Massimo Fontolan
“Our industry must prepare for times of change and turmoil and IMCA (the International Marine Contractors Association) – representing the marine contracting industry globally – must be in tune with our members and support them, ” says IMCA President, Massimo Fontolan of Saipem as the fall in the oil price continues to dominate the headlines.
With over a thousand member companies in more than 60 countries, IMCA is well-placed to take the ‘temperature’ of this vital part of the supply chain. In an open letter to IMCA members and other stakeholders in IMCA’s quarterly publication ‘Making Waves’ Mr Fontolan explains: “Whilst we maintain a positive sentiment as to the future of our industry in the medium long term, the present economic circumstances will not pardon poor performance, lack of competence or low standards. The effective management of risk through good practices, fair contracting principles and high standards of quality and safety will be paramount more than ever.
“We expect increasing pressure on rates and prices in attempts by our clients to pass their difficulties down the supply chain. This will require our members to adapt quickly, without relying on traditional, consolidated business models and positioning, and certainly not delivering poor performance, inefficiency, low quality and standards.
“This is where the IMCA mission lies and, as our focus is on championing better regulations and enhancing operational integrity, IMCA must be able to measure and monitor the actual performance of the marine contracting industry throughout the whole value chain – thus unlocking its potential.
“In nature, those capable of adapting fast will not only survive, but dominate, ” he says, going on to look at the effect on IMCA itself: “This applies equally to IMCA, for we shall take advantage of this situation and turn it into an opportunity to review and strengthen our organisation, expand its role and improve services to the members.”
Further information
Further information on IMCA and its work on behalf of its 1000+ member companies in over 60 countries is available fromwww.imca-int.com and 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 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.
About the industry IMCA serves
The marine contracting industry plays a vital global role. Its vessels account for 4% of the world’s maritime fleet. Collectively IMCA 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.
