Andy Goldsmith
Andy Goldsmith has joined the International Marine Contractors Association as Technical Adviser Marine, with particular responsibilities for DP (dynamic positioning).
“With 17 years on a range of DP vessels under his belt, and as a long-time user of IMCA guidance, Andy is an ideal addition to our busy and highly qualified technical team working with our Technical Director, Jane Bugler, ” says IMCA’s Chief Executive, Chris Charman.
Andy’s career began with Texaco Overseas Tankship at 16. He completed a four-year cadetship, qualifying as a Third Mate, and during his ten years with the company obtained a class 2 Chief Mate certificate. He worked briefly ashore, but then applied to every company that owned or operated vessels working in the North Sea. After an interview with OIL he found himself onboard an anchor handling supply vessel in Great Yarmouth which, instead of working in the North Sea, set off for Angola.
He transferred to the Oil Endeavour, a very early DPDSV converted from a French fishing vessel and working in the Gulf of Mexico. They completed most jobs using 4-point moor, but nonetheless he learned many new skills onboard.
His next vessel was one of the newer DP vessels at the time, the ITM Installer. Time on a simulator course enabled him to qualify for the new system of DP Certification, gaining certificate number 127 (over 23, 000 have now been issued), and spent 17 years on various DP vessels both monohull and semisubmersible (including Semi 1, Semi 2 and Regalia) as a travelling senior DPO. He also captained Rockwater 1, Rockwater 2 and the Smit Pioneer working offshore in Asia, Africa, Europe and Canada. Six years ashore in the operations department of Smit International followed; and for the past six years he was with Maritime Progress, producers of marine industry training posters, manuals and safety signage.
IMCA AND DP
IMCA’s DP guidance including specific DP-related documents are available to download from the website at www.imca-int.com free of charge by members and non-members alike.
The association publishes a variety of guidance documents, setting out industry good practice based on the cumulative experience of our members to help ensure safe and efficient operations. A key document is the Guidelines for the design and operation of dynamically positioned vessels, which is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect technological developments and operational achievements.
Other documents address annual DP trials programmes (IMCA M 190 and IMCA M 191) for DP vessels, based on comprehensive and standard report formats for ease of use by vessel operators and their clients. IMCA also produce technical reports, aimed at helping vessel operators review, specify, maintain and use a variety of positioning systems, thrusters, power and vessel management systems and other equipment.
IMCA’s recording of incidents on DP vessels extends back over more than 30 years and they strongly encourage participation by all DP vessel operating companies for mutual benefit.
Each year reports received are collated and an anonymised analysis of the incidents is published. This enables IMCA to help establish trends and common causes/potential hazards that can be addressed in discussion with vessel operators, equipment suppliers, training establishments and others, as well as in published guidance. The results have helped to keep the DP fleet operational, safe and acceptable to clients and regulators
Further information
Further information on IMCA and its work on behalf of its 1000+ 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 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.
