Chris Chapman
To better represent its members, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is launching a new membership structure from 1 January 2015.
A new IMCA membership category entitled International Contractor (ICo) will come into play in the new year. The existing contractor member category – previously named ICO – will be renamed Global Contractor (GCo). The new ICo category is aimed at contractors working in several of the IMCA geographical regions and with a range of operational capabilities.
“The size and demographic of our membership has evolved enormously over the years and now, after months of planning, we are launching our new structure in order to better represent our members, ” explains IMCA’s Chief Executive, Chris Charman.
“As can be imagined, a significant amount of work has gone into creating this category, primarily to ensure a fair and equitable selection process, but also to make certain that what we do is not in breach of competition law in any way. Additionally, the IMCA constitution has been amended to encompass the change, which is designed to make us more inclusive and more relevant.”
All contractor members of IMCA have received an electronic brochure outlining the changes, and aimed at answering some of the questions companies may have about the new structure, copies are available from info@imca-int.com. Another important step in reshaping the organisation is the project to create the Supplier Workgroup, an effective and inclusive forum to capture and utilise the contributions those members make to the work of IMCA in its technical documents, and global safety debates. Its structure is currently being developed and formalised with further information coming in 2015.
“Both of the changes to the structure of our global association are a result of the implementation of the IMCA Vision & Strategy, ” explains Chris Charman
“The marine contracting industry plays a vital global role. Its vessels account for 4% of the world’s maritime fleet, ” he adds. “Collectively our members employ some 350, 000 people and have an annual turnover of around $150bn. They work in all the world’s major offshore areas, delivering large offshore oil and gas and marine renewables projects around the globe that quite literally fuel the global economy. IMCA’s role is to collect, collate and distil members’ knowledge into universally applicable technical guidelines.”
- IMCA is an international association with well over a thousand members in more than 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.
- 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.
