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Competence Assurance and Assessment: Marine Roles for Small Workboats – guidance published by IMCA

Following a number of incidents involving small workboats operating in the wind farm sector during 2012 and 2013, a need was identified to set out the elements of competence required for crews operating and working on small workboats. ‘Guidance on Competence Assurance and Assessments: Marine Roles for Small Workboats’ (IMCA C 017) has now been published by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). “For the purpose of our new guidance a small workboat is any vessel less than 200 gross tonnes,” explains IMCA’s Technical Director and Acting Chief Executive, Jane Bugler. “Working together, our Competence & Training Core Committee, Marine

Competence in the spotlight at IMCA Central & North America Section meeting

A series of presentations and discussions session on the all-important topic of competence will be held following the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Central & North America Section Meeting on 18 June at the Houston Marriott Energy Corridor Hotel. The Competence Seminar, which takes place in the afternoon of 18 June is open to members, potential members and their guests includes a welcome and introduction by Neil Evans, IMCA Technical Adviser and presentations by Katie Hulin of Epic Divers on Establishing a Competence Management System; by IADC on Competence Assessment in the Drilling Industry; and ‘Impacts of SEMS on competence

Competence in the spotlight at IMCA Central & North America Section meeting

A series of presentations and discussions session on the all-important topic of competence will be held following the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Central & North America Section Meeting on 18 June at the Houston Marriott Energy Corridor Hotel. The Competence Seminar, which takes place in the afternoon of 18 June is open to members, potential members and their guests includes a welcome and introduction by Neil Evans, IMCA Technical Adviser and presentations by Katie Hulin of Epic Divers on Establishing a Competence Management System; by IADC on Competence Assessment in the Drilling Industry; and ‘Impacts of SEMS on competence

IMCA publishes Guidance on the Use of Simulators

Simulators are used for many purposes in the offshore industry such as for work planning/mission planning purposes including engineering development, procedure development, technical assessments, research, and asset risk assessment. Importantly too they are used in the training environment and as part of competence assessments where they enable measurable assessment of individuals in training to be undertaken. It is particularly with training and competence assessment in mind that the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) (Booth S16 at OTC 2015) has produced the fourth revision of ‘Guidance on the use of simulators’ (IMCA C 014). “This revision sets out a template for

Competence seminar being held by IMCA in Mumbai

Competence & Training is a core activity of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), providing guidance on competence assurance and assessment, training, and information on recruitment and careers in offshore, marine and underwater engineering – and it is a topic that will come under the seminar spotlight next week in Mumbai when IMCA stages a competence seminar at the Sofitel Hotel on the afternoon of Tuesday 21 April. “Our competence assurance and assessment guidance provides members with a framework for creating their own in-house schemes for assessing and recording the competence of people working in safety-critical and other roles,” explains

IMCA competence workshop being held in Singapore

A competent workforce is a productive one, operating with fewer risks, meaning shorter downtimes and fewer injuries – all steps towards that much sought after industry ‘holy grail’ of zero incidents. Effective competence schemes established by companies of all sizes ensure confidence in the offshore industry, and that all appointed to safety-critical positions can carry out their jobs in an effective manner. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) first introduced a competence assurance and assessment framework in 1999, and IMCA sees encouraging evidence of an ever-increasing number of competence schemes, using that regularly revised framework, being introduced by companies around

Guidance on Verifier Training published by IMCA

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Competence Assurance & Assessment guidance, originally launched in January 1999 and regularly updated (last update 2012), is designed to facilitate improved safety in the offshore industry by providing a framework for IMCA’s marine contractor members to assess and demonstrate to other the competence of their safety-critical personnel. Now new associated guidance has been published for verifier training. “Assessment naturally should be supported by verification of the assessment of the individual’s competence; the role of the verifier is to check or verify assessments that have been completed offshore; and a verifier should be used as

IMCA publishes guidance on the use of simulators

Simulators are used increasingly in the marine contracting industry, in particular for training and competence purposes, but also for work planning/mission planning purposes including engineering development, procedure development, technical assessments, research and asset risk assessment. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published a revision to ‘Guidance on the use of simulators‘ (IMCA C 014 Rev 3). “This document, originally published in 2010 and updated in August 2011 and then again in June 2012, and now once more in 2013 – proof of the increasing use of simulators in our industry – provides guidance on the use of simulators in

IMCA launches new freelance competence materials

Raising the profile of the competence of offshore personnel, and the value of company competence schemes, across the marine construction industry is one of the core activities of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Following the development of freelance materials for its Offshore Survey and Remote Systems & ROV divisions, and a revision of core Marine and Diving competence frameworks in 2012, IMCA has now launched freelance materials for its Marine and Diving divisions. This means that IMCA now offers a full suite of competence assurance frameworks tailored specifically for freelance workers. “Our message to all individual freelancers is simple,”

Competence guidance on assessor training

A competent workforce is more productive, operating with reduced risk, shorter downtime and fewer injuries. At the same time, there is need for a rigorous assessment procedure to be in place against which the workforce’s skills, forethought and judgement can be measured. With this in mind, the IMCA Competence Assurance and Assessment guidance was originally launched by the International Marine Contractors Association in January 1999, updated in 2003 and, more recently, between 2009 and 2012. It is designed to facilitate improved safety in the offshore industry by providing a framework for IMCA’s marine contractor members to assess and demonstrate to

Competence: Guidance on Assessor Training from IMCA

A competent workforce is more productive, operating with reduced risk, shorter downtime and fewer injuries. At the same time, there is need for a rigorous assessment procedure to be in place against which the workforce’s skills, forethought and judgement can be measured. With this in mind, the IMCA Competence Assurance and Assessment guidance was originally launched by the International Marine Contractors Association in January 1999, updated in 2003 and, more recently, between 2009 and 2012. It is designed to facilitate improved safety in the offshore industry by providing a framework for IMCA’s marine contractor members to assess and demonstrate to

Competence DVD published by IMCA

Competence and training are core activities for the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). It provides guidance on competence assurance and assessment, training, and information on recruitment and careers in offshore, marine and underwater engineering to companies around the globe. Now to promote the importance of demonstrating competence in the workplace, IMCA has published a DVD that can be played on vessels and installation systems as part of familiarisation and induction exercises. Available in English, Portuguese, French, Indonesian, Italian, Spanish, Malay, Russian and Tagalog, the video looks at the ‘Why?’, ‘What?’, ‘When?’, ‘How?’, ‘Where?’ and ‘Who?’ aspects of competence (and a

IMCA to hold competence workshop in Kuala Lumpur

A competent workforce is a productive one, and operates with fewer risks, meaning shorter downtimes and fewer injuries. Effective competence schemes established by companies of all sizes ensure confidence in the offshore industry, and that all people appointed to safety-critical positions can carry out their jobs in an effective manner. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has established a highly effective competence assurance and assessment framework, and as part of its Asia-Pacific Section meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday 27 June will run a competence workshop, which is open to members and non-members alike. Chief Executive Chris Charman, Technical Director

Encouraging responses to IMCA competence questionnaire

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.

Arctic diving guidance on Canadian Underwater Conference programme

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

IMCA to hold competence seminar in Dubai

There has been an increasing global emphasis on the importance of using competent personnel – something that is continuing despite economic swings in the last few years. The offshore construction industry needs a lot more personnel and the emphasis on them being, or gaining further training to become, competent is growing all the time. Contractors are called upon by clients, regulators and others to demonstrate that the individuals working for them, particularly in safety-critical roles, are competent. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), working through and in consultation with its members, has developed an extensive framework of guidance that its

IMCA publishes updated guidance on the use of simulators

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

Competence – IMCA workshop update and news of freelance materials

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

IMCA to hold competence seminar in Dubai

There has been an increasing global emphasis on the importance of using competent personnel – something that is continuing despite economic swings in the last few years. The offshore construction industry needs a lot more personnel and the emphasis on them being, or gaining further training to become, competent is growing all the time. Contractors are called upon by clients, regulators and others to demonstrate that the individuals working for them, particularly in safety-critical roles, are competent. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), working through and in consultation with its members, has developed an extensive framework of guidance that its

Guidance on the Use of Simulators published by IMCA

A slim 18-page volume published by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) marks a significant piece of work in the quest for increasing levels of competence within the marine contracting industry. “Guidance on the Use of Simulators (IMCA C 014 Rev. 1) is a fundamental piece of work, for it emphasises the increased importance placed by the industry on the use of simulators,” explains IMCA’s Chief Executive, Hugh Williams.”Simulation is proving its worth in the quest for the best way for individuals or teams to undertake a task efficiently and safely, and is thus often used for work planning/mission planning