Near-miss incident involving a diver’s umbilical

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 5 March 2009
  • Generated on 18 September 2025
  • IMCA SF 03/09
  • 1 minute read

Attached is the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) note ‘Flyer to the shipping industry’ entitled ‘Hazardous incident Norma – 21 June 2008’.

MAIB flyer

This incident was reported in the UK Association of Diving Contractors (ADC) Safety Alert 3/08 Very near-miss incident involving a diver's umbilical, which was reproduced and circulated to members under IMCA Safety Flash 15/08 (Near-miss incident involving a diver’s umbilical).

As previously stated, although the incident occurred during a diving operation being carried out in UK territorial waters, the lessons learnt are relevant world-wide to both inshore and offshore diving operations.

Members are again reminded of guidance note IMCA D035 The selection of vessels of opportunity for diving operations, which discusses isolations and vessel permit systems.

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IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.

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