International Marine Contractors Association News

New in-depth analysis from the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)’s industry vessel inspection programmes, eCMID and eMISW, reveals ongoing concerns around technical inspections, the controlled entry into confined spaces, cyber security, as well as defects to life-saving appliances.IMCA eCMID System Annual Report 2022/23 analysed the 1,539 reports on vessel inspections undertaken and uploaded to the eCMID database between April 2022 and April 2023, finding common themes of concern.Of the 761 eCMID inspections…

An area of the Indian Ocean near Somalia—once known as a piracy hotbed—has been removed from the shipping industry's list of high-risk areas following more than a decade of military, political, civil society and the industry measures to secure the waters. No piracy attacks against merchant ships have occurred off Somalia since 2018.On Monday, shipping industry groups International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), BIMCO, International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), INTERCARGO…

The America Bureau of Shipping (ABS), one of the world's largest ship classification societies, is withdrawing all class services involving Russian vessels, assets and companies, over the Russian invasion of Ukraine."After careful consideration of the situation in Ukraine and the Black Sea as well as the applicable sanctions, ABS has taken the decision to withdraw all Class services involving Russian vessels, assets, and companies," the company said Monday."The decision follows…

The International Marine Contractors Association has suspended its Russian members from the association over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.IMCA CEO Allen Leatt said: "We are all deeply saddened at IMCA by the events unfolding in Ukraine and the growing humanitarian disaster we see every day on mainstream news channels.""IMCA is well known and respected for our work in improving safety performance in our industry in over 60 countries worldwide, however, we have followed the lead of governments…

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) recently launched its Recommended Code of Practice on Environmental Sustainability (IMCA ES 001). This Code was developed by its Members through IMCA’s committee governance structure and sets expectations for the marine contracting industry in managing key environmental and climate topics associated with offshore marine construction.“IMCA started its environmental sustainability journey with its members four years ago," said IMCA’s CEO Allen Leatt.

In response to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the Congressional Research Service released a report that stated global economic growth has declined by 3% to 6% in 2020 with a partial recovery predicted for 2021. Also, the GDP of the U.S. has fallen by 5% in the first quarter 2020. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the maritime industry, and seafarers themselves, have not been able to escape the significant effects of this crisis.All sectors of the maritime industry have been adversely affected by the global pandemic.

A group comprising five offshore energy industry associations has called for the UK Government to exempt all offshore energy sector workers from the 14-day quarantine restrictions introduced on June 8.The group that calls itself the global Offshore Industry Group, comprises  International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC), International Association of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC), International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), International Association of Oil…

Unique Group has been awarded a multi-million-dollar contract by China Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd (COOEC).The contract was signed at the 2nd CNOOC Global Procurement signing ceremony held on November 7th, as a part of CIIE 2019 in Shanghai, China.Under this contract, Unique Group will design, manufacture and deliver a classed saturation diving system to be integrated on COOEC’s vessel, including technical support during and post installation. All equipment will comply with DNV and International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) guidelines.

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has added Andy Seymour, global director of operational excellence at Fugro NV in the Netherlands, to its governing board.Seymour has a technical background coupled with financial, commercial and management expertise. He  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 honors degree in Civil Engineering.Fugro has been a strong supporter of IMCA for many years.

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) announced Tuesday it has completed its existing guidance on dynamic positioning (DP) with the newly published ‘Guidance to Identify DP System Components and their Failure Modes’ (IMCA M 247).“Unexpected events that jeopardize station keeping integrity are regularly reported via the IMCA DP Station Keeping Report Scheme. This new IMCA guidance document is intended to assist in minimizing such events and provide guidance for those involved in the analysis and testing of DP systems…

Following a period of improving industry metrics during 2017, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has recognized that member companies could now consider reactivating their owned and managed DP vessels following a period of layup, and has issued a focused information note on this.IMCA’s Technical Adviser – Marine, Captain Andy Goldsmith, said, “In the right circumstances there is no reason why a reactivated DP vessel should not re-enter service in a better condition than when it was laid up, and with increased cyber security measures implemented.

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has updated its ‘Guidance on Safety in Shipyards’ IMCA HSSE 032, IMCA M 221. The document provides guidance to vessel owners and operators when preparing contracts and procedures for vessel dry docking or extended maintenance periods alongside in a shipyard.Originally published in 2013, the revised document addresses traffic management in shipyards.Nick Hough, IMCA Technical Adviser – HSSE, Offshore Survey and ROV, said,…

Trade association International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) announced that Iain Grainger is its new President and Chairman of the Board. Grainger, Vice President Commercial at McDermott, takes over from Harke Jan Meek.Pieter Heerema from Allseas becomes the new Vice President.

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has seen a marked increase in the use of its eCMID inspection scheme for offshore vessels that benefit from an independent International Safety Management health check. Over 2,300 vessels from more than 1,000 owners and operators are now listed on the eCMID database, which is consulted by more than 3,800 users each year. Inspections are undertaken by almost 400 Accredited Vessel Inspectors (AVIs) – and this number is rapidly expanding.

A new voice for today’s workboat professional emerges. As the captain of an OSV, I’ve spent a great deal of my life waiting. Waiting at the dock, at anchor, at the 500. Wherever one could wait, I have waited there. I can wait with the best of them. Now, just out of habit, I’ll wait when doing so is not required or helpful. Because of this waiting I, like most mariners, can gripe with the best of them. I also excel at grumbling, grousing, and my bellyaching is hard to beat. I guess mariners develop this skill while we wait (or maybe because we wait).

Harke Jan Meek, chief commercial officer at Heerema Marine Contractors, has been named the new president and chairman of the board of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). Meek succeeds Bruno Faure (TechnipFMC), who has stepped down as president of IMCA after completing his two-year term of office, in accordance with the association’s constitution. Faure remains on the board of the association. Iain Grainger, vice president commercial at McDermott International Inc. becomes the new IMCA vice president.

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) welcomed withdrawal of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) notice to revoke and modify rulings relating to offshore vessels under the Jones Act. Allen Leatt, Chief Executive of IMCA, explained, “Members of the International Marine Contractors Association with vessels active in U.S. waters, together with their clients, welcome the decision by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agency to withdraw its proposed revocation of longstanding decisions made over the last 40 years concerning the Jones Act.

US authorities have abandoned plans to tighten Jones Act coastal shipping rules – and it’s all thanks to the coordinated efforts of international government administrations, US energy firms and shipping bodies, in which the UK Chamber played its part. A statement from UK Chamber of Shipping said that America’s Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) on January 18 announced a plan to revoke past US CBP rulings that allow non-US flagged offshore vessels to carry out specialised services in specific circumstances for US offshore energy projects. Under the Jones Act, vessels carrying cargo between American ports must be US-built, owned by US citizens and crewed by US seafarers.

A vastly modernized U.S. offshore support fleet awaits the opportunity to perform Jones Act work in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Foreign operators, already here, predict disaster if a cabotage rule change takes effect. A change proposed by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in its Customs Bulletin & Decision newsletter promises reversal of a 40-year practice that, until now, allowed the use of non-coastwise-qualified vessels in the transportation of pipeline repair material; anodes; pipeline connectors; wellhead equipment; valves and valve guards; damaged pipelines; platform repair material; and similar cargo from one domestic point to another. The proposed change gave all interested parties until April 18th to make comment, a deadline which has now come and gone.

IMCA stands behind its opinion that CBP implementation of its proposal will severely damage business in the US Gulf of Mexico. Quote from Allen Leatt, CEO, The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) in response to report at marinelink.com  (OMSA: CBP Revocation Notice Boosts U.S. Jobs‘): “IMCA published its report on April 4 on the impact of the proposed CBP modifications and revocations to the Jones Act. Changes that would eliminate 40 years of stability in the workings of the Act, that has enabled industry to invest billions of dollars offshore and in the Gulf Coast States.

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) holds regular workshops to engage with the eCMID community including vessel operators, inspectors, and clients. The next workshop being held at Oceaneering International’s facility in Stavanger, Norway on the afternoon of Monday May 29, like all such workshops in 2017, has as its core theme how IMCA vessel inspection tools can assist in vessel assurance efforts for offshore contractors – in particular, for vessels brought out of lay-up, and as part of ISM code requirements.

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has confirmed the appointment of Mark Heine to its governing board. Heine is a senior executive with Fugro.   Heine is a member of the Management Board of Fugro and is the Director of the Marine Division. He has been with Fugro since 2000, and has served, amongst others roles as Director of Marine, Survey & Geotech, and Regional Manager Europe-Africa for the Survey Division. He holds an MSc in Geodetic Engineering from Delft University of Technology.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has agreed to continue using the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) document covering the Guidelines for Training and Experience of Key DP Personnel as the basis of the IMO Guidelines for Dynamic Positioning System (DP) Operator Training (MSC/Circ.738). The IMCA Guidance on the Training and Experience of Key Dynamic Positioning Personnel (IMCA M 117) has recently been revised and earlier this week IMO Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 4) agreed to revise MSC/Circ. 738 to reflect the revision.