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Year: 2016

IMCA publishes 2014 DP incident report

Seventy one accounts of incidents that took place in 2014 on 54 vessels were submitted for the annual ‘ Dynamic positioning station keeping incidents: Incidents for 2014’ (M 231) report produced by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). These accounts have been analysed, made anonymous and detailed in the report which is online and freely downloadable at legacy.imca-int.com/media/252294/imcam231.pdf Thruster/propulsion issues proved to be the main cause for dynamic positioning (DP) incidents in 2014 accounting for 36% of such events; followed by computer issues at 18% and power and references both at 13%. Following these as the main cause are human

IMCA makes minor revision to M 103

IMCA has made a small revision to its guidelines for the design and operation of dynamically positioned vessels (IMCA M 103). The update is on page 25, under section 3.4.3 on Annual DP Trials. However, the update (further to the revision made in April 2016) was minor enough that we’ve deemed it unnecessary to re-release the document with a fresh ‘Rev. #’. You can view IMCA M 103 here.

IMCA email service upgrade

Due to a planned upgrade to our IT hardware, IMCA’s email service will be interrupted from 18:00 (GMT) on Friday 24 June. We expect normal service to resume by 09:00 (GMT) on Monday 27 June. Emails sent during this period should be delivered on Monday morning, but there is a chance that if you email us during the period of interruption your email may not be delivered. We will respond to email queries as soon as is possible. If you have an urgent enquiry please call us on +44 (0) 20 7824 5520 after 09:00 (GMT) on Monday 27 June.

IMCA strengthens its Council with two senior appointments

Two new representatives from the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) global contractors have been appointed to IMCA’s Council. Harke Jan Meek is Chief Commercial Officer at Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC). In this capacity Harke is a member of the HMC Board and responsible for the commercial and technology departments. He joined HMC in 2012 in a commercial and business development role for SURF projects, and was appointed as Senior Vice President Commercial in October 2013. He was previously with SBM in Monaco and Jakarta in business development roles. His early career was with Shell in The Hague and Houston specializing

Guidance On Drug & Alcohol Policies and Testing From IMCA

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published ‘Guidance on drug & alcohol policies and testing’ (SEL 040). It is downloadable free of charge to members and non-members alike at legacy.imca-int.com/media/252259/imcasel040.pdf Within its 28 pages there are sections on ‘Who should be tested? – Reasons for testing’; ‘Tests for drug and alcohol abuse’; ‘Urine testing’; ‘Breath testing’; ‘Record keeping’; ‘Problems with testing’; and ‘Cut-off levels’ as well as a useful glossary of terms and guidance on further information. The document addresses the importance of a broad multi-disciplinary approach, with the involvement of different departments, including Occupational Health, Human Resources, and

Guidance On Drug & Alcohol Policies and Testing From IMCA

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published ‘Guidance on drug & alcohol policies and testing’ (SEL 040). It is downloadable free of charge to members and non-members alike at legacy.imca-int.com/media/252259/imcasel040.pdf Within its 28 pages there are sections on ‘Who should be tested? – Reasons for testing’; ‘Tests for drug and alcohol abuse’; ‘Urine testing’; ‘Breath testing’; ‘Record keeping’; ‘Problems with testing’; and ‘Cut-off levels’ as well as a useful glossary of terms and guidance on further information. The document addresses the importance of a broad multi-disciplinary approach, with the involvement of different departments, including Occupational Health, Human Resources, and

Change in concept of operation of IMCA's CMID system

To say that there is a burden of over-auditing on the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) vessel operators is without doubt. In an effort to reduce this burden IMCA intends to improve the integrity and quality of their Common Marine Inspection Document system (CMID) by adopting a greater degree of oversight of the system. This will enable greater cooperation with the Offshore Vessel Inspection Database (OVID). The Accredited Vessel Inspector (AVI) scheme is already proving successful, and changes will be made that ensure that by January 2018 only AVIs are able to use the eCMID database and only eCMID reports,

IMCA Appoints Policy and Regulatory Affairs Manager

Strengthening its policy and regulatory affairs team, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has appointedJohn Bradshaw as Policy and Regulatory Affairs Manager to lead on worldwide policy and legislative issues, with responsibility for developing and delivering the international trade association’s policy and regulatory strategy, including representing members with regulators and other third parties. John joined the IMCA Secretariat as one of its strong team of Technical Advisers in early Autumn 2015. This followed four years at Lloyd’s Register as Principal Technical Specialist and a career at sea. He has a strong track record as a specialist in the field of

Change in Concept of Operation of IMCA’s eCMID system

To say that there is a burden of over-auditing on the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) vessel operators is without doubt. In an effort to reduce this burden IMCA intends to improve the integrity and quality of their Common Marine Inspection Document system (CMID) by adopting a greater degree of oversight of the system. This will enable greater cooperation with the Offshore Vessel Inspection Database (OVID). The Accredited Vessel Inspector (AVI) scheme is already proving successful, and changes will be made that ensure that by January 2018 only AVIs are able to use the eCMID database and only eCMID reports,

IMCA's Copenhagen meeting focuses on offshore renewables

Offshore renewables are very much in the spotlight at the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) Europe & Africa Section meeting behind held in Copenhagen, Denmark on Tuesday 14 June, with five presentations on various aspects of the rapidly expanding sector. The meeting is open to IMCA members and other interested guests and is free to attend. All who intend being there should contact events@legacy.imca-int.com to register. There is also the opportunity to join via a webinar link https://imca-int.zoom.us/j/951273425; or by telephone Dial: +1 408 638 0968 (US Toll) or +1 646 558 8656 (US Toll); Webinar ID: 951 273 425;

Making Waves #79 – June 2016

Making Waves 79 (PDF)New this issue!As you can see, for this issue, to improve the online reader’s experience, we’ve made Making Waves available to members as a ‘flip book’. We’d like to hear your thoughts on the new format. The newsletter is still available to open in your usual pdf viewer, to download or to print.What’s in issue 79?In this edition of IMCA’s newsletter, Making Waves, our focus article reviews our recent Contracts & Insurance Seminar, which took place in London. The key theme of the seminar was the deterioration in contracting terms in the post-Macondo and post-$100 barrel oil

IMCA's 7th Rope Forum workshop scheduled for Amsterdam

‘Validity of rope discard criteria: Cost reduction within assured limits’ is the theme of the seventh Rope Forum Workshop organised by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). The full day event (09:00-17:30) will be held at the Novotel Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on Wednesday 22 June. “During the day we will be focusing on wire rope assurance, practical experience on rope degradation and will discuss the clarity on discard criteria for high value subsea construction wire ropes,” explains IMCA’s Technical Director, Richard Benzie. “The forum attracts on average around a hundred delegates who include subsea contractors, wire rope manufacturers, system designers

IMCA publishes revision to safe and efficient ROV operations guidance

Technical developments and operational experience are fundamental to the latest revision of the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) ‘Guidance for the safe and efficient operation of remotely operated vehicles’ (IMCA R 004 Rev 4). This can be downloaded free of charge from the IMCA website at legacy.imca-int.com/media/72417/imcar004.pdf or via the home page at legacy.imca-int.com “The guidance provides a pertinent reference document for the safe and efficient offshore operations of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and of ROV support systems, and is designed for use by both contractors and clients” explains IMCA’s Technical Director, Richard Benzie.”Adoption of, and adherence to, the guidance

IMCA CMID Workshop to be held at Seawork International

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is hosting a CMID (IMCA’s Common Marine Inspection Document) workshop at Seawork International on the morning of Wednesday 15 June aboard Ocean Scene, a vessel moored at the show which is being held in Mayflower Park, Southampton. The theme of the workshop is”Improving CMID Report Quality”. It will include demonstrations, presentations and discussions about CMID, and is aimed at all CMID users. Accredited Vessel Inspectors (AVIs) who attend will earn 3 CPD validation points. There are now nearly 200 AVIs and over 230 people have applied to join the scheme from countries all over

New drops video available on IMCA website

Dropped objects – still happening; and still harming – we must never expose ourselves, or others, to the risk of dropped or falling objects. That’s the message in a new video now available to watch on the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) website. The short, and highly emotive video, highlights the importance of safe working practices, not only to offshore personnel, but to their families at home. The video was prepared by Technip with help from Atlas; and as Technip’s Marine Operations Services QHSE Director, Pete Somner, and Chairman of IMCA’s Marine Division Management Committee, says on the video:”It is

Full programme announced for key IMCA contracting seminar

The full programme for the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) 2016 Contracts and Insurance Seminar – ‘Contracting in the new era’ – being held in London on Wednesday 25 May, is online on the IMCA website at legacy.imca-int.com. The half-day event at No 4 Hamilton Place focuses on the deterioration in contracting terms in the post-Macondo and post-$100 barrel oil business environment. “In the early 1990s, in the face of prolonged low oil prices, a new mantra emerged – CRINE, Cost Reduction Initiative New Era, it saw operators and contractors working together to find new contracting models which would allow

Key DP documents revised and published by IMCA

Two highly respected International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) documents, often written into contracts by clients, have been fully revised and published. ‘Guidelines for the Design and Operation of Dynamically Positioned Vessels’ (IMCA M103 Rev 2), and ‘Guidance on Failure Modes & Effects Analyses (FMEA)’ (IMCA M166 Rev 1) are both now freely available on the IMCA website. “Both important documents were reviewed using the IMCA ‘open forum’ web-based system introduced last year,” explains IMCA’s Technical Director, Richard Benzie.”This made for wide stakeholder engagement. All comments were welcomed and taken on board, so M103 and M166 can rightly be described as

IMCA Contracts & Insurance Seminar to Explore ‘A Dark Period in Contracting Terms’

IMCA’s 2016 Contracts & Insurance Seminar, being held in London at No. 4 Hamilton Place on Wednesday 25 May, will focus on the deterioration in contracting terms in the post-Macondo and post-$100 barrel oil business environment. In particular, the seminar will consider the potential risks of unlimited liability – for pollution, damage to work and consequential losses – and their impact on the marine contracting world. “Unlike our industry’s past response to challenging times, such as in the CRINE era twenty years ago when oil companies and contractors worked together to find better and more efficient ways of contracting, the

IMCA Contracts & Insurance Seminar to explore 'A dark period in contracting terms'

IMCA’s 2016 Contracts & Insurance Seminar, being held in London at No. 4 Hamilton Place on Wednesday 25 May, will focus on the deterioration in contracting terms in the post-Macondo and post-$100 barrel oil business environment. In particular, the seminar will consider the potential risks of unlimited liability – for pollution, damage to work and consequential losses – and their impact on the marine contracting world. “Unlike our industry’s past response to challenging times, such as in the CRINE era twenty years ago when oil companies and contractors worked together to find better and more efficient ways of contracting, the

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