by Bangladesh
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