IMCA consultation on Guidance on Hyperbaric Evacuation Systems

Published on 3 January 2013

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is consulting widely, and globally, on new guidance on hyperbaric evacuation systems aimed at improving the safety of saturation divers throughout the world.

“In 2011 we set up an industry-wide workgroup to develop the hyperbaric evacuation guidance,” explains IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler.”The work was split into five main topic areas – risk assessment, technical, operations, medical and standards. The document, which runs to over 70 pages, is a substantial piece of work, and should make a significant contribution in helping to improve the evacuation arrangements available to saturation divers world-wide.

“We are distributing the draft guidance document widely for comment and inviting feedback by 8 February 2013, after which we will update the guidance with the aim of finalising the document for publication by the end of the first quarter of 2013. Those eager to comment can obtain a copy of the document by emailing legacy.imca-int.com.”

IMCA gave a presentation on the draft document at its recent annual seminar held in November in Amsterdam. IMCA has kept the industry involved in the development of this document and has made a number of presentations to the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) Diving Industry Workgroup , most recently at its last meeting held in Anchorage, Alaska in July 2012. The new document will be supported by two additional IMCA guidance documents. One will be contain interface recommendations for hyperbaric rescue units. This document is currently being finalised and will be issued shortly. The other document will be a DESIGN (Diving Equipment Systems Inspection Guidance Note) document dealing with the configuration, examination, testing and certification of the hardware elements found in hyperbaric evacuation systems.

Further information on IMCA and its work on behalf of its nearly 900 members in over 60 countries is at legacy.imca-int.com and available from IMCA, 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0AU, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7824 5520; Fax: +44 (0)20 7824 5521 or from imca@legacy.imca-int.com