Call for papers open for IMCA's London-based annual seminar

Published on 16 April 2014

The call for papers for the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) 19th Annual Seminar that this year will be held in London (19-20 November), is currently open with a closing deadline of 23 April 2014.

“Our ‘Where next for the offshore marine industry?’ theme for this year’s event follows on from the theme of the 2013 Annual Seminar held in Singapore ‘Addressing the Challenges of New Frontiers’,” explains IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler.

“‘Where next?’ was a question that a lot of people were asking at that highly successful event, which attracted well over 480 delegates from 32 countries. It could mean ‘where next?’ terms of working locations, technology, new field developments and also in delivering appropriate solutions as well as consideration of initiatives currently underway. We look forward to a wide range of thought provoking answers from those who submit abstracts; and to them being discussed in London in November.”

The Seminar, organised by all four IMCA technical divisions, will include separate Marine, Diving, and Offshore Survey/ROV sessions. The format for the two days will include keynote presentations on commercial/contracting issues, plenary sessions, streamed presentation sessions and parallel workshops on a variety of issues, as well as the associated exhibition of supplier members and variety of social and networking events.

While presentations relating to all types of marine operations will be considered, IMCA has published a list of papers in which it is particularly interested in attracting:

• Marine and Subsea Operations – key developments in marine and subsea operations including:
  • Challenges of working in harsh regulatory environments
  • Technologically challenging construction activities – case studies
  • Developments in challenging fields
  • Personnel initiatives addressing dilution of skills
• Marine Operations Technology and Equipment – current and evolving technology including:
  • Energy efficiency challenges versus emission challenges for marine power
  • Challenges of turnkey vessel new builds
  • How to improve FMEAs?
  • Life extension programmes
  • Developing technologies for marine operations
• Diving – key developments and advances in diving equipment and operations including:
  • Equipment development needs: how can we address the main challenges for higher efficiency
  • Hyperbaric evacuation solutions – case studies
  • Challenges and solutions to diving in cold waters
  • Advances in technology both in tools and in vessels
  • Medical assistance in remote locations
  • Diver medicals / health issues
  • Helium gas supplies
  • Developments in the diving industry
  • Diver efficiency at the worksite – training and competence
• ROV and AUV Resources – developments in ROV and AUV technology including:
  • New development for AUV launch and recovery
  • ROV support to deep water developments – case studies
  • BOP intervention by ROV – post Macondo specifications
  • What is the fixation with ROV horsepower?
  • IRM by autonomous vehicles – pipeline, structure, remote infrastructure
  • Tooling for the field of the future
  • Does reservoir life really determine equipment development?
  • Who are the next generation of ROV / AUV technicians – advanced training / competence?
• Offshore Survey – addressing key developments of survey operation including:
  • Advances in accuracy of survey sensors
  • Trend towards bigger and more capable survey vessels
  • Implications of ultra-deep to survey operations
  • Logistics and technical challenges for survey operations in polar regions – case studies
  • Unmanned survey and positioning projects – controlled from home base
  • Advances in metrology – case studies and projects
  • Advances in INS technology
  • The importance of good oceanographic survey data for marine construction
  • Non- acoustic underwater positioning solutions

“This list is far from being exclusive, we are eager to attract thoughts on all relevant issues that prospective speakers think will be of technical or operational interest,” says Jane Bugler.

Supporting exhibition
Exhibition space is available to IMCA supplier members and offers an exceptional opportunity to present new technologies and solutions for the industry to decision makers working for contractors and potential clients.

Further information on all elements of the IMCA 19th Annual Seminar is available from legacy.imca-int.com/events/imca-annual-seminar.aspx and events@legacy.imca-int.com.

Further information on IMCA and its work on behalf of its 900+ member companies in over 60 countries is available from legacy.imca-int.com and imca@legacy.imca-int.com. The association has LinkedIn and Facebook groups and its Twitter handle is @IMCAint

About IMCA

• IMCA is an international association with some 970 members in over 60 countries representing offshore, marine and underwater engineering companies. IMCA has four technical divisions, covering marine/specialist vessel operations, offshore diving, hydrographic survey and remote systems and ROVs, plus geographic sections for the Asia-Pacific, Central & North America, Europe & Africa, Middle East & India and South America regions. As well as a core focus on safety, the environment, competence and training, IMCA seeks to promote its members’ common interests, to resolve industry-wide issues and to provide an authoritative voice for its members.
• IMCA Vision & Strategy. As a result of work and collective input in 2013, IMCA has redefined its stated core purpose to be”Improving performance in the marine contracting industry”. To achieve this goal, IMCA’s Vision & Strategy has been devised with two elements in mind: Core activities and ways of working. Targets and objectives against which the association will measure progress in 2014 have been established. Note to Editors: We are more than happy to expand on this in tailor-made articles – just put us to the test, email judithpatten@jppr.uk.com or phone her on +44(0)20 8241 1912 to explain what you would like covered, length, and deadline.
• IMCA publishes some 200 guidance notes and technical reports – many are available for free downloading by members and non-members alike. These have been developed over the years and are extensively distributed. They are a definition of what IMCA stands for, including widely recognised diving and ROV codes of practice, DP documentation, marine good practice guidance, the Common Marine Inspection Document (CMID) – now available electronically as eCMID, safety recommendations, outline training syllabi and the IMCA competence scheme guidance. In addition to the range of printed guidance documents, IMCA also produces safety promotional materials, circulates information notes and distributes safety flashes.