Jane Bugler
Small changes have been made to the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Inter-Vessel Survey Data Standard Telemetry Protocol (IMCA S 006 Rev.2)
“Our publications are constantly reviewed and revised and reissued where necessary, it is important that they are ‘living documents’, ” explains Jane Bugler, Technical Director of IMCA. “The small changes made in this revision to IMCA S 006 are primarily to the names used in the examples to reflect changes in company names since the document was originally published.”
The new version can be downloaded free of charge by members and non-members alike from the IMCA website at www.imca-int.com; and printed copies are available at £5.00 for members, and £10.00 for non-members (zero VAT, plus 20% for delivery outside Europe).
Background to the document
Through the auspices of IMCA’s Offshore Survey Division, a proposal was raised for the division’s members and the industry to adopt a common standard for the transmission and reception of general survey positioning data between survey systems offshore. A format was developed, and was successfully trialled by members of the Offshore Survey Division in 2002, and a standardisation format was agreed.
With the growing trend towards multi-vessel operations and with survey contractors using different survey navigation software suites, the Offshore Survey Division management Committee felt that a level of standardisation in data telemetry would be in the industry’s interests. A review of existing standards such as the NMEA 0183 documentation indicated that currently nothing was in use or in existence that met the varied requirements of survey projects undertaken by members of IMCA’s Offshore Survey Division.
It was therefore agreed to progress the design and implementation of a simple format that could be easily implemented and used by the contractors. Following a number of meetingsw and reviews, a format was agreed between the members.
As part of the commissioning of these developments, an inter-company trial was undertaken where the different systems were tested together.
Further information
Further information on IMCA and its work on behalf of its 970+ member companies in over 60 countries is available from www.imca-int.comand imca@imca-int.com. The association has LinkedIn and Facebook groups and its Twitter handle is @IMCAint
About IMCA
- IMCA is an international association with some 970 members in over 60 countries representing offshore, marine and underwater engineering companies. IMCA has four technical divisions, covering marine/specialist vessel operations, offshore diving, hydrographic survey and remote systems and ROVs, plus geographic sections for the Asia-Pacific, Central & North America, Europe & Africa, Middle East & India and South America regions. As well as a core focus on safety, the environment, competence and training, IMCA seeks to promote its members’ common interests, to resolve industry-wide issues and to provide an authoritative voice for its members.
- IMCA Vision & Strategy. As a result of work and collective input in 2013, IMCA has redefined its stated core purpose to be “Improving performance in the marine contracting industry”. To achieve this goal, IMCA’s Vision & Strategy has been devised with two elements in mind: Core activities and ways of working. Targets and objectives against which the association will measure progress in 2014 have been established. Note to Editors: We are more than happy to expand on this in tailor-made articles – just put us to the test, email judithpatten@jppr.uk.com or phone her on +44(0)20 8241 1912 to explain what you would like covered, length, and deadline.
- IMCA publishes some 200 guidance notes and technical reports – many are available for free downloading by members and non-members alike. These have been developed over the years and are extensively distributed. They are a definition of what IMCA stands for, including widely recognised diving and ROV codes of practice, DP documentation, marine good practice guidance, the Common Marine Inspection Document (CMID) – now available electronically as eCMID, safety recommendations, outline training syllabi and the IMCA competence scheme guidance. In addition to the range of printed guidance documents, IMCA also produces safety promotional materials, circulates information notes and distributes safety flashes.
