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IMCA Diving Technical Team Expanded

Ali Macleod has joined the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) as Technical Adviser – Diving, having spent over six months with the association as Diving Training Provider Auditor. Prior to this he was the Diver Training Manager at The Underwater Centre in Fort William for over 20 years. IMCA’s Diving Manager, Bryan McGlinchy stated: “We are delighted to welcome Ali to the technical team. He has a passion and a reputation in the diving industry for delivering high quality training to members of the diving community. “He is a qualified Air and Closed bell Diver, a Dive Supervisor and highly

IMCA to Hold HSSE Seminar in Amsterdam in November

Senior managers and QHSE professionals from all organisations involved in the offshore marine contracting industry will be gathering in Amsterdam (Park Plaza Hotel, Schiphol) on 19 and 20 November for the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Health, Safety & Environment Seminar, which will consider sustainability from an environmental, health and safety perspective.   Split over two days and starting with a welcome lunch on Day One and finishing with lunch on Day Two, the Seminar, with its theme ‘Shaping a sustainable future’ will provide an opportunity for IMCA members and guests to participate in an industry forum with clear aims.

Nominations Open for IMCA Annual Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) Environmental Sustainability and Safety Annual Awards.As Allen Leatt, Chief Executive explains:“Following the success of the inaugural awards in 2018 when TechnipFMC’s Marine Operation Services won the Environmental Sustainability Award for the ‘very positive steps undertaken by crews to eliminate use of single-use plastics under T-MOS’s Plastics Reduction Plan; and the Safety Award was won jointly by MMA Offshore for its strategy and plans on ‘Target 365: A perfect day every day’ and Subsea 7 for ‘Driving IMCA’s Resilience Awareness Programme’, we are now running our awards programme on

IMCA Appoints Electrical Specialist To Technical Team

Reza Yaghoobi has joined the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) as Technical Adviser – Marine specialising in DP electrical, control and automation. He has joined the global trade association from London Energy where he was Electrical and Instrumentation Engineering Manager. He has previously worked for Berry Plastics Corporation, GNEC, Braemar Shipping and Monenco. Mark Ford, Technical Director, IMCA stated “We are delighted to welcome Reza to the technical team he is IMCA’s first Technical Adviser with specialist electrical knowledge. His career spans three decades and includes experience working both onshore and offshore in the renewables, conventional and worldwide energy industries.

Inaugural Digitalisation Seminar on IMCA’s Calendar of Events

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) will be holding its inaugural Digitalisation Seminar in London on 15 October at Prince Philip House, Carlton House Terrace, with the theme ‘The Future Offshore Digital Environment’. Digitalisation is one of two key strategic themes for IMCA and has seen the formation of a Digitalisation Committee comprise of representatives from DOF, Fugro, Heerema Marine Contractors, McDermott, Saipem and TechnipFMC tasked with researching and investigating disruptive technologies and assessing their future impact on our industry. Free for members and invited guests the seminar will demystify many of the terms in use and combine views from

IMCA Focuses on DP at Asian Offshore Support Journal Conference

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has a major role to play at the Asian Offshore Support Journal Conference (Singapore, 17-18 September) as they stage a full afternoon of presentations and a workshop on ‘Dealing with DP Assurance Issues’ at this key event aimed at contractors, charterers, shipowners/operators/managers, shipbuilders, financiers and equipment suppliers. The session being held on the afternoon of 18 September will start with an update on IMCA’s DP station-keeping reporting scheme by Captain Andy Goldsmith, Technical Adviser – Marine at IMCA. Joey Fisher, IMCA Marine DP Committee member from M3 Marine will then speak about the IMCA

New Feature for IMCA’s eCMID Ensures Usefulness for Clients

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has introduced a new feature to their eCMID website to enable vessel operators to upload additional documents that may be of interest to their clients. As IMCA’s Technical Director, Mark Ford explains: “This new feature, which is optional, ensures that eCMID is part of a broader vessel assurance system. As such it will now also give clients access to Annual DP Trial reports; Failure Modes and Effects Analyses (FMEAs); DESIGN (Diving Equipment Systems Inspection Guidance Notes); and other relevant documents, alongside the existing eCMID and eMISW inspection reports. “This is one of a range

IMCA and ADCI Working Together to Benefit Offshore Commercial Diving

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) and the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI), the two major trade associations in the commercial diving industry, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on matters of operational safety, training standards, and the mutual recognition of diver qualifications. The two organisations have had a close relationship for a number of years and earlier this year established the International Diving Industry Forum (IDIF) together with the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP), to reduce and control the risks associated with diving in the oil and gas industry globally. Under this Memorandum

IMCA Appoints Andy Seymour of Fugro to its Board

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is pleased to confirm the appointment of Andy Seymour, to its Governing Board. Mr Seymour is the Global Director Operational Excellence at Fugro NV based in The Netherlands. He has a strong technical background coupled with financial, commercial and management expertise. Andy started his career at Fugro as a field surveyor progressing to shore based management positions including country manager and regional director. In 2018 he moved into a corporate role as deputy division director and in 2019 was appointed into his current roles as Global Director Operational Excellence. He holds a first-class honours

IMCA’s Technical Director Awarded an IIMS Blue Water Award

Mark Ford , Technical Director of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) was caught by surprise when he was recently awarded an IIMS (International Institute of Marine Surveying) Blue Water Award at the IIMS London 2019 Conference Dinner held at 10/11 Carlton House Terrace in central London Mike Schwarz, CEO of IIMS quotes from his speech on the night: “…….Talking about having good people around us, I am also reminded that we have some brilliant partners who we work with and they with us. One of our key partners who we have developed a solid relationship with going back five

IMCA Set to Provide Assurance for DP Operations at 9th DP Asia Conference

Providing assurance for DP operations lies at the heart of the presentation being given by Captain Andy Goldsmith, Technical Adviser – Marine, the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) at the 9th Dynamic Positioning Asia 2019 conference and exhibition in Singapore 2-4 July.  Speaking in a session devoted to ‘Competency of DP Personnel and Practitioners’ on 3 July he will talk about three key IMCA initiatives – the recently launched DP Practitioner Accreditation Scheme; assurance of process by means of IMCA’s ‘Guidance for Developing and Conducting DP Annual Trials Programmes‘ (IMCA M 190), looking particularly at revisions relevant to remote and

IMCA Warns Against Offline Use of eCMID System

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has issued a notice setting out the benefits of eCMID, its online vessel inspection system, and warning users that offline use is no longer permitted. Since 1 January 2018, IMCA has only recognised formal inspection reports conducted using its eCMID application and uploaded into the database website (www.imcaecmid.com). Any eCMID reports that are not uploaded to the database are not considered to be authorised vessel inspection reports. IMCA’s Technical Director, Mark Ford sets the scene, and provides a summary of the key benefits of the online eCMID system over the traditional offline approach: “The

IMCA to Stage Marine Renewable Energy Seminar

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is to hold a Marine Renewable Energy Seminar on 25 September in Amsterdam (Novotel Schiphol Airport). With the theme ‘Working together for safe and efficient operations’ this day-long seminar on the topic reflects the increasing involvement of IMCA members with the rapidly expanding global marine renewables sector.   Free to attend for IMCA members plus invited guests the one-day seminar will consider IMCA global initiatives and feature three sessions – ‘Achieving harmonisation of training and certification’; ‘Openness is the key to safe and efficient operations’; and ‘Future trends in the marine renewable energy sector’.

IMCA to Stage Lifting & Rigging Technical Forum

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is to hold a Lifting & Rigging Technical Forum on 24 September in Amsterdam (Novotel Schiphol Airport) with the theme ‘Offshore Lifting: Training, Certification, Competency’.   This one-day seminar devised by IMCA in conjunction with TechnipFMC provides an opportunity for IMCA members to participate in an industry forum considering both the human and technical aspects of crane operations in an offshore environment.   Free to attend for IMCA members plus invited guests this one-day seminar will consider current industry needs in terms of training, certification and competency requirements. Attendees will have the opportunity of

IMCA to Stage Lifting & Rigging Technical Forum

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is to hold a Lifting & Rigging Technical Forum on 24 September in Amsterdam (Novotel Schiphol Airport) with the theme ‘Offshore Lifting: Training, Certification, Competency’.   This one-day seminar devised by IMCA in conjunction with TechnipFMC provides an opportunity for IMCA members to participate in an industry forum considering both the human and technical aspects of crane operations in an offshore environment.   Free to attend for IMCA members plus invited guests this one-day seminar will consider current industry needs in terms of training, certification and competency requirements. Attendees will have the opportunity of

Application Process Now Open for IMCA's DP Practitioner Accreditation Scheme

The application process for the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) DP Practitioner Accreditation Scheme opens today (1 May 2019). The launch sees additional support documentation added to the IMCA website and the first dates announced for examinations with further dates to follow. Two categories of practitioners are eligible for accreditation: A DP Trials and Assurance Practitioner, i.e. an individual actively involved in producing, witnessing and assessing the results of DP Failure Modes and Effects Analysis proving trials and DP annual trial programmes; and A company DP Authority, i.e. the responsible individual for a vessel operator or end charterer for managing

International Diving Industry Forum Established by the World’s Key Energy Industry Diving Bodies

The International Diving Industry Forum (IDIF) has been established by three key industry stakeholders – the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA); the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI); and the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) – to reduce and control the risks associated with energy industry diving operations carried out anywhere in the world. It is intended that the Forum will: Bring leading industry stakeholders together in a collaborative, constructive effort to promote international energy industry diving safety; Provide a specialist forum for discussions, sharing ideas and experiences, and for targeting themes for improving diving safety; Facilitate

Countdown underway for Start of IMCA's DP Practitioner Accreditation Scheme

The application process for the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) DP Practitioner Accreditation Scheme will open on 1 May. In preparation, IMCA has created a dedicated page on the IMCA website providing information on the scheme and the steps that those seeking accreditation need to undertake. “The aims of the scheme are to improve the consistency and conduct of DP trials throughout our industry; and to set a recognised level of knowledge for DP practitioners responsible for developing, witnessing and reporting of DP trials, and those responsible for the management of DP assurance processes,” explained Captain Andy Goldsmith, IMCA’s Technical

IMCA Appoints Technical Director

Mark Ford, Technical Manager of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), has been promoted to Technical Director of the global organisation. Mark Ford, IMCA’s new Technical Director “Mark has been with IMCA for the last seven years and knows the Association perhaps better than anybody,” explained IMCA’s CEO, Allen Leatt. “I know therefore that he will do a great job for us in driving our technical programme, which continues to grow in scope and detail. Mark Ford joined the IMCA Secretariat in 2012 from Charles Taylor Consulting, where he worked as a senior surveyor and divisional director in the safety

Focus on Remote Surveillance at Rio de Janeiro Regional Meeting

Focus on remote surveillance and remote data management, services and access Speakers from IMCA, Fugro, Kongsberg and TechnipFMC IMCA South America regional meeting October 2018 The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is to hold its South America Regional meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday 14 March. With its theme ‘Remote Surveillance in Support of Offshore Operations’ this will be an opportunity for IMCA members and their guests to receive an update on the Association’s activities, and to hear highly relevant presentations from three IMCA member companies. Chaired by John Chatten, IMCA’s South America Committee Chairman, the meeting will include