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IMCA at EWEA Offshore: a members pavilion and a CMID seminar

Offshore renewable energy is playing an ever-increasing role in the working schedules of many members of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) so this year IMCA has put together a pavilion at EWEA OFFSHORE in Copenhagen, the world’s largest offshore wind energy event. The pavilion will feature IMCA members as well as the guidance and safety materials published by the association to further safe and efficient marine operations. Additionally IMCA is holding a Common Marine Inspection Document (CMID) Seminar of interest to all owners and operators of marine contracting vessels. Pommec, Wind and Water, Offshore Wind Services/Workships and the Energy

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 to hold first section briefing in Angola

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is to hold a half day briefing meeting of its Europe & Africa Section for the first time in Luanda, Angola on Wednesday 4 March 2015, and looks forward to welcoming members and non-members alike. It is aimed at IMCA members, oil company representatives, contractors, consultants and any organisation interested in potential IMCA membership “I am pleased that IMCA is at last visiting Angola,” says Chris Charman, IMCA’s Chief Executive.”This is a first for us, but we anticipate strengthening our ties and relationships in this region in the future. The high risk deepwater areas

ROV Intervention During Diving Operations

Safety is of paramount important offshore, and ‘Remotely Operated Vehicle Intervention During Diving Operations’ (IMCA D 054, IMCA R 020) is newly published by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) to provide guidelines for the safe and efficient offshore operation of ROVs in combined operations with divers in the same underwater space. “The guidance is designed for use by both contractors and clients, and purposely avoids subjects of minority interest,” explains IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler.”It contains guidelines and recommendations for the maintenance of a high level of safety and efficiency across the ROV sector. It does not, however, attempt

IMCA publishes safety rep handbook

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published a new tool for the industry – the ‘Safety Committee Representative’s Handbook’ (IMCA SEL 035), for use by safety committees on board vessels undertaking marine operations, recognised by IMCA as an excellent way of promoting and managing safety issues. “To do their job properly on these committees, members need to understand their roles and responsibilities, and this is just what the new publication sets out,” explains Jane Bugler, IMCA’s technical Director. Mark Bosson, HSE Manager of Technip Marine Operations Services, and Chairman of IMCA’s Safety Environment & Legislation (SEL) Core Committee adds:”It

Turbine Transfers vessel Porth Dinllaen helps save cruise ship passenger

We all love a good news story, and the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) delights in hearing good news involving seafarers. “We have just received a splendid story via the National Workboat Association (an IMCA member) involving one of Turbine Transfers’ vessels, and feel it is too good to keep to ourselves,” explains IMCA’s Chief Executive, Chris Charman. A cruise ship passenger is now stable and recovering in hospital thanks to the efforts of the crew of the Turbine Transfers vessel ‘Porth Dinllaen’, who carried out a fast rescue mission in the River Mersey. On Monday 5 January a female

Time to talk PLCs in diving systems

DIARY DATE: Event:IMCA PLCs in Diving Workshop Date:11 March 2015 Venue:Amsterdam, The Netherlands Cost:free to attend but registration vital Further information and registration: events@legacy.imca-int.com Time to Talk PLCS in Diving Systems Since 2010 diving systems featuring programmable logic controllers (PLCs) have undergone rapid development. With use of these systems set to continue to rise, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has taken the initiative to future-proof by organising a workshop in Amsterdam on 11 March 2015 to discuss the big issues. “The workshop will be a great opportunity for members using PLCs in diving systems to get involved, it could

Hyperbaric evacuation in the IMCA spotlight

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has recently published the revised document ‘Hyperbaric Evacuation Systems (HES) Interface Requirements’ (IMCA D 051 Rev. 1); and an Information Note that demonstrates the importance of cross-industry collaboration of a topic as vital to safety as hyperbaric evacuation. IMCA D 051 seeks to address the interface issues encountered when a diving contractor needs to remove its divers from a stricken facility by use of a hyperbaric rescue unit (HRU). It outlines IMCA’s recommendation of requirements for future builds, it is not written with intent to retrofit existing systems. The guidance has clear objectives, as

Understanding biodegradable lubricants

A question often heard in offshore and marine circles is”What is a green oil?” That leads on to”What is an oil spill?” Following a successful workshop on the subject at the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) Annual Seminar in 2012, a new publication ‘Understanding Biodegradable Lubricants: An Introduction to ‘Green’ Oil in Hydraulic Systems Offshore’ (IMCA R 019) is now available to help answer these questions, and alleviate some of the confusion. “A number of contributors have helped to compile our new publication,” explains IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler.”It is not intended to be wholly definitive and the reader will

Creating an annual DP trials programme

‘Give me an example’ … ‘How is that done?’ … Learning from others is a vital part of business life. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has just published ‘Example Redundancy Concept and Annual DP Trials for a DP Class 3 Construction Vessel’ (IMCA M 225) as a companion volume to ‘Guidance for developing and conducting annual DP trials programmes for DP vessels’ (IMCA M 190 – published in 2011), which described the method for creating an annual DP trials programme. “The new IMCA M 225 has been developed to provide an example of how the guidance in IMCA M