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New Technical Director Appointed for IMCA

Richard Benzie has been appointed Technical Director of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) to replace Jane Bugler who retires at the end of this month (September 2015) after 18 years in the role. He will join IMCA in the near future. “More than any other individual past or present, Jane’s name is synonymous with the IMCA brand and the objectives of the association. Replacing Jane is therefore a big challenge, but one that I relish.” says Richard.”In these testing times for our industry I am delighted to be joining an organisation I know well, whose track record I respect,

Successful IMCA Introduction for Singapore’s Denis Welch

Denis Welch was appointed the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) Regional Director for Asia-Pacific in Autumn 2014 to ensure that the association has an increasingly active presence in this key offshore oil and gas areas of the world, an area where nearly 25% of IMCA member companies are based. He looks back over the period since his appointment was publicly announced at IMCA’s Annual Seminar in London in late November 2014: “I’m a fully paid-up member of the Asian marine community which is centred on Singapore – my home for the past nine years. I was privileged to be offered

New President for IMCA

Bruno Faure, Group Senior Vice President Subsea Projects and Operations at Technip, a world leader in project management, engineering and construction for the energy industry, has taken over the role of President of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), the association representing the interests of over a thousand offshore, marine and underwater engineering companies in more than 60 countries. In addition to becoming President of IMCA, having served as Vice President of IMCA since September 2014, he also becomes Chairman of the association’s Overall Management Committee (OMC). “We welcome Bruno as our President and OMC Chairman for the next two

Two key positions to be filled at IMCA

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is advertising for two key positions – a Chief Executive Officer, and a Technical Director. Recruitment is now underway with CurzonTrinitas Ltd and details of both roles, necessary qualifications and how to apply can be found on the IMCA website at www.imca-int.com/vacancies. IMCA is the international trade association representing companies and organisations engaged in delivering offshore, marine and underwater solutions, and has over a thousand members in more than 60 countries. Its core purpose is improving performance in the marine contracting industry by championing better regulation and enhancing operational integrity The association has four

Management change within IMCA secretariat

IMCA’s Chief Executive, Chris Charman, has stepped down, with immediate effect (as from 1 May). Jane Bugler has become Acting Chief Executive, thus ensuring that IMCA is in very safe hands. A new Chief Executive will be sought to take IMCA forward and continue to deliver ever more support for our 1,000+ members in over 60 countries. In announcing his decision, Chris Charman has asked that all members and members of committees receive this message: “Now that the changes implemented inside IMCA are well under way and gathering pace, by mutual consent I am standing down, leaving the way forward

IMCA Appoints New Marine Technical Adviser

Andy Goldsmith has joined the International Marine Contractors Association as Technical Adviser Marine, with particular responsibilities for DP (dynamic positioning). “With 17 years on a range of DP vessels under his belt, and as a long-time user of IMCA guidance, Andy is an ideal addition to our busy and highly qualified technical team working with our Technical Director, Jane Bugler,” says IMCA’s Chief Executive, Chris Charman. Andy’s career began with Texaco Overseas Tankship at 16. He completed a four-year cadetship, qualifying as a Third Mate, and during his ten years with the company obtained a class 2 Chief Mate certificate.

IMCA's regional director an observer to SSA Offshore Services Committee

Denis Welch, the recently appointed Regional Director Asia-Pacific of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), has been invited to serve as an Observer in the meetings of the Singapore Shipping Association’s (SSA) Offshore Services Committee (2013/2015). “We are delighted to hear this news so soon after Denis’s appointment,” says IMCA’s Chief Executive, Chris Charman. “As I said when announcing his new role on behalf of IMCA, it makes extremely sound sense to have someone who is well respected and knowledgeable on the ground in the region, and the invitation from SSA’s Executive Officer, Siti Noraini Zaini, helps to confirm the

IMCA Makes Key Appointments in Asia and Australia & New Zealand

Two regional directors appointed by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) ensure that the association has an increasingly active presence in two key offshore oil and gas areas of the world – Asia, and Australia & New Zealand. Chris Charman, Chief Executive of IMCA, announced at last week’s IMCA Annual Seminar in London that Denis Welch had been appointed Regional Director for Asia-Pacific; and Andy Bolton has taken up a similar position in Australia & New Zealand. IMCA plans to appoint a third Regional Director in Houston, USA. “Some 50% of our global membership of 1,045 companies in over 60

New technical adviser joins strong IMCA Technical Team

Chris Baldwin is the newest member of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Secretariat. He has joined the Team as a Technical Adviser following a short secondment from the Royal Navy. The association has a strong team of eight Technical Advisers working with Jane Bugler, IMCA’s Technical Director. Chris has spent 29 years in the Royal Navy and most recently held a position in the UK MoD’s Defence Safety and Environment Authority, as the Diving Regulator and Superintendent of Diving. His career has encompassed a range of Warfare Officer (which equates to Seaman or Deck Officer in the merchant marine)

Jane Bugler to speak at Canadian Underwater Conference

Jane Bugler, Technical Director of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) will be speaking on ‘IMCA Offshore – Changes to Guidance’ at the 2014 Canadian Underwater Conference and Exhibition with its theme ‘Man and Machine Underwater’, being held in Toronto on 6-8 April 2014. “I will be covering our most recent Diving Division guidance documents, all of them designed to aid risk management and to ensure maximum efficiency and levels of safety,” she explains.”First on the agenda will be hyperbaric evacuation. “Although IMCA D 024 – ‘DESIGN (Diving Equipment Systems Inspection Guidance Note) for saturation (bell) diving systems’ contained a

Spotlight on Carl Annessa

In the ‘Spotlight’ section of the September issue of our newsletter, Making Waves, we interviewed Carl Annessa, a current member of the IMCA Marine Division Committee and the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc. Here is the excellent interview in its entirety, in which Carl discusses his role at Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc., the future of our industry, the regulation of it, and the people who make it ‘go’. Please tell us about your company and what it does Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. is a leading provider of marine transportation services to exploration and

Jane Bugler speaking at NUI Diving Seminar

Jane Bugler, Technical Director of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is to speak on ‘Learning from diving statistics and incident reporting – an IMCA perspective’ in the ‘Global Picture of Diving’ opening session at the Bergen International Diving Seminar 2013 being held in Bergen, Norway on 20-21 November. The seminar is organised by NUI AS in co-operation with Statoil, ExxonMobil and Gassco and is the only event of its kind in Norway. Held since 1988 it attracts delegates from all parts of the diving industry, research communities and relevant authorities from home and overseas. “Incident reporting is a key

IMCA seeks a Technical Adviser

Job description IMCA, the influential international trade association representing offshore, marine and underwater engineering companies is seeking a technical adviser to join the technical team supporting and implementing IMCA’s wide-ranging work programme. The role would suit an offshore professional such as a master or DPO, deck officer, engineer, offshore diving supervisor or someone with extensive experience and knowledge of offshore marine construction or diving operations wishing to be shore based. Experience of dynamic positioning in any of these roles would be an advantage. Having responsibility for developing technical guidance, briefing members and co-ordinating committee work, the technical adviser will work

Busy autumn ahead for IMCA's DP specialist

Providing guidance on all aspects of dynamic positioning; technical reports and annual incident reports and analysis plays an important role in the work programme of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). Speaking at conferences, communicating valuable messages that lead to ever-greater levels of efficiency and safety are also key to the association’s work. Marine Technical Adviser Ian Giddings has a busy autumn ahead of him as he will taking part in four events in Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Houston; as well as being at the IMCA Annual Seminar, being held in Singapore (6-7 November), where he will be facilitating a

New IMCA President for a new year

Biennial changes at the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) see Massimo Fontolan of Saipem taking on the role of President of IMCA, the association representing the interests of nearly 900 offshore, marine and underwater engineering companies in over 60 countries. Massimo Fontolan is currently Vice President Commercial, North Atlantic and Arctic at Saipem Ltd. In addition to becoming President of IMCA, he also becomes Chairman of the association’s Overall Management Committee (OMC), having served as Vice President of IMCA for the past two years. “We are delighted to welcome Massimo as our President and OMC Chairman for the next two

New CEO of IMCA now in post

Chris Charman has now taken over from Hugh Williams as Chief Executive of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). He joined the association on 3 December working with outgoing CEO Hugh Williams, who is retiring at the end of the year. With two weeks in post under his belt, during which he has met scores of members and attended a host of meetings, Chris Charman said: “I love the passion I am seeing from members and am greatly looking forward to working with them in the coming years; and to learning in detail what they do. I am already appreciating

IMCA Appoints New Chief Executive

Chris Charman has been appointed as Chief Executive of IMCA (the International Marine Contractors Association) taking over from Hugh Williams who is retiring. He will take up the position on 3 December 2012. IMCA is the international trade association for offshore, marine and underwater engineering companies with about 850 members in over 60 countries all around the world. It focuses on offshore construction and marine operations mainly in support of offshore oil & gas, but also marine renewable energy, dredging and telecommunications cable laying. The association exists to help its contractor members deliver safe and efficient projects supported by other

Four New Technical Advisers at IMCA

With the arrival of four new Technical Advisers, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is well set to carry out its ambitious work programme on behalf of its 850+ member companies in over 60 countries. The four new members of the team take on the roles of Technical Adviser – Competence and Training; Technical Adviser – Marine; and two are Technical Advisers – Diving. They join the existing technical team headed by IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler and her team of four other Technical Advisers and Certification Schemes Co-ordinator, and Certification Schemes Assistant. “It is good to be fully up