Skip to content

Tag: Remote Systems & ROV

Meet the Expert: ROV

Due to high demand, this event has reached capacity and is now fully booked. IMCA’s ROV expert Roger Moore will be leading a special meeting on ROVs in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Monday 22 April at 9.00am. The meeting is an opportunity for IMCA Members based in Kuala Lumpur and beyond to hear directly about IMCA’s ROV activity from Roger Moore, Technical Adviser, IMCA. Kindly hosted by Petronas and held in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the concise meeting will provide attendees with an update on current IMCA activity, a focus on ROV activity, including training requirements and competency assessment,

Innovation on display as IMCA chairs Subsea Expo session on ROVs

IMCA was a proud supporter of Subsea Expo in Aberdeen from 20 to 22 February, sponsoring the technical discussions on the Conference’s Teal Stage. An active supporter of the industry event for many years – which offers great opportunities for networking with delegates, meeting Members, staying ahead of industry trends, and on top of the latest technological innovation – several IMCA colleagues attended this year. Among them was Roger Moore, Technical Adviser – Remote Systems & ROV and Offshore Survey, who chaired an industry discussion on ROV Technology & Handling at the Teal Stage. The discussion featured a range of

IMCA backs Fugro ROV introductory training course

 Fugro’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) introductory training course has received IMCA approval.   Allen Leatt, IMCA CEO, attended the opening ceremony for Fugro’s ROV Training Centre of Excellence, part of the Fugro Academy Training Centre in Plymouth, UK, on Friday 21 April 2023. He experienced first-hand how Fugro’s comprehensive training programme is designed to provide participants with a strong foundation in the ROV industry.   Meeting IMCA requirements, all new trainees must have a suitable educational background and a minimum of three years’ work experience in a relevant field before joining the course. This ensures that participants have a strong foundation to

Approving ROV introductory training courses

Following an increase in false certificates in circulation claiming to offer IMCA approved ROV training courses, IMCA has introduced a new scheme to address the safety concerns of this unauthorised activity.   The new approval process will mean that training providers who wish to offer IMCA approved courses will be required to apply for T2 ROV membership. Current T2 ROV members will need to have submitted the application and submission by 30 June 2023, with the audits completed by the end of the year.   Once fully approved, courses and their providers, will be listed on IMCA’s website alongside other approved courses.  

IMCA Publishes Guidelines on the Shared Use of ROV Sensors

Potential to improve efficiency and reduce costs The International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) has published ‘Guidelines for the Shared Use of Sensors for ROV and Survey Purposes‘ (IMCA S 025 / R 022), which is available on the Association’s website. The document provides technical guidance and an overview of some of the factors to consider when sharing ROV-mounted positioning, surveying and imaging sensors that may be used for more than one specific purpose. While the sharing of sensors may be desirable to improve efficiency and reduce costs, there are certain technical factors that need to be managed in order to

IMCA issues revised Lifting Operations Guidance

Extensive revision to all Guidance sections and the inclusion of additional key appendices IMCA’s Technical Manager to speak on the revised Guidance at International Offshore Crane and Lifting Conference The International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) has issued revised ‘Guidelines for lifting operations‘ (IMCA LR006, SEL019, D060, and M187) after an extensive review of all sections of the document, and added appendices on subsea lifts, diving operations, lifting personnel, lifting at extreme heights and dismantlement of offshore structures. The additions to the main body of the Guidance document are designed to ensure greater levels of safety. These include: a new lift

IMCA publishes ROV personnel and vehicle statistics

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has long collected information both on personnel working on remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and also on the types of ROV in operation. There has now been a thorough reassessment of the original reported data going back to 2010 in order to identify long-term trends. IMCA ROV statistics for 2016 As Richard Benzie, IMCA’s Technical Director explains: “There has been a clear fall in the number of ROV personnel at work, and the number of vehicles in use since 2015 due to current economic conditions. IRM work has seen the greatest relative reduction, but drill

IMCA to hold two-day ROV seminar in Stavanger

DIARY DATE: Event: ROV Seminar Theme: ‘The future for remote systems and ROVs in the offshore construction industry‘ Dates: Tuesday 30-Wednesday 31 May 2017 Venue: Oceaneering International’s facility in Stavanger, Norway Organised by: International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Registration/information: legacy.imca-int.com/events and [email]events@legacy.imca-int.com[/email] Significant opportunities and challenges face the subsea industry – increasingly strident requirements to satisfy environmental legislation is one; the challenges of ROV utilisation in the growing renewables sector is another. The need to recruit and retain properly trained, competent people remains vital. These challenges and opportunities have led the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) to organise an ROV

Busy spring for IMCA with an extensive seminar and workshop programme

During 2016 the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) announced it had changed its seminar strategy, replacing the traditional large annual event with a series of highly focused technical seminars. These proved very successful, and a commitment was made to build on this strategy in 2017. This has resulted in seven events being scheduled for spring 2017. “Our niche events are tailored to tackle specific topics, bringing together subject matter specialists to discuss solutions to industry issues,” explains Richard Benzie, IMCA’s Technical Director. The Spring 2017 events will be held in London, Stavanger and Amsterdam. Four of the seven events relate

IMCA publishes revision to safe and efficient ROV operations guidance

Technical developments and operational experience are fundamental to the latest revision of the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) ‘Guidance for the safe and efficient operation of remotely operated vehicles’ (IMCA R 004 Rev 4). This can be downloaded free of charge from the IMCA website at legacy.imca-int.com/media/72417/imcar004.pdf or via the home page at legacy.imca-int.com “The guidance provides a pertinent reference document for the safe and efficient offshore operations of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and of ROV support systems, and is designed for use by both contractors and clients” explains IMCA’s Technical Director, Richard Benzie.”Adoption of, and adherence to, the guidance

IMCA workshop at Oi2016: Shared Vehicle-Borne Sensors for ROV and Offshore Survey Applications

The rise of ‘ROV DP’, the capability to hold an ROV (remotely operated vehicle) stationary in the water column, has led to an increase in the sharing of ROV-mounted sensors, for ROV positioning, imaging and survey purposes. A workshop, organised by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) during Oceanology International 2016 (OI2016), will discuss the opportunities and challenges arising from this shared use of sensors and consider the future for this developing field of technologies. Taking place on Wednesday 16 March, alongside OI2016, the Workshop will be held in ExCeL London’s South Gallery Room 14. Coffee will be available from

Unofficial ROV technician accreditation

A number of individuals have contacted the IMCA secretariat over the last few months seeking clarity on their ROV technician competency and operator grade status. Almost all wish to get guidance on how to acquire IMCA certification or accreditation for their ROV skills, grade or position in their company. Please be aware that IMCA does not issue certification or accreditation for any ROV technician competence listed in our competence framework, or any other company or training provider competence framework. For further information, download information note IMCA R 05/15.

IMCA publishes world-wide ROV statistics for 2014

The International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) 2014 survey of remotely operated vehicle (ROV)s, and ROV personnel reveals that in February 2014 a total of 3,369 ROV personnel (superintendents, supervisors, pilot techs and other offshore ROV support personnel) were working, and in August the total figure was 3,617. The total number of ROVs in February was 677 and in August 726. These figures compare with 3,663 personnel in February 2013 and 3,962 in August 2013; and 580 ROVs in February 2013 and 636 in August 2013. The types of ROV in operation are broken down using the classes of ROV defined

ROV Intervention During Diving Operations

Safety is of paramount important offshore, and ‘Remotely Operated Vehicle Intervention During Diving Operations’ (IMCA D 054, IMCA R 020) is newly published by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) to provide guidelines for the safe and efficient offshore operation of ROVs in combined operations with divers in the same underwater space. “The guidance is designed for use by both contractors and clients, and purposely avoids subjects of minority interest,” explains IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler.”It contains guidelines and recommendations for the maintenance of a high level of safety and efficiency across the ROV sector. It does not, however, attempt

ROV mobilisation revision

From award of a contract to the first in-water test of the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) there are a significant number of issues that need to be addressed by both the onshore and offshore ROV teams. Each mobilisation is unique and needs to be planned in a comprehensive and structured manner. To assist in this process ‘ROV Mobilisation’ (IMCA R 009 Rev 1) published by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) considers many of these issues in a checklist format. Each ROV operator has its own management system to cover their internal requirements and the IMCA document is intended to

IMCA launches new freelance competence materials

Raising the profile of the competence of offshore personnel, and the value of company competence schemes, across the marine construction industry is one of the core activities of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Following the development of freelance materials for its Offshore Survey and Remote Systems & ROV divisions, and a revision of core Marine and Diving competence frameworks in 2012, IMCA has now launched freelance materials for its Marine and Diving divisions. This means that IMCA now offers a full suite of competence assurance frameworks tailored specifically for freelance workers. “Our message to all individual freelancers is simple,”

ROV statistics 2012

Newly released remotely operated vehicle (ROV) statistics from the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) show there has been an increase of members’ ROV-based construction, drill support and cable laying activities since IMCA started collecting figures on a worldwide basis in 2009. Additionally, cable laying activity, though a relatively minor part of members’ work overall, has more than doubled since 2009. Inspection activity has stayed on much the same level as in 2009. The 2012 world-wide ROV personnel and vehicle statistics issued by IMCA reflect personnel and vehicle levels at two specific times of the year, roughly six months apart –

IMCA publishes guidelines on ROV installation on vessels

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published ‘Guidelines for installing ROV systems on vessels or platforms’ (IMCA R018). The new publication is aimed at vessel and platform owner/operators and designers; ROV contractor representatives; client and contractor staff who prepare bid documents and contracts; installation and rig managers; vessel and ROV managers; and vessel designers and builders. The purpose of IMCA R018 is to provide guidance on the installation of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) System, or Systems, on to vessels and/or platforms. It is not intended to be a definitive guideline; instead it is intended to assist vessel and

IMCA publishes ROV 2011 global statistics

Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) statistics for 2011 have been published by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) as an information note (IMCA R 05/12). The statistics, intended to record personnel and vehicle levels, are collected twice a year in February and August. The 2011 figures show that IMCA members had fewer ROV personnel at work in 2011 than in 2010, and that ROV personnel numbers reported in August 2011 exceeded those in February 2011 by about 25%. In February 2011 a total of 2,410 personnel was reported to be involved in world-wide ROV operations (2373 ROV superintendents, supervisors and pilot

IMCA to hold ROV simulator workshop at Oceanology International

The modern remotely operated vehicle (ROV) simulator is a very sophisticated piece of equipment, extensively used for training personnel both offshore and onshore. Simulators are being used increasingly for other applications including project modelling, tooling interfacing and accident investigation. With these diverse and increasing uses in mind, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is holding a half day workshop with the theme ‘The Diverse role of the ROV Simulator’ during Oceanology International on Wednesday 14 March 2012 at the ExCeL Conference & Exhibition Centre, London. “The workshop’s aim is to present and discuss current and future ROV simulation technology. There

News Categories

News Archive