International Code of Safety for Diving Operations approved by IMO’s SSE Sub-Committee

Last week a delegation from IMCA participated in the 9^th session of IMO’s Sub-Committee on Ships Systems and Equipment (SSE 9) where finalisation of the Revision of the Code of Safety for Diving Systems (resolution A.831(19)) and the Guidelines and specifications for hyperbaric evacuation systems (resolution A.692(17)) was on the agenda.

Four years ago, IMCA suggested this revision in a proposal to IMO which was co-sponsored by Member States Bahamas and the Marshall Islands. The proposal was accepted, and a correspondence group established to progress the work under the leadership of Bahamas, to which IMCA has since provided technical support and shared its extensive expertise.

The group comprising a mix of industry experts and member states, has worked tirelessly since being established and during this time IMCA has played a significant role educating about offshore diving and its critical role in supporting offshore construction. We hosted several workshops and displays at the IMO, as well as several virtual meetings to continue the work during the pandemic. We even hosted an IMO delegation on board Subsea 7’s Dive Support Vessel, Seven Falcon to further enhance the group’s understanding and ensure there were no dissenting voices when the text of the draft International Code of Safety for Diving Operations, 2023 was considered for approval. We have been unstinting in lobbying IMO Member States for their support to ensure that the work was concluded at SSE 9 in accordance with the agreed timetable.

After such a tremendous effort, IMCA is delighted to share that SSE 9 approved the new draft Code together with the associated guidance document on implementation without comment. The text will now be submitted to IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee, which will meet in May this year, for formal acceptance. The Code will then be submitted to the IMO Assembly for formal adoption in November and, assuming that it is adopted, and  will come into effect on 01 January 2024.

IMCA’s representative to the IMO, Margaret Fitzgerald, said: “IMCA is proud to have been part of the Correspondence Group and thankful for the close co-operation and support of the Member States in recognising the importance of this work and for their tremendous effort in pushing forward to ensure the draft 2023 Diving Code was approved at this session of SSE.”

IMCA’s Diving Manager, Bryan McGlinchy commented: “A huge thank you to everyone involved in getting us this far. This has been a fantastic team effort by a dedicated and knowledgeable group of people.  I firmly believe that the new Diving Code will significantly improve the safety of divers around the globe should it – as is currently planned – come into effect next year.”

IMO member states visit Subsea 7’s dive support vessel, Seven Falcon
IMCA was delighted to be joined by several IMO Member States to visit the Seven Falcon in Norway recently to support our work on the revision of the IMO Diving Code. The visitors were treated to a tour of the vessel and got to appreciate the realities of offshore diving when they were given an opportunity to climb inside one of the vessel’s diving bells, its accommodation chambers, and the hyperbaric lifeboat.

IMCA used photos and video footage captured during the visit as part of a display at the IMO headquarters in London in support of the work on developing the new draft International Code of Safety for Diving Operations, 2023 which was approved by SSE 9 last week.

IMCA is extremely grateful to the Captain and crew of the Seven Falcon for accommodating the IMO delegation onboard and for providing us all with an unforgettable experience, superb video footage as well as a very tasty lunch!

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