Central North America News

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Secretariat says that Chris Baldwin has joined its team as a Technical Adviser following a short secondment from the Royal Navy. The association has a strong team of eight Technical Advisers working with Jane Bugler, IMCA’s Technical Director. Chris has spent 29 years in the Royal Navy and most recently held a position in the UK MoD’s Defence Safety and Environment Authority, as the Diving Regulator and Superintendent of Diving. His career path has given him a wide maritime experience including: DP, AUV and ROV operations; ship and Offshore Installation security; competency training, safety auditing and most recently commercial diving.

A competent workforce is a productive one, and operates with fewer risks, meaning shorter downtimes and fewer injuries. Effective competence schemes established by companies of all sizes ensure confidence in the offshore industry, and that all people appointed to safety-critical positions can carry out their jobs in an effective manner. To that end, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has established a highly effective competence assurance and assessment framework.

Massimo Fontolan, of Saipem Ltd., takes on the role of President of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). Mr. Fontolan is currently Vice President Commercial, North Atlantic and Arctic at Saipem Ltd. In addition to becoming President of IMCA, he also becomes Chairman of the association's Overall Management Committee (OMC), having served as Vice President of IMCA for the past two years. He is a Civil Engineer with a degree in hydromechanics and quick to point…

Every year the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) produces an annual report of safety statistics (covering fatalities and injuries) supplied by members. “Safety statistics are a useful insight into the performance of a company and industry sector in the areas of health, safety and environment,” explains Hugh Williams, Chief Executive of IMCA. We publish the figures to record the safety performance of IMCA contractor members each year and to enable them to benchmark their performance.

The Chief Executive of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), Hugh Williams, 59, has announced his intention to stand down at the end of 2012 after 10 years in post. IMCA is the international trade association for offshore, marine and underwater engineering companies with about 850 members in over 60 countries all around the world. It focuses on offshore construction and marine operations mainly in support of offshore oil & gas, but also marine renewable energy, dredging and telecommunications cable laying.

USA hosted the nineteenth International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) annual seminar from 9-10 November, with its theme ‘The future of marine and subsea operations’. This year’s seminar attracted over 340 delegates, and was endorsed by IADC, OGP, MTS dynamic positioning committee, API, ADC International, OCIMF, and OOC. The two days saw a range of presentations, workshops, social events, an exhibition with stands from 19 different companies, and some strong views from speakers and delegates alike.

Shipping on the Great Lakes should be back to normal by early Monday evening, Canadian marine authorities said, as a 730-ft. freighter, which crashed into a lift bridge across the Welland Canal, has been towed away. "They're raising the bridge at the moment and they will have to make sure it (is secure) before telling the ships to move into the canal," said Sylvie Moncion, a spokeswoman for the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp., which operates the key marine route into central North America. Moncion said traffic on the Welland Canal portion of the Seaway system had been stalled by the accident, with 25 ships now waiting to go through the canal. She expected the canal to resume normal operations around 6:30 p.m. (2230 GMT).