IMCA Position Statement on Offshore & Inland/Inshore Commercial Diving Qualifications

Summary

Offshore and inland/inshore diving projects are undertaken in many countries.  Some countries have chosen not to have health and safety legislation relevant to such projects, but a number of countries in the world do have national regulations which apply to commercial diving projects.  IMCA Members and other industry stakeholders must always comply with applicable national legislative requirements, including where the law specifies the need for persons to hold particular diver training certificates before they can be permitted to work as commercial divers on offshore or on inland/inshore diving projects.   

IMCA has been informed that in some countries where legislative requirements for commercial diving qualifications are absent, Port Captains and Harbour Masters are insisting that all commercial diving activities within their areas of jurisdiction must be carried out by divers holding IMCA recognised offshore commercial diver training certificates and in full compliance with IMCA’s offshore diving guidelines. 

Similarly, in countries where legislative requirements for commercial diving qualifications are absent, some client companies who place contracts with diving contractors to deliver inland/inshore diving projects also insist that all such diving projects must be carried out by divers holding IMCA recognised offshore commercial diver training certificates and in full compliance with IMCA’s offshore diving guidelines.

This information note has been produced to assist diving contractors, their clients, and others working in countries where there are no laws requiring commercial divers to hold specific commercial diving qualifications.  The document clarifies IMCA’s position on the qualifications that the Association considers suitable for the purpose of demonstrating the basic competence of those seeking employment as commercial divers within:

• the offshore commercial diving sector (the class of offshore diving); and
  
• the inland/inshore commercial diving sector (the class of inland/inshore diving).

Inland/inshore diving operations have a different risk profile from offshore energy related diving operations.  The inland/inshore location:

• often allows the site to call on local onshore emergency support providers and equipment which has otherwise to be provided onsite when offshore;
  
• tends to have more shelter from the sea conditions compared to open water sites;
  
• tends to have shallower worksites with less decompression management.