IMCA ROV related stuff can be found at: http://www.imca-int.com/divisions/rov/

IMCA = International Marine Contractors Association.

IMCA's Guidance on Competence Assurance & Assessment is designed to facilitate improved safety in the offshore industry by providing a framework for marine contractors to assess and demonstrate to others the competence of their 'safety-critical' personnel. The guidance provides criteria to be applied in the different operational sectors covered by the IMCA divisions - marine, diving, remote systems & ROV and offshore survey.

"IMCA's competence assurance and assessment guidance was launched in 1999 to provide a framework within which IMCA's contractor members could demonstrate the competence of their personnel to clients and regulators. Although it has necessarily taken some time for IMCA members to implement their in-house schemes based on this framework, I believe that the effort put in to set up these schemes has been worthwhile and will deliver real benefits in improved safety.

During the past five years, there has been an increasing global emphasis on the importance of using competent personnel and this is set to continue. This framework, with its focus on workplace assessment, where skills and behaviour are considered, as well as its international perspective, provides a suitable mechanism for the demonstration of competence now demanded internationally in the offshore industry.

The framework covers safety-critical positions identified within the four technical divisions of IMCA - Marine, Diving, Offshore Survey and Remote Systems & ROV. Due to the diverse nature of the needs and positions covered by the four different divisions, there have been clear differences in approach in taking implementation forward within member companies. The framework, when first launched, identified 42 different safety-critical positions. It has now been extended to include a further 13 positions and may be extended in the future.

The objective application of the assessment process by offshore assessors is paramount if in-house schemes are to be truly beneficial. Our clients, insurers and regulators expect us to demonstrate that a robust process is applied within our industry. Failure to self-regulate could result in the imposition of impractical and inappropriate systems."

Steve Preston, Heerema Marine Contractors - IMCA President

Previously we took the time to add all the IMCA FAQ's that applied to ROV personnel, but as they change from time to time we thought it better that we give you a direct link to IMCA's website FAQ section instead.

http://www.imca-int.com/core/tcpc/profile/competence/faqs.html

There is no such thing as an IMCA certified anything.

IMCA do NOT certify any individual or Training School. There have been cases of some Companies in the Far East issuing cards saying that people are IMCA certified, but IMCA have been trying to put a stop to it.

What IMCA do is publish Guidelines. A Training School can write a course which follows these guidelines, but this is not the same as being certified by IMCA. An individual can also follow a competency scheme which follows these guidelines. It is rather like following the Highway Code in the UK - the Highway Code is not law, but it is based on law, they are guidelines. If you follow the guidelines, you will remain within the law.

If you follow IMCA guidelines you will be classed as being competent by any Company that recognises the IMCA guidelines.