Our work

We participate in work to decarbonise the shipping industry through working groups on topics including the revision of the Ballast Water Convention and alternative fuels, to ensure that regulations to reduce the environmental impact of shipping take account of the unique way in which our industry operates. 

Our input helps shape operational standards, fostering innovation and enhancing operational efficiency in the marine contracting sector. We are engaged in the development of MASS regulations, and have developed guidelines on training in Dynamic Positioning (which are disseminated as MSC Circular, MSC.1/Circ.1580).

We promote the rights of offshore personnel, such as special personnel and industrial personnel who are not classified as 'seafarers', and contributed technical expertise to the revision of the IMO’s International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention).

We contribute to the EU’s energy, sustainability, industrial, and maritime policy strategies to ensure IMCA Members can meet the EU’s ambitious offshore energy goals. We advocate for a fine-tuned and clear pathway to decarbonisation in areas such as low-carbon and alternative fuels, the EU emissions trading scheme, and investment incentives

By constructing, maintaining, and repairing subsea cables and high-speed fibreoptic networks, marine contractors are a strategic enabler of Europe’s connectivity in the digital age. We support EU workstreams on digital security, and have developed recommendations to support the EU’s Cable Security Action Plan.

We engage with governments on visa restrictions and other regulations that create barriers to the free movement of offshore workers.

We support the UN’s Ocean Decade programme, the global initiative to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation for sustainable development, and have partnered with seabed2030.org, a pioneering programme created by the Global Bathymetric Chart of the Ocean initiative which aims to deliver a complete seabed map by 2030. 

We participate in cross-sector working groups to standardise best practices in competence and training, and in technical disciplines such as mechanical lifting operations.

Our work to ensure that marine contractors bare a fair allocation of risk in offshore wind projects brings together global contractors with energy companies and the insurance industry, and has led to the creation of IMCA’s industry-leading Marine Transport & Installation Renewables Contract, based on IMCA’s Contracting Principles.