2017 Seminar IMCA Diving Division ActivitiesDiving€¦ · •IMCA has been asked to write an article for this year’s edition of Marine and Ports Magazine. We decided to select

© IMCA 2017

IMCA Diving Division Activities

Bryan McGlinchy, Senior Diving Technical Adviser

Clarion Hotel Bergen Airport, Norway

14 November 2017

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ADDITIONAL DIVING STAFF

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New Technical Assistant – Diving

Kester Keighley

New Technical Adviser – Diving

Tim Helsdon

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• IMCA and ADCI are working with the IOGP to develop a more collaborative and

positive relationship between these important industry associations.

• IMCA has recently presented a way forward by suggesting that DIWG is

reconstituted as a balanced International Diving Industry Forum. The intention

is for IMCA to become the vehicle for publishing any future offshore diving

industry guidance sanctioned by the forum.

• IOGP members and other industry stakeholders will of course fully participate in

any IMCA workgroups developing guidance on behalf of the group.

• The response from the IOGP DOSC members to IMCA’s suggestion has been

very positive. IMCA has been asked to prepare draft terms of reference for the

proposed International Diving Industry Forum. The TOR for the forum will be

discussed and hopefully agreed at a meeting in New Orleans next February.

• In New Orleans IMCA will also assist IOGP to conduct a workshop focused on

developing improved ways of working with:

− IOGP report no. 468 Diving System Assurance Recommended Practice; and

− IOGP report no. 478 Performance of Saturation Diving Emergency Hyperbaric

Evacuation & Recovery

INTERNATIONAL DIVING INDUSTRY INITIATIVES

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• Proposed revision of the IMO Code of Safety for Diving Systems and Resolution

A.692(17) Guidelines and Specifications for Hyperbaric Evacuation Systems.

• Reasons:

− Code not revised since 1995. Resolution A.692(17) not revised since 1991.

− Some important recommendations made in current offshore diving industry guidance

produced by the IMCA and IOGP are not reflected in the IMO diving instruments.

− Some of the terminology used in current offshore diving industry guidance to describe

Hyperbaric Evacuation Systems is different to, or not used by, the IMO instruments.

− Hyperbaric Evacuation Systems are designed to evacuate sat. divers under pressure

from a diving system under threat, to a place where decompression to surface pressure

can be carried out safely. Important components of an HES are not considered by the

IMO diving instruments e.g. LSP & HRF “Get them off and away from the ship”

approach evident.

− Current offshore diving Industry guidance does not consider the use of a diving bell to

be a satisfactory or viable means of hyperbaric evacuation. The IMO diving instruments

do not make this clear.

− The term “Hyperbaric Evacuation Plan” does not appear in the IMO diving instruments,

and there is insufficient guidance on what should be included in such plans.

− The IMO diving instruments are dated and need to be fully reconsidered by modern

experts in the field of offshore diving.

DIVING & INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING LAW

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TIMELINE FOR IMO REVISION – NOT QUICK

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• 1st Step: Information document and

lunch time presentation to Sub-

Committee on Ship Systems and

Equipment (SSE 5) - January 2018.

• 2nd step: Submission to Maritime

Safety Committee (MSC 99) – 13

February 2018 - of a proposal for a

new output. This proposal requires a

very specific submission structure and

a Member State as a co-sponsor.

Proponents of a new output must

propose a target completion year. The

MSC may agree to include this work as

an item on the current biennial agenda,

or the post-biennial agenda (depending

on urgency, workload etc.), setting a

target completion year and seeking

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TIMELINE FOR IMO REVISION – NOT QUICK

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• 3rd Step: If MSC accepts the proposal we will need to submit a paper to the

SSE.

• 4th Step: If the SSE agrees on the suggested amendments, the Sub-

Committee will send the outcome to the parent organ (MSC) for final

approval.

• 5th Step: Final approval by the Assembly (new Assembly Resolutions, which

will revoke resolutions A.831(19) and A.692(17)).

• The earliest date for completion

of the project would be May

2020. But, depending on the

support/divergent views of

different IMO delegates, the work

could be postponed one or two

years.

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US COASTGUARD DIVING REGULATIONS

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• The USCG Diving Regulations

were created in the seventies

and are still in force. There

have been several serious

attempts to have them revised

and modernised. None has

succeeded so far.

• In 2013/14 IMCA participated in the review of the regulations as a National

Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (NOSAC) subcommittee member.

• The Coast Guard Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Commercial

Diving Operations was published on 19 February 2015.

• IMCA commented extensively on the NPRM by letter/comment sheet. Since

then, nada. Very recently though, the process has re-animated.

• Eric Roan (IMCA North America Representative) is actively is engaged with

Diving TA support. We are basically trying to help develop good quality USCG

regulations and ensure smooth working arrangements for our members.The

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• IMCA has been asked to write an article for this year’s edition of Marine and

Ports Magazine. We decided to select a highly relevant topic – diving from, on

or in close proximity to vessels (“ship diving”).

• Ship husbandry is not really a core activity for IMCA Diving Division members,

but many are involved in ship husbandry work in some way and all IMCA diving

contractors use vessels as dive platforms.

IMPORTANT MESSAGES – SHIP DIVING

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Courtesy of UMC Intl

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• Today, ship diving work may well be the most common source of commercial

diving fatalities. The main problems are:

− poor isolation of dangerous parts below the water line or total absence of secure

isolation arrangements;

− ignorance of the extreme danger that differential pressure suction forces - generated

by intakes or hull leaks - represent to divers;

− use of SCUBA during ship husbandry activities.

IMPORTANT MESSAGES – SHIP DIVING

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Accident Reports – A small selection.

Egypt – Two commercial divers using SCUBA equipment were sucked into a sea chest on

a tanker and killed.

South Africa – A twenty-year-old diver was killed while polishing the propeller of a

fishing trawler when the propeller was activated. A culpable homicide investigation was

undertaken by police.

UAE – An engineer was arrested when he switched on the ship’s engine and a diver was

killed by the turning propeller. The engineer said he was unaware that the diver was

working on the vessel’s hull.

Malta – A diver was killed during the routine underwater inspection of a container ship

when one of its bow thrusters was suddenly activated. The master faced a

manslaughter investigation.

China – A standby diver was trapped and killed when he entered the water to help a

diver who had been drawn into a leaking sea chest. The first diver survived.

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• As part of compliance with the International Safety management (ISM) Code

section 1.2.2, all vessels should develop a vessel-specific risk control system

for ship diving. [A role for accredited CMID inspectors here?]

• Every such system should include vessel-specific secure isolation

arrangements for all items of ship’s equipment that are potentially harmful to

divers.

IMPORTANT MESSAGES – SHIP DIVING

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Photographs Courtesy of UMC IntlThe Berg

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• The designers and operators of vessels’ ship diving risk control systems should

take into account the information and advice on vessel isolation and differential

pressure hazards in diving that are contained in references 1 to 5 below.

IMPORTANT MESSAGES – SHIP DIVING

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References

The following material is essential reading/watching for anyone involved with ship diving:

1. Guidance for the selection of diving contractors to undertake underwater ship

husbandry (IMCA M 210), International Marine Contractors Association – Contains

valuable guidance on how to engage competent diving contractors for ship husbandry

work.

2. Diving From, On or in Close Proximity to Merchant Vessels- Protocol for Isolating

Machinery Systems, Association of Diving Contractors (ADC) Guidance Procedure

ADC-GP-001. The most useful industry guidance available on vessel isolation for ship

diving operations.

3. Differential pressure hazards in diving HSE Diving Information Sheet No 13.

4. Differential pressure hazards in diving HSE Research Report 761.

5. The Hazards of Working in “Delta P” Work Environments (video/CD Rom), Association

of Diving Contractors International (ADCI).The Berg

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• DMAC Document Revisions:

− DMAC 13 Rev. 2 Guidance on assessing fitness to return to diving after DCI and

DMAC 07 Rev. 2 Recommendations for flying after diving published.

− DMAC 12 Rev. 2 Safe diving distance from seismic surveying operations out for

consultation.

• The revised guidance in DMAC 13 Rev. 2 takes into account current opinion

concerning recovery from other forms of neurological and pulmonary injury. As

a result, minimum intervals for return to diving after different forms of

decompression illness have been extended.

• DMAC 07 Rev. 2 has also become somewhat more conservative than its

predecessor. The latest guidance takes into account clinical experience and

evidence from a number of scientific investigations conducted since the last

review.

Minimum intervals between diving and flying have been extended. Longer time

intervals than the stated minima are recommended, in particular if the planned

journey involves a number of take-offs. Journeys involving multiple flights are

likely to carry an increased risk.

DMAC DOCUMENTATION

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• An industry-wide consultation on DMAC 12 Rev. 2 Safe diving distance from

seismic surveying operations is currently underway.

• Reports received that during SIMOPS diving has had to be halted at distances

around 30 kilometres of separation. Suggests that current recommendation to

initiate a joint risk assessment at 10 kilometres separation is inadequate.

• In DMAC 12 Rev. 2 the most significant changed recommendations are:

− Where diving and seismic activity are scheduled to occur within a distance of 60

kilometres, all parties should be made aware of the planned activity. As a minimum this

should include clients/operators, diving and seismic contractors.

− Where seismic survey/diving SIMOPS are proposed within a distance of 30 kilometres,

a joint risk assessment should be undertaken. The risk assessment should consider

ramp-up trials as well as other risk control measures e.g. reduction in source sizes,

changes to firing intervals, timeshare/prioritisation etc.

− If the risk assessment generates a requirement for a ramp-up trial the starting point for

the trial will also need to be determined by the risk assessment.

The DMAC 12 Rev. 2 consultation closes on Friday 24 November, 2017

DMAC DOCUMENTATION

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IMCA DOCUMENTATION

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• Some important IMCA documents are on the cusp of release for consultation:

− M187 Rev. 1 Guidelines for lifting operations

and two new documents

− Guidance on Incapacitated Diver Rescue during Closed Bell Diving Operations;

− Guidance on Health, Fitness and Medical Issues in Diving Operations

M187 Rev. 1

• The Diving Division has recently been working closely with the IMCA Lifting &

Rigging Committee workgroup conducting a major review of IMCA’s core lifting

and rigging guidance document - IMCA M187 Guidelines for lifting operations.

• The revised document will contain a considerable amount of new guidance

aimed specifically at lifting operations involving divers, including advice on:

− the safe positioning of divers during subsea lifting operations;

− the use of planned stop points when lowering/lifting objects to/from the seabed;

− the appropriate use of certain selectable crane and winch modes during lifting

operations involving divers;

− diver handling of lifted objects underwater.The Berg

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IMCA DOCUMENTATION – MI87 REV. 1

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Object drop cone calculator developed using information from DNV-RP-F107

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LIFTED OBJECT DROP CONE

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• The draft guidance recommends that diving

contractors consider taking a more proactive

approach to the management of their divers’

medical and physical fitness, and suggests

how this might be accomplished.

• It also seeks to encourage a culture of good

health and high levels of physical fitness

amongst divers themselves.

• Example of pre and post-diving medical

check forms will be included in the new

document.

HEALTH, FITNESS & MEDICAL ISSUES IN DIVING

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• The new IMCA document will collect current

industry thinking and best practice on this

complex and emotive subject into one place.

• The guidance will be comprehensive, covering:

− the actions of the supervisor, bellman and rescue

diver;

− gas supply management during a rescue incident;

− the provision and use of rescue equipment,

including harnesses, lifting hoists, and spreader

beams;

− medical competencies, considerations and

equipment, including guidance on the provision of

first aid and CPR in a closed bell.

INCAPACITATED CLOSED BELL DIVER RESCUE

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Industry-wide consultations on the two new draft IMCA documents will commence

by the end of next month.

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DIVING SEMINAR

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• IMCA Diving Seminar - 28/29 November, Singapore. The seminar will focus

on diving safety issues. The full programme for the event is now available at:

https://www.imca-int.com/download/calendar/13744/programme.pdf

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QUESTIONS?

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• Have I forgotten to mention anything?

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www.imca-int.com

Improving performance in the

marine contracting industry

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