The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) and the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) are celebrating the 1,000th Accredited Vessel Inspector (AVI) accreditation application.
IMCA’s eCMID system provides the offshore energy industry with standardised vessel inspections. Since its introduction, the electronic Common Marine Inspection Document (eCMID) has reduced the frequency, while improving the quality and consistency, of inspections.
Undertaken by IIMS recognised independent AVIs, the digital inspection reports are uploaded to a searchable online database via an IMCA developed App. Vessel operators can also share comments and provide additional supporting information to demonstrate how any inspection findings have been addressed.
The service, developed by the industry and for the industry, is extremely popular with more than 1,500 vessel inspections undertaken every year.
Commenting on the receipt of the 1,000th eCMID AVI accreditation application, International Institute of Marine Surveying CEO, Mike Schwarz, said: “This is a remarkable milestone since we jointly developed and launched the accreditation scheme with IMCA in 2015.
“I clearly recall a decade ago sitting down with IMCA senior executives to devise a robust scheme that would objectively match and assess the capabilities of inspectors with different vessel types requiring inspection. Up to that point, vessel operators had no way of checking if the attending surveyor had the necessary vessel knowledge to conduct the inspection. The eCMID AVI scheme changed that for good.
“I look back over that time with a sense of great pride at what has been achieved.”
Commenting on the milestone, Mark Ford, Marine & Quality Manager, IMCA said: “Our eCMID service is a great example of the positive role IMCA plays in promoting offshore safety. Bringing the industry together and working collaboratively with key industry stakeholders to ensure safer outcomes, our inspection reports provide peace of mind to vessel owners, operators and clients.
“Like Mike, I clearly recall our first discussions for eCMID accreditation following a Workshop in London. eCMID is something that I’m very passionate about and through our proactive Committee, we are always continuously improving the system.”
Find out more about eCMID at the dedicated website: www.ecmid.com
