Karen Rumble has joined the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Secretariat team as Technical Adviser Competence and Training/Certification Schemes Co-ordinator.

“We are delighted to welcome Karen as the seventh Technical Adviser in our team working under Jane Bugler, our Technical Director,” says Hugh Williams, Chief Executive of IMCA. “She joins us at a time when an ever-increasing number of our member companies around the globe are embracing the IMCA competence framework that enables them put in place their own competence scheme to demonstrate competence in safety-critical positions – something that is vital for the offshore industry.

“Competence is high on our agenda. In recent months we have held two competence workshops, one in Aberdeen and one in Singapore. Each attracted over a hundred delegates. We are planning another in Houston on 8 September We are eager to get over the message that there is no simple ‘one size fits all’ competence scheme. Every company needs its own scheme, and to encourage everyone within the organisation to become involved. There is no doubt that those companies who have effective competence schemes in place have a foot very firmly on the ladder to improved safety culture and are better positioned for the all-important transferability of personnel which is such a key factor in our industry.”

The IMCA framework includes a substantial amount of documentation - set out in a straightforward manner for over 50 positions in sector-specific areas (diving, marine, offshore survey, remote systems and ROV), with additional guidance for freelance personnel and on assessor training with a variety of logbooks and competence records also available. Most recently we have published an information note on competence validity periods – more publications are in the pipeline.

Tags: The International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA)