Offshore staff
LONDON – The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published a new Code of Practice for Offshore Pipeline and Umbilical Installation Systems (IMCA M 253).
Work on drawing up the new guidance started in April 2019, in co-operation with Allseas, McDermott, Saipem, Subsea 7, and TechnipFMC.
All agreed to share knowledge and best practice in order to establish a standard for the industry.
The new Code of Practice includes all equipment needed to lay pipelines and umbilicals safely and effectively in an offshore marine environment.
It applies to all offshore pipelay vessels, and addresses “the unnecessary and potentially harmful tendency to apply overloads as part of system acceptance protocols on a project by project basis,” rather than making use of recent available and verifiable test records.
The various engineering groups relayed their experience concerning design, testing and operation and maintenance of lay equipment, and interfaces with the supporting vessel.
IMCA M 253 is available to IMCA members free of charge. Non-Members can purchase this Code of Practice for £150 ($195) via the website www.imca-int.com.
10/19/2020
