IMCA publishes over 100 documents giving guidance on good practice, personnel training and competence, draft contractual agreements and diver certification.

Members are provided with safety statistics and (anonymous) incident reports. These documents give feedback to members and a positive demonstration to clients and authorities of a structured and proactive approach to continuous improvement in the industry.

Under Tony Read's leadership over the last five years, IADC membership has risen from 115 to 197. His successor, Hugh Williams, has wide experience of construction and marine operations, including a period with Rendel Palmer and Tritton on the resident engineer's staff at the Thames Barrier site, which included diver training at Fort Bovisand.

The IMCA has announced its 11th Marine Division Seminar, which will be held at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on 5th and 6th November.

Addressing the theme 'Learning and Experience', the seminar will incorporate a one day conference on offshore diving, to run in parallel to the marine seminar.

On the opening day, delegates will be together for a plenary session examining 'Marine Contracting - Learning from the Past to Shape the Future', 'The Client Perspective - IMCA's Role in Shaping the Future', and 'The Choice Between Using Divers and Using ROVs', before opting for marine or diving specific sessions.

Workshop topics on Day One are 'Sharing Good Practice Internationally', 'Failure Modes & Effects Analyses (FMEAs) - What Should They Cover?', and a diving specific topic to be announced. Day Two reverts to "marine only" topics, including marine communications and the application of new technologies.

IMCA member companies can exhibit at the event.

Further information is available from the IMCA at Email: imca@ imca-int.com or Website:

www.imca-int.com/seminar.