International Marine Contractors Association

International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is a leading international trade association for the marine contracting industry. It is a not for profit organisation with members representing the majority of worldwide marine contractors in the oil and gas and renewable energy industries.

International Marine Contractors Association
Formation1972/1995
TypeTrade Association
Headquarters66 Buckingham Gate
London SW1E 6AU
United Kingdom
Region
Worldwide
Membership
700+
Key people
Iain Grainger (CEO)
Jim Cullen (Technical Director)
Websitewww.imca-int.com

IMCA was formed following the merger of the Association of Offshore Diving Contractors (AODC) with the Dynamically Positioned Vessel Owners Association (DPVOA) in 1995.

Overview

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IMCA's mission is to improve performance in the marine contracting industry.

IMCA represents over 700 member organisations in over 60 countries.[1] It operates in five geographic regions of the globe (in Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe & Africa, Middle East & India and South America).[2] IMCA has a full-time secretariat in London that organises and manages the regional and technical committees. The extensive committee structure consists of elected member representatives who are experts in their field of operation.

As a trade association, IMCA is required to comply with international competition law and represents the industry on national and international forums, such as the International Maritime Organization.[3]

Publications and documents

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IMCA has developed a comprehensive body of knowledge in the form of a suite of over 250 published guidance documents, technical information notes, DVDs and safety promotional materials which are internationally recognised as authoritative and establish standards of good practice in the marine contracting industry.[4]

IMCA has published guidance documents in the following fields:

  • Safety, Environment & Legislation[5]
    • Safety flashes: Anonymised reports of accident, incidents, and near misses reported by members, and circulated to the interested public in the interest of improving safety. These reports may contain only the bare details, or a basic analysis, of what happened, depending on what was reported. As a general rule, no judgements are made nor blame suggested. The reader is left to learn what they can from information provided.[6]
  • Competence & Training[7]
  • Diving Division[7]
    • IMCA D0i4 International Code of Practice for Offshore Diving[8]
    • IMCA D022 The Diving Supervisor's Manual.[9]
    • IMCA D024 Rev 2 - Part 2 DESIGN for Saturation (Bell) Diving Systems.[10]
  • Diving Medical Advisory Committee (DMAC)[7]
  • Marine Division & DPVOA[7]
  • Offshore Survey Division[7]
  • Remote Systems & Remotely operated vehicle Division[7]

Diving Certification

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IMCA provides an internationally recognised certification scheme for three specialist diving disciplines:[11]

IMCA recognises some diver training certificates for surface oriented and closed bell offshore diving under the IMCA international code of practice for regions where there are no relevant regulatory systems. These certificates are listed in the current IMCA Briefing Note. IMCA does not approve or recognise specific diver training schools or courses.[12]

Events

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IMCA organises an annual programme of meetings and events all over the world, including regional meetings, briefing sessions, technical seminars and workshops on specific industry related issues. The Association's flagship event takes place every two years with an agenda combining business and strategic issues featuring senior executives and technical sessions. IMCA also supports a number of conferences and exhibitions hosted by other organisations which share a common interest of its members.

History

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  • 1972 - Association of Offshore Diving Contractors AODC founded.
  • 1990 - Dynamically Positioned Vessel Owners Association DPVOA, and AODC Middle East Section founded.
  • 1995 - AODC and DPVOA merged to form IMCA.
  • 1997 - Offshore Survey Division formed.
  • 1999 - Observer status granted at the International Maritime Organization.
  • 1999 - IMCA Asia-Pacific Section founded.
  • 2000 - Middle East Section extended to include India.
  • 2002 - Americas Deepwater Section founded (later to become Central & North America Section).
  • 2003 - Europe & Africa Section founded.
  • 2009 - South America Section founded.[13]

Past IMCA Presidents

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References

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  1. ^ Staff. "Member Directory". International Marine Contractors Association. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  2. ^ Staff. "IMCA Regions". About IMCA. International Marine Contractors Association. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Non-Governmental international Organizations which have been granted consultative status with IMO". Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  4. ^ "International Marine Contractors Association publishes 2003 safety statistics". South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS) Journal. 35 (2). 2005.
  5. ^ Staff. "Safety, Environment & Legislation". International Marine Contractors Association. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Safety Flashes". www.imca-int.com. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Staff. "Publications catalogue" (PDF). IMCA. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  8. ^ Staff (February 2014). "IMCA International Code of Practice for Offshore Diving" (PDF). IMCA D 014 Rev. 2. London: International Marine Contractor's Association. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  9. ^ Staff (2002). Williams, Paul (ed.). The Diving Supervisor's Manual (IMCA D 022 May 2000, incorporating the May 2002 erratum ed.). London, UK: International Marine Contractors' Association. ISBN 1-903513-00-6.
  10. ^ Staff (July 2014). "Section 5 - Diving Bell: 5.23 - Onboard gas, and 5.24 - Onboard oxygen". IMCA D024 Rev 2 - Part 2 DESIGN for Saturation (Bell) Diving Systems (PDF) (Revision 2 ed.). London,UK: International Marine Contractors Association. pp. 4 of 10. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  11. ^ "Training & Certification". Diving. International Marine Contractors Association. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  12. ^ "Diving Personnel Certification". IMCA. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  13. ^ a b Staff. "IMCA History". International Marine Contractors Association. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
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