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IMCA’s Middle East & India meeting to be held in Doha

The next meeting of the International Marine Contractors Association’s Middle East & India Section will take place in Doha, Qatar on 28 July. Members and non-members are welcome to attend. The half day meeting will include an update on IMCA’s activity both in general terms and looking at the activity of its two core and four technical divisions as well as a number of presentations including ‘Competency, Safety Culture and Training: what an Oil major expects from their Contractors’ to be delivered by Christiaan Keeval of Total Qatar. Fuller information on planned presentations will be available shortly on the IMCA

IMCA's Middle East & India meeting to be held in Doha

The next meeting of the International Marine Contractors Association’s Middle East & India Section will take place in Doha, Qatar on 28 July. Members and non-members are welcome to attend. The half day meeting will include an update on IMCA’s activity both in general terms and looking at the activity of its two core and four technical divisions as well as a number of presentations including ‘Competency, Safety Culture and Training: what an Oil major expects from their Contractors’ to be delivered by Christiaan Keeval of Total Qatar. Fuller information on planned presentations will be available shortly on the IMCA

Two days of IMCA events in Vietnam

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has programmed two days of events in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on 22 and 23 July. The first sees an afternoon’s ‘Vietnam Briefing’ open to IMCA members, and non-members including oil company representatives, contractors, consultants and all interested in the work of IMCA. The second combines the meeting of IMCA’s Asia-Pacific Section with an open session looking at key issues including competition law policy, IMCA activity worldwide, the Common Marine Inspection Document (CMID), regulatory update and presentations. “It is going to be a busy two days,” explains Jane Bugler, IMCA’s Technical Director and

IMCA publishes annual safety and environmental statistics

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published its annual safety and environmental statistics. Drawn from 264 IMCA contractor members and based upon 798 million man-hours of work overall (558 million man-hours relating to offshore work) the 2014 dataset shows that the overall ‘flat line’ tendency in lagging safety indicators has continued in the longer term. “Direct causes of Lost Time Injuries (LTIs) continue to be the ‘usual candidates’ – with struck by moving/falling objects the highest accounting for 110 incidents (26%); falls on the same level (including slips and trips) in second place with 88 incidents 21%) and struck

Two key positions to be filled at IMCA

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is advertising for two key positions – a Chief Executive Officer, and a Technical Director. Recruitment is now underway with CurzonTrinitas Ltd and details of both roles, necessary qualifications and how to apply can be found on the IMCA website at legacy.imca-int.com/vacancies. IMCA is the international trade association representing companies and organisations engaged in delivering offshore, marine and underwater solutions, and has over a thousand members in more than 60 countries. Its core purpose is improving performance in the marine contracting industry by championing better regulation and enhancing operational integrity The association has four

Competence Assurance and Assessment: Marine Roles for Small Workboats – guidance published by IMCA

Following a number of incidents involving small workboats operating in the wind farm sector during 2012 and 2013, a need was identified to set out the elements of competence required for crews operating and working on small workboats. ‘Guidance on Competence Assurance and Assessments: Marine Roles for Small Workboats’ (IMCA C 017) has now been published by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). “For the purpose of our new guidance a small workboat is any vessel less than 200 gross tonnes,” explains IMCA’s Technical Director and Acting Chief Executive, Jane Bugler. “Working together, our Competence & Training Core Committee, Marine

Competence in the spotlight at IMCA Central & North America Section meeting

A series of presentations and discussions session on the all-important topic of competence will be held following the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Central & North America Section Meeting on 18 June at the Houston Marriott Energy Corridor Hotel. The Competence Seminar, which takes place in the afternoon of 18 June is open to members, potential members and their guests includes a welcome and introduction by Neil Evans, IMCA Technical Adviser and presentations by Katie Hulin of Epic Divers on Establishing a Competence Management System; by IADC on Competence Assessment in the Drilling Industry; and ‘Impacts of SEMS on competence

IMCA South America Section meeting and Social in Macaé

The next South America Section meeting of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) will be held 22 June in Macaé at the Mercure Macaé. The section meeting will incorporate a presentation and discussion session on the CMID Accredited Vessel Inspector Project, a presentation on competence and training and following the section meeting there will be a networking drinks reception at a nearby venue. Further information on both parts of the Macaé meeting, which is open to members , potential members and guests, is available from events@legacy.imca-int.com and free registration is online at legacy.imca-int.com The CMID Accredited Vessel Inspector Project The

Competence in the spotlight at IMCA Central & North America Section meeting

A series of presentations and discussions session on the all-important topic of competence will be held following the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Central & North America Section Meeting on 18 June at the Houston Marriott Energy Corridor Hotel. The Competence Seminar, which takes place in the afternoon of 18 June is open to members, potential members and their guests includes a welcome and introduction by Neil Evans, IMCA Technical Adviser and presentations by Katie Hulin of Epic Divers on Establishing a Competence Management System; by IADC on Competence Assessment in the Drilling Industry; and ‘Impacts of SEMS on competence

IMCA Europe & Africa Section meeting and briefing session heads to Livorno in Italy

The International Marine Contractors Association Europe & Africa Section meeting, which combines a briefing session open to members, potential members and invited guests, with a drinks reception and dinner, takes place on Tuesday 9 June at the NH Grand Hotel Palazzo, Livorno, Italy. The day starts with a welcome and introduction by Sergio Cappelletti, Vice Chairman, IMCA Europe & Africa Section who will give an IMCA overview. IMCA’s Technical Advisers Nick Hough and Andy Goldsmith will then provide a full update on IMCA including technical and regulatory developments. A series of presentations then follows from Subspec; Saipem; RINA (on classification

IMCA Europe & Africa Section meeting and briefing session heads to Livorno in Italy

The International Marine Contractors Association Europe & Africa Section meeting, which combines a briefing session open to members, potential members and invited guests, with a drinks reception and dinner, takes place on Tuesday 9 June at the NH Grand Hotel Palazzo, Livorno, Italy. The day starts with a welcome and introduction by Sergio Cappelletti, Vice Chairman, IMCA Europe & Africa Section who will give an IMCA overview. IMCA’s Technical Advisers Nick Hough and Andy Goldsmith will then provide a full update on IMCA including technical and regulatory developments. A series of presentations then follows from Subspec; Saipem; RINA (on classification

IMCA celebrates 20th anniversary

Over 120 members and guests from home and overseas attended the reception celebrating the 20th anniversary of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) last week (19 May). The reception followed IMCA’s ‘Allocation of risk in challenging current market conditions’ seminar organised by the association’s Contracts & Insurance Workgroup, for which over a hundred specialists – CEOs and executives, risk managers, lawyers, consultants and insurance managers/advisers had registered. Welcoming guests, IMCA’s Technical Director and Acting Chief Executive, Jane Bugler explained that IMCA was formed in spring 1995 through the merger of the Association of Offshore Diving Contractors (AODC, founded in 1972)

IMCA publishes security measures and emergency response guidance

The threat to maritime security from piracy, terrorism, criminal acts, and hostage and kidnapping threats continues to pose challenges to ships’ owners, masters and crew members, and has resulted in the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) (Booth S16 at OTC) publishing ‘Security Measures and Emergency Response Guidance’ (IMCA SEL 037, IMCA M 226). “Safety is of paramount importance, and our document aims to provide guidance to masters, company and ship security officers and other crew members and staff, on security measures and emergencies onboard vessels when underway, at anchor or alongside in their own or another country, and also for

IMCA publishes guidelines for safe DP OSV operations

Reliable and robust methods of positioning are required for safe vessel operations in close proximity to offshore installations. Dynamic positioning (DP) is well-established as a primary method of vessel positioning in the diving, drilling, construction, accommodation and shuttle tanker sectors, and is especially suited to deep-water developments. As development and management of DP becomes more refined, increasingly logistics support vessels are becoming equipped with DP systems with increasing reliance being given to such systems. With this increased use in mind, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) [Booth S16 at OTC 2015) has published an updated edition of ‘International Guidelines for

IMCA publishes Guidance on the Use of Simulators

Simulators are used for many purposes in the offshore industry such as for work planning/mission planning purposes including engineering development, procedure development, technical assessments, research, and asset risk assessment. Importantly too they are used in the training environment and as part of competence assessments where they enable measurable assessment of individuals in training to be undertaken. It is particularly with training and competence assessment in mind that the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) (Booth S16 at OTC 2015) has produced the fourth revision of ‘Guidance on the use of simulators’ (IMCA C 014). “This revision sets out a template for

IMCA's CMID: Applications for IIMS Accredited Vessel Inspectors open

Today (1 May 2015) is a significant date for both the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) and the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS), for it sees the website going live through which those wishing to apply to become IIMS Accredited Vessel Inspectors (AVIs) for IMCA’s CMID (Common Marine Inspection Document) work on a global basis from 1 June can register their interest. The new website is at cmidvesselinspectors.com with the registration application at https://www.ecmidvesselinspectors.com/cmid-accreditation-scheme/application-process/. The site includes full information on IMCA, IIMS, CMID, and on the CMID Accreditation Scheme, with sections on accreditation benefits, the application process, fees, frequently

IMCA publishes An Introduction to Inertial Navigation

The increased use of inertial navigation systems (INS), particularly in support of offshore survey, installation and inspection tasks, has emphasised the need for a general introduction and outline of the use of inertial navigation technology used offshore. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has risen to the challenge and published ‘An Introduction to Inertial Navigation Systems’ (IMCA S 022) produced for the association by Gordon Johnson under the direction of the IMCA Offshore Survey Division Management Committee. Jane Bugler, IMCA’s Technical Director explains:”This new document provides a broad overview of INS technology currently in use in surface and subsurface positioning

Competence seminar being held by IMCA in Mumbai

Competence & Training is a core activity of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), providing guidance on competence assurance and assessment, training, and information on recruitment and careers in offshore, marine and underwater engineering – and it is a topic that will come under the seminar spotlight next week in Mumbai when IMCA stages a competence seminar at the Sofitel Hotel on the afternoon of Tuesday 21 April. “Our competence assurance and assessment guidance provides members with a framework for creating their own in-house schemes for assessing and recording the competence of people working in safety-critical and other roles,” explains

Packed programme at IMCA Asia-Pacific Section meeting in Singapore

Sea Asia, being held next week at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore, is providing the ideal venue for an information-packed International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Asia-Pacific Section meeting to which guests are invited to hear a number of highly relevant presentations. A members-only meeting will be held until 10:00 on Thursday 23 April when the open meeting begins. “I am looking forward to seeing members from throughout the region; we have much to discuss with them and their guests,” says Jane Bugler, IMCA’s Technical Director.”We will providing a world-wide update on the work of our two core

Launch date for IIMS Accredited Vessel Inspectors announced

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) and the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) chose the final day of Ocean Business at Southampton (16 April) to announce the eagerly awaited start date for the IIMS accredited vessel inspectors (AVIs) scheme, for CMID (Common Marine Inspection Document ) work on a worldwide basis as 1 June. Those wishing to apply to become IIMS AVIs will be able to register their interest from the beginning of May in order to allow for processing of applications from 1 June. “The accreditation process for CMID vessel inspectors, to be known as accredited vessel inspectors