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Year: 2012

IMCA publishes safety adviser logbook

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) publishes a range of logbooks in which offshore personnel can record their training, competence assessments and working experience. The latest to be published, the 15th in the series, is the Safety Adviser Logbook complementing the existing IMCA competence table for this role. As with other IMCA logbooks, it can be used to record employment, qualifications, certificates and continuous professional development, as well as on-going competence assessment. The logbooks provide a consistent format that can be recognised by a variety of employing contractors and the training and competence sections cover all aspects required for assessments

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 to strength

IMCA publishes two new pocket safety cards

Safety Coaching’ and ‘Workplace Fatigue’ are the two latest pocket safety cards in the series published by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) “These are card numbers 20 and 21 in the popular and effective series,” explains Hugh Williams, IMCA’s Chief Executive. “The safety coaching card includes a list of key aspects of the role of a coach, encouraging people to stop and think and provide objective and honest feedback. As we say on the card ‘you don’t need to have ‘Coach’ in your job title to undertake coaching – particularly when it comes to safety. Coaching, like any other

IMCA eager for feedback on industry-wide hyperbaric evacuation guidance proposal

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) set up an industry-wide workgroup during 2011 to develop guidance on hyperbaric evacuation. The work was split into five main topic areas: risk assessment, technical, operations, medical and standards. Hugh Williams, IMCA’s Chief Executive explains: “The standards subgroup has focused its attention on the development of establishing common technical interfaces for hyperbaric lifeboats and reception facilities. The work, which has involved informal discussion with contractors and equipment manufacturers, has led to the development of a technical proposal that covers the ten main interface areas, including lifting strops, falls, support position, locating pins, the hyperbaric

IMCA Asia-Pacific Section meeting in Singapore – all welcome

The next meeting of the International Marine Contractors Association’s Asia-Pacific Section will be held in Singapore, at Suntec Singapore, alongside the Seatrade Offshore Marine Asia Exhibition, on 26 April 2012. Following a brief members-only meeting, all are welcome from 10.30. During the morning there will be an IMCA world-wide update encompassing all activities – Competence & Training; Safety, Environment & Legislation; Diving, Marine, Offshore Survey and Remote Systems & ROV Divisions; an International Regulatory update and a presentation on DP annual trials from Ian Giddings of IMCA. Following a networking lunch there will be presentations on the Competence management system

CEO of IMCA to stand down

The Chief Executive of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), Hugh Williams, 59, has announced his intention to stand down at the end of 2012 after 10 years in post. 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. IMCA exists to help its contractor members deliver safe and efficient projects supported by other members up and down

Step change for IMCA's annual safety and environment seminar

“The best ever” is the view of Hugh Williams, Chief Executive of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) on looking back at the association’s recent Annual Safety & Environment Seminar held in Rio de Janeiro. “Not only did we have more people than have ever attended one of these two day events in all of its 12 year history, but, out of the over 180 attendees more than 40 of them came from Petrobras, or other clients, and 70% had never previously been to an IMCA event anywhere in the world, so we certainly achieved the objective we set ourselves

eCMID Update #4 – April 2012

CMID Update is a quarterly newsletter related to the IMCA M 149 CMID inspection and the associated eCMID database, www.imcacmid.com. The newsletter keeps readers up to date with changes to the CMID, changes to the eCMID database and other developments, such as CMID workshops.

Call for papers published for IMCA annual seminar 2012

A call for papers for the 2012 International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Annual Seminar has been published. The 20th in the annual series will be held Wednesday 28- Thursday 29 November at the Okura Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands with the theme ‘Marine and subsea operations: a culture of sustainability’. “We are inviting members and non-members alike to submit abstracts on topics ranging from technological developments to operational experience on recently completed projects or those under development,” explains IMCA’s Chief Executive, Hugh Williams.”While presentations relating to all types of marine operations will be considered we have drawn up some topic headings in

Making Waves #62 – March 2012

Making Waves 62 (PDF)Highlights from issue 62 of Making Waves Include:Changes to STCW ConventionIMCA competence workshopsDiving certification schemes updateROV workshopSpotlight on Bill Russell-Cargill

IMCA publishes guidance on subsea metrology

A new publication ‘Guidance on Subsea Metrology’ (IMCA S019) from the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) turns the spotlight on subsea metrology, covers the basics of subsea metrology, engineering requirements, the different methods and technologies, and some of the advantages and limitations of each technique. “Subsea metrology is the process of acquiring accurate and traceable dimensional measurements for the design of subsea structures, primarily interconnecting pipelines,” explains IMCA’s Chief Executive, Hugh Williams. “These pipeline interconnections are required to join subsea assets to complete the flow of hydrocarbons from the reservoir to processing and storage facilities. Subsea metrology surveys are conducted

IMCA publishes acrylic plastic viewports guidance

Acrylic plastic viewports in diving systems have been in satisfactory use for a number of years. However, the development of testing them by polarised light showed that there are various misconceptions about them. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has just released updated guidance on the topic. An initial guidance note which sought to correct these misconceptions was initially prepared as AODC 030 in 1986 following advice from Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Now a revised document has been produced by IMCA through the Safety, Medical, Technical & Training Committee of its Diving Division Management Committee as part of its planned

Petrobras keynote speaker at IMCA's annual safety and environment seminar

Delegates from around the world are registering for next month’s International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) Safety and Environment Seminar, with its theme ‘Risk and impact in marine operations’ (Rio de Janeiro, 21-22 March) which will focus to a large extent on process safety/asset integrity challenges in marine construction. The seminar is endorsed by IBP (Instituto Brasileiro de Petróleo). “We have a strong opening session featuring all-important input and views from Brazilian speakers, including the Brazilian regulator ANP and Baker & MacKenzie Int, with the most recent addition to the programme being keynote speaker Lauro Antônio Puppim, Subsea Maintenance & Inspection

IMCA publishes information note on NDE testing of gas cylinders

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published an information note on non-destructive evaluation (NDE) testing of gas cylinders. Advancements in NDE testing techniques for gas cylinders have been the subject of extensive discussion by members of the IMCA Diving Division Safety, Medical, Technical & Training Committee (SMTT). A dedicated workgroup of industry experts was established to take the issue forward and to develop an update of detail sheet 9.1 of IMCA D 018 – Code of practice on the initial and periodic examination, testing and certification of diving plant and equipment. The updated detail sheet 9.1 of IMCA D

Using audits as a means for business improvement

Audits are fundamental to safe and efficient projects, whether they are audits (or assessments, appraisals, desk-top verifications, examinations, inspections, reviews, spot checks or surveys) of equipment, procedures, or the behaviour of individuals. Indeed, they are part of any safety management system (SMS). The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published an information note on Audits, with the aim of encouraging discussion about them, and to show how this process can provide an opportunity for ‘business improvement’. “Audits should be welcomed as a collaborative opportunity for all parties in discussing a situation, and in leading to improvements in the safety and

Risk and impact in marine ops – IMCA's safety and environment seminar heads to Rio

The 2012 International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) Safety and Environment Seminar, with its theme ‘Risk and impact in marine operations’ (Rio de Janeiro; 21-22 March) will focus to a large extent on process safety/asset integrity challenges in marine construction. “It is a new step to move slightly away from occupational health risks and look at the impact of high risk / low probability issues – we believe the time is right for this sort of content in this annual event,” says IMCA’s Chief Executive, Hugh Williams. “We are, however, not totally ignoring occupational health as the presentation ‘Workforce involvement –

Lifeboat hooks – new design requirements/industry guidance

In recent years there have been a number of accidents caused by the failure of on-load release hooks during lifeboat drills, which have resulted in seafarers being seriously injured and even killed. IMO has therefore been developing measures to prevent accidents with lifeboats. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has been following the IMO discussions through the Industry Lifeboat Group (ILG), which is made up of a wide range of shipping industry organisations and is co-ordinated by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and IMCA has now published an information note (IMCA M 20/11) on the subject, which is available

Highly successful IMCA annual seminar

New Orleans, USA hosted the nineteenth International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) annual seminar from 9-10 November, with its theme ‘The future of marine and subsea operations’. This year’s seminar attracted over 340 delegates, and was endorsed by IADC, OGP, MTS dynamic positioning committee, API, ADC International, OCIMF, and OOC. The two days saw a range of presentations, workshops, social events, an exhibition with stands from 19 different companies, and some strong views from speakers and delegates alike. A CD of all presentations and summaries has been sent to all members and delegates and is available for sale to non-members. Looking

eCMID Update #3 – January 2012

CMID Update is a quarterly newsletter related to the IMCA M 149 CMID inspection and the associated eCMID database, www.imcacmid.com. The newsletter keeps readers up to date with changes to the CMID, changes to the eCMID database and other developments, such as CMID workshops.

IMCA to hold ROV simulator workshop at Oceanology International

The modern remotely operated vehicle (ROV) simulator is a very sophisticated piece of equipment, extensively used for training personnel both offshore and onshore. Simulators are being used increasingly for other applications including project modelling, tooling interfacing and accident investigation. With these diverse and increasing uses in mind, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is holding a half day workshop with the theme ‘The Diverse role of the ROV Simulator’ during Oceanology International on Wednesday 14 March 2012 at the ExCeL Conference & Exhibition Centre, London. “The workshop’s aim is to present and discuss current and future ROV simulation technology. There

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