Skip to content

Near-miss incident involving a diver’s umbilical

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

This incident was reported in the UK Association of Diving Contractors (ADC) Safety Alert 3/08 – Very near-miss incident involving a divers 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 The selection of vessels of opportunity for diving operations – which discusses isolations and vessel permit systems.


IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of all. The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on Members sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Please consider adding [email protected] to your internal distribution list for safety alerts or manually submitting information on incidents you consider may be relevant. All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate.

IMCA’s store terms and conditions (https://www.imca-int.com/legal-notices/terms/) apply to all downloads from IMCA’s website, including this document.

IMCA makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in the documents it publishes, but IMCA shall not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained. The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual’s or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.