The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is consulting widely, and globally, on new guidance on hyperbaric evacuation systems aimed at improving the safety of saturation divers throughout the world. “In 2011 we set up an industry-wide workgroup to develop the hyperbaric evacuation guidance,” explains IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler.”The work was split into five main topic areas – risk assessment, technical, operations, medical and standards. The document, which runs to over 70 pages, is a substantial piece of work, and should make a significant contribution in helping to improve the evacuation arrangements available to saturation divers world-wide. “We are distributing
The offshore oil industry has focused its safety efforts over the past 20 to 30 years on preventing incidents and injuries to people, basically preventing slips, trips and falls – the occupational health and safety aspects. In parallel there have been efforts to prevent major incidents involving multiple fatalities, or asset threatening events, and Macondo and Montara have further emphasised the need to continue to emphasise the need for prevention. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), in its guidance, has addressed major events through, for example, its work on dynamic positioning (DP) and hence collision avoidance, engine room safety and
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published guidance on ‘Offshore vessel high voltage safety’ (IMCA SEL 031/IMCA M 217). “As the demand for electrical power increases on vessels, especially on large offshore construction vessels with diesel electric propulsion installations, the supply current becomes too high for efficient and practical use of the usual shipboard 3-phase voltage supply of 440 Volts (V) AC,” explains IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler. “To reduce the level of running currents and fault current levels, it is necessary to specify a higher system voltage for the higher power-rated equipment. “In marine practice, voltages below 1kV
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published Guidance on Operational Activity Planning (IMCA M 220) to provide a brief overview of tabulated methods that are increasingly being used in the planning and execution of offshore marine vessel projects and routine offshore support activities. “Operational activity planning applies to all sectors of offshore marine operations, including offshore drilling, project and construction vessels and offshore supply vessels,” explains IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler.”Although usually applied to dynamically positioned (DP) vessels, the processes described in our new guidance can be used for non-DP vessels.” She adds that”operational activity planning comprises three processes:
Example specification for a DP FMEA for a new DP vessel (IMCA M 219) is a newly published document from the International Marine Contractors Association that provides, as the title indicates, an example of a specification for a dynamic positioning (DP) failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) of a new DP vessel to be carried out prior to vessel delivery, probably by the shipyard as a contractual deliverable to the new owner. This first FMEA should be seen as a benchmark for subsequent analyses. “The objective of the FMEA is to identify the single point failures in any system in
Fifty six accounts of incidents that took place in 2010 on 41 vessels were submitted for the annual Dynamic Positioning (DP) Station Keeping Incidents report produced by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). These incident accounts have been analysed and included in the newly published report IMCA M 218. The largest percentage (37%) of incidents had ‘reference’ as their main cause, with many support submitters commenting that references had been a cause for concern. Electrical (21%), computer (11%) and power (9%) were the next highest scorers. Finally human error (5%), environment (7%), propulsion (4%) and procedure (4%) were the least
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published the updated Contract for the Provision of ROV, Support Vessel and Associated Work (based on BIMCO Supplytime 89) – IMCA R 013 Rev, 1 and a new second publication based on BIMCO Supplytime 2005 (IMCA R 017), which is used by many IMCA members. Both set out relevant additional clauses and variations relevant to ROV operations. Each IMCA member is free to enter into whatever contracts it deems to be in its own interests. In publishing this contract, IMCA is aiming to raise awareness on contracting matters among IMCA members and their
With less than a month to go before the 20th IMCA (International Marine Contractors Association) Annual Seminar, with its theme ‘Marine and subsea operations: a culture of sustainability’ is held in Amsterdam (28-29 November 2012), the countdown has begun in earnest. The delegate and speaker list includes leading industry figures and representatives from offshore and onshore management and operational staff, equipment suppliers, consultants, oil companies and regulators from around the world. “We have a superb and highly topical programme,” explains IMCA’s Chief Executive, Hugh Williams. “in politics, industry, design and construction, sustainability is a vogue word. According to Gro Harlem
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published ‘Guidance on thruster integrity management’ (IMCA M 216) describing integrity management systems and their application to marine thruster units installed in both new build and existing vessels. “Our new guidance document is designed to assist ship owners, operators and system designers in understanding the principles of integrity management and the benefits it can bring to the safe and efficient operation of both the thrusters units, and the vessels in which they are fitted,” explains IMCA’s Chief Executive, Hugh Williams. “Our aim in publishing the guidance is four-fold: to provide an understanding of
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are widely used in a variety of small and large pieces of equipment on marine construction vessels, for example, cranes, winches, handling systems, dive systems and power management systems. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has issued a PLC information note to help ensure that operation and failure modes are understood, and highlighting the importance of carrying out an FMEA (failure modes and effects analysis) and testing the components and complete systems. “When a PLC controlled piece of equipment is in use and a main power failure occurs, the equipment should revert to a fail-safe position,
Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) statistics for 2011 have been published by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) as an information note (IMCA R 05/12). The statistics, intended to record personnel and vehicle levels, are collected twice a year in February and August. The 2011 figures show that IMCA members had fewer ROV personnel at work in 2011 than in 2010, and that ROV personnel numbers reported in August 2011 exceeded those in February 2011 by about 25%. In February 2011 a total of 2,410 personnel was reported to be involved in world-wide ROV operations (2373 ROV superintendents, supervisors and pilot
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has produced two information notes – ‘Diving on Offshore Renewable Energy Projects: Regulations and Guidance’, and ‘The Inspection and Auditing of Manned and Unmanned Barges’ which are of use, and interest, to those involved with offshore renewable energy projects. “As an increasing number of our members become involved with the offshore renewable energy sectors, we believe it is useful to them, and indeed to their clients, to have basic information in an easily digestible form,” says Jane Bugler, Technical Director of IMCA. “For example, the aim of the diving information note (IMCA M 18/12)
The results of a questionnaire, developed by the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) Competence & Training Core Committee, aimed at offshore personnel, revealed that 64% of the 276 offshore personnel from over 35 contractor members who responded used a competence scheme. “We were highly encouraged, not only by answers to the questionnaire, but that so many people took part in it,” says Hugh Williams, Chief Executive of IMCA. “It was possible for respondents to select more than one division from marine, diving, ROV and survey, and also to select more than one answer for what form of employee they were.
IMCA’s Arctic diving guidance will come under the conference spotlight on Monday 22 October when Peter Sieniewicz, Technical Adviser – Diving at the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) addresses the 5th Canadian Underwater Conference, being held in St John’s Newfoundland and Labrador. “The expansion of oil exploration and development into colder climates and Arctic regions has been the trigger for IMCA to look at specific diving guidance,” explains Peter Sieniewicz.”Routine diving operations in these harsh conditions produce a unique set of challenges not only for the people involved, but for the associated equipment and support logistics. In the conference session
In recent years there has been an increasing scrutiny of DP incidents, due, amongst other things, to high profile maritime incidents. Ian Giddings, Technical Adviser – Marine, at the International marine Contractors Association (IMCA) will be addressing ‘Learning the Lessons, Reporting DP Incidents’ at the forthcoming Marine Technology Society’s Dynamic Positioning Conference – DP 2012, being held 9-10 October in Houston, Texas. “The voluntary reporting of station keeping incidents on DP vessels to IMCA for analysis has operated for over 25 years,” he explains. “In my presentation I will be looking at that system, including the lessons learned both about
Chris Charman has been appointed as Chief Executive of IMCA (the International Marine Contractors Association) taking over from Hugh Williams who is retiring. He will take up the position on 3 December 2012. IMCA is the international trade association for offshore, marine and underwater engineering companies with about 850 members in over 60 countries all around the world. It focuses on offshore construction and marine operations mainly in support of offshore oil & gas, but also marine renewable energy, dredging and telecommunications cable laying. The association exists to help its contractor members deliver safe and efficient projects supported by other
The use of simulators for training and education purposes is common practice in certain areas of the oil and gas industry, particularly in equipment familiarisation and emergency response exercises, so it is vital that information on their use is regularly updated. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has just issued ‘Guidance on the Use of Simulators’ (IMCA C 014 Rev. 2) in order to ensure that all users of simulators have access to the most up-to-date information. IMCA C 014 was originally published in 2010 and updated in August 2011. “The use of a simulator in a structured training programme
For many years the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published information on how many people were working offshore in ROV and diving roles, now for the first time they have published similar information on offshore survey personnel. “In early 2011 our Offshore Survey Division Management Committee decided that it would be beneficial to collect information on how many personnel were working offshore in survey-related roles, and how many of them were freelance personnel,” explains IMCA’s Chief Executive, Hugh Williams. “The data represents the responses of just 28 offshore survey contractor members of IMCA, and as it is the first
The competence agenda is growing rapidly in both profile and pace around the globe. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has done much to promote competence and the adoption of its framework over the past 12 years. One method is by means of workshops – one earlier this year in Aberdeen, which looked at different aspects of competence, had a record attendance; it was followed by one in Houston in mid-June where the emphasis was on the US government’s Safety Environmental Management System (SEMS) requirements which includes competence; and a further competence workshop will be held in Dubai on 25
Every year the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) produces an annual report of safety statistics (covering fatalities and injuries) supplied by members. “Safety statistics are a useful insight into the performance of a company and industry sector in the areas of health, safety and environment,” explains Hugh Williams, Chief Executive of IMCA. We publish the figures to record the safety performance of IMCA contractor members each year and to enable them to benchmark their performance. “Our statistics for the period 1 January-31 December 2011 were provided by 195 companies and organisations, representing around 60% of our marine contractor membership, and
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