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Tag: Marine

Ensuring eCMID and eMISW Inspection Integrity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)’s Marine eCMID Committee considered the potential for remote vessel inspections at its December 2020 meeting, in light of ongoing restrictions at both national and company level due to COVID-19 that can limit both vessel access and the movement of accredited vessel inspectors (AVIs). The Committee determined that remote inspections using the eCMID/eMISW inspection templates would not be appropriate.  Some of the issues identified include: Connectivity and bandwidth issuesTime required of vessel crew and inspectors, and the quantity and complexity of information that would need to be transmitted and reviewedThe practical format of the inspection

IMCA Publishes “Guidelines for Walk to Work Operations”

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published a new document ‘Guidelines for Walk to Work (W2W) Operations’ (IMCA M254) under the direction of IMCA’s Marine Division Management Committee. The Marine Renewable Energy Committee formed a workgroup consisting of vessel owners, wind farm operators and motion compensated gangway manufacturers and worked alongside an oil & gas focused industry steering group consisting of representatives from leading manufacturers of motion compensated gangway systems. The W2W guidance has been produced to help standardise the way in which vessels are intended to give personnel safe access to offshore structures both in the wind and

IMCA Publishes a New Code of Practice for Offshore Pipeline and Umbilical Installation Systems

In April 2019 the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA’s) Marine Division Management Committee set up a workgroup to focus on developing a code of practice for offshore pipelines and umbilical installation systems. Bringing together world-leading pipelaying contractors, Allseas, Subsea 7, McDermott, Saipem and TechnipFMC, the workgroup came together to share knowledge and best practice in order to establish a standard for the industry. This has resulted in the publication of the new ‘Code of Practice for Offshore Pipeline and Umbilical Installation Systems’ (IMCA M 253). The new Code of Practice includes all equipment required to lay the product safely and

IMCA launches progressive web app for eCMID

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) announces the launch of its Progressive Web App (PWA) for its Common Marine Inspection Document system. IMCA’s eCMID system provides the marine and offshore industry with standardised formats for vessel inspection. It offers a safety management system (SMS) ‘health check’ and can help improve the quality and consistency of inspections, as well as reducing the frequency of inspections on individual vessels through the adoption of a commonly recognised inspection process. This new eCMID inspection app has been through a rigorous testing process with a group of accredited vessel inspectors (AVIs). The app mirrors the

One Year On! IMCA DP Practitioner Accreditation Scheme

The International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) Dynamic Positioning (DP) Practitioner Accreditation Scheme launched on 1 May 2019, has received close to 1000 enquiries in its first year. The Accreditation Scheme is the output of a cross industry workgroup consisting of DP vessel owners/operators, training providers, DP consultants, major energy companies and relevant organisations. This workgroup was tasked by IMCA’s Marine Division Management Committee in 2018 to devise a scheme to improve consistency and conduct of DP Trials. Additionally, the scheme set an industry recognised level of knowledge for DP Practitioners responsible for developing, witnessing and reporting of DP Trials in

Marine and DP Assurance – IMCA Advice During Ongoing COVID-19 Situation

In view of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, and the extremely challenging times that many are facing, IMCA recommends the following approach to marine assurance activities, should it not be possible to obtain assurance services as a direct result in the vessel’s region of operation. This information is also available as an Information Note which can be download from here eCMID/eMISW – for audits expiring between now (March) and July 2020, IMCA recommends that the validity be extended for four months. The eCMID database website is being temporarily updated so that all expired reports are automatically available for four months following

IMCA Promotes Hybrid Battery Power Systems on DP Ships

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is promoting ways of reducing carbon emissions in the marine environment as part of its strategic theme of environmental sustainability. The contribution of battery technologies in reducing carbon emissions is now having a positive effect in the offshore marine construction market. A number of IMCA’s member companies have taken the lead by incorporating hybrid power technologies on DP ships; and the initial feedback is very positive in terms of both carbon reduction and economic benefit. For the last 30 years IMCA has been at the forefront of developing and publishing practical guidance and operating

IMCA Appoints Electrical Specialist To Technical Team

Reza Yaghoobi has joined the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) as Technical Adviser – Marine specialising in DP electrical, control and automation. He has joined the global trade association from London Energy where he was Electrical and Instrumentation Engineering Manager. He has previously worked for Berry Plastics Corporation, GNEC, Braemar Shipping and Monenco. Mark Ford, Technical Director, IMCA stated “We are delighted to welcome Reza to the technical team he is IMCA’s first Technical Adviser with specialist electrical knowledge. His career spans three decades and includes experience working both onshore and offshore in the renewables, conventional and worldwide energy industries.

IMCA Focuses on DP at Asian Offshore Support Journal Conference

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has a major role to play at the Asian Offshore Support Journal Conference (Singapore, 17-18 September) as they stage a full afternoon of presentations and a workshop on ‘Dealing with DP Assurance Issues’ at this key event aimed at contractors, charterers, shipowners/operators/managers, shipbuilders, financiers and equipment suppliers. The session being held on the afternoon of 18 September will start with an update on IMCA’s DP station-keeping reporting scheme by Captain Andy Goldsmith, Technical Adviser – Marine at IMCA. Joey Fisher, IMCA Marine DP Committee member from M3 Marine will then speak about the IMCA

New Feature for IMCA’s eCMID Ensures Usefulness for Clients

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has introduced a new feature to their eCMID website to enable vessel operators to upload additional documents that may be of interest to their clients. As IMCA’s Technical Director, Mark Ford explains: “This new feature, which is optional, ensures that eCMID is part of a broader vessel assurance system. As such it will now also give clients access to Annual DP Trial reports; Failure Modes and Effects Analyses (FMEAs); DESIGN (Diving Equipment Systems Inspection Guidance Notes); and other relevant documents, alongside the existing eCMID and eMISW inspection reports. “This is one of a range

IMCA’s Technical Director Awarded an IIMS Blue Water Award

Mark Ford , Technical Director of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) was caught by surprise when he was recently awarded an IIMS (International Institute of Marine Surveying) Blue Water Award at the IIMS London 2019 Conference Dinner held at 10/11 Carlton House Terrace in central London Mike Schwarz, CEO of IIMS quotes from his speech on the night: “…….Talking about having good people around us, I am also reminded that we have some brilliant partners who we work with and they with us. One of our key partners who we have developed a solid relationship with going back five

IMCA Set to Provide Assurance for DP Operations at 9th DP Asia Conference

Providing assurance for DP operations lies at the heart of the presentation being given by Captain Andy Goldsmith, Technical Adviser – Marine, the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) at the 9th Dynamic Positioning Asia 2019 conference and exhibition in Singapore 2-4 July.  Speaking in a session devoted to ‘Competency of DP Personnel and Practitioners’ on 3 July he will talk about three key IMCA initiatives – the recently launched DP Practitioner Accreditation Scheme; assurance of process by means of IMCA’s ‘Guidance for Developing and Conducting DP Annual Trials Programmes‘ (IMCA M 190), looking particularly at revisions relevant to remote and

IMCA Warns Against Offline Use of eCMID System

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has issued a notice setting out the benefits of eCMID, its online vessel inspection system, and warning users that offline use is no longer permitted. Since 1 January 2018, IMCA has only recognised formal inspection reports conducted using its eCMID application and uploaded into the database website (www.imcaecmid.com). Any eCMID reports that are not uploaded to the database are not considered to be authorised vessel inspection reports. IMCA’s Technical Director, Mark Ford sets the scene, and provides a summary of the key benefits of the online eCMID system over the traditional offline approach: “The

IMCA to Stage Marine Renewable Energy Seminar

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is to hold a Marine Renewable Energy Seminar on 25 September in Amsterdam (Novotel Schiphol Airport). With the theme ‘Working together for safe and efficient operations’ this day-long seminar on the topic reflects the increasing involvement of IMCA members with the rapidly expanding global marine renewables sector.   Free to attend for IMCA members plus invited guests the one-day seminar will consider IMCA global initiatives and feature three sessions – ‘Achieving harmonisation of training and certification’; ‘Openness is the key to safe and efficient operations’; and ‘Future trends in the marine renewable energy sector’.

Countdown underway for Start of IMCA's DP Practitioner Accreditation Scheme

The application process for the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) DP Practitioner Accreditation Scheme will open on 1 May. In preparation, IMCA has created a dedicated page on the IMCA website providing information on the scheme and the steps that those seeking accreditation need to undertake. “The aims of the scheme are to improve the consistency and conduct of DP trials throughout our industry; and to set a recognised level of knowledge for DP practitioners responsible for developing, witnessing and reporting of DP trials, and those responsible for the management of DP assurance processes,” explained Captain Andy Goldsmith, IMCA’s Technical

IMCA Issues Guidance to Assist Analysis and Testing of DP Systems

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published ‘Guidance to Identify DP System Components and their Failure Modes‘ (IMCA M 247). The new document complements the Association’s existing guidance on Dynamic Positioning (DP). Captain Andy Goldsmith, IMCA’s Marine Technical Adviser, said: “Unexpected events that jeopardise station keeping integrity are regularly reported via the IMCA DP Station Keeping Report Scheme. This new IMCA guidance document is intended to assist in minimising such events and provide guidance for those involved in the analysis and testing of DP systems.” IMCA M 247 identifies the different components of a DP system and provides guidance

IMCA Publishes its Latest DP Station Keeping Bulletin

The IMCA DP Station Keeping Bulletin is the 4th this year The Bulletin proves to be invaluable to DP crew The International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) has published its latest Dynamic Positioning (DP) Station Keeping Bulletin. Published quarterly, the Bulletin is a reliable channel for providing feedback on DP events to the industry. The Bulletin, the fourth this year, features reports on the isolation of backup supplies to DP critical equipment; inadequate shallow water lay-up and reactivation procedures; and the use of third-party equipment leading to an undesired DP event. It also includes a timely reminder of a trend in

IMCA Launches eCMID 11 and eMISW 4 Question Sets

Updated eCMID question sets include cyber security, Maritime Labour Convention and vessel reactivation IMCA M 167 rewritten as single reference point on inspection process and report use The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has launched an updated suite of question sets in issue 11 of the eCMID and issue 4 of the eMISW vessel inspection report forms. It has also rewritten IMCA M 167 to serve as single reference point on the inspection process and correct use of the report form. New features and revisions have been introduced following a consultation with users by IMCA. Questions have been added on

IMCA responds to growth of the marine renewable energy sector

Toolbox talks prompt guidelines planned for marine operations Guidance on use of immersion suits when transferring from vessels at sea The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is responding to the growth of involvement by its members in the marine renewable energy sector. IMCA’s Technical Adviser – Marine, Captain Andy Goldsmith said: “IMCA’s Marine Renewable Energy Committee has been busy responding to the needs of our members in this growing sector. The Committee interacts directly with field developers, suppliers and regulators within the offshore renewable energy sector. It ensures that IMCA represents marine contractors in this sector and that its members

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