The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published the following documents from mid-November 2023 to mid-February 2024. Please note that some of these are revisions of guidelines published or updated recently (only a few months ago). Marine guidelines: • IMCA M109 - A guide to DP-related documentation for DP vessels • IMCA M203 - Guidance on simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) Diving guidelines • MCA M205 - Guidance on operational communications • IMCA M206 - A guide to DP electrical power and control systems • IMCA M214 - Mooring practice safety guidance for offshore vessels when alongside in ports and harbours • IMCA M220 - Guidance on operational activity planning • IMCA M226 - Security measures and emergency response guidance • IMCA M254 - Guidelines for walk to work operations • IMCA M264 - IMCA Code of practice for offshore cable laying in the renewable energy industry • IMCA M265 - Guidance on diving operations in support of underwater ship husbandry • IMCA M266 - Dynamic positioning station keeping review – incidents and events reported for 2023 Health. Safety, Security, & Environment (HSSE, formerly SEL) • IMCA HSSE018 - Guidance on security threat risk assessment procedures • IMCA HSSE024 - Guidance on handling naturally occurring radioactive material • IMCA HSSE029 - Mooring practice safety guidance for offshore vessels when alongside in ports and harbours • IMCA HSSE037 - Security measures and emergency response guidance • IMCA HSSE048 - Guidance on diving operations in support of underwater ship husbandry Diving division • IMCA D016 - Guidance on open parachute type underwater air lift bags • IMCA D018 - Code of practice for the initial and periodic examination, testing and certification of diving plant and equipment • IMCA D019 - Diving operations in support of intervention on wellheads and subsea facilities • IMCA D023 - Diving Equipment Systems Inspection Guidance Note (DESIGN) for surface orientated (air) diving systems • IMCA D024 - DESIGN for saturation (bell) diving systems • IMCA D 033 - Limitations in the use of scuba offshore • IMCA D036 - Neurological assessment of a diver • IMCA D042 Diver and ROV based concrete mattress handling, deployment, installation, repositioning and decommissioning • IMCA - D 046 - Guidance on operational communications • IMCA D050 - Minimum quantities of gas required offshore • IMCA D054 - Remotely operated vehicle intervention during diving operations • IMCA D057 - ADCI/IOGP/IMCA diving terms • IMCA D058 - Diver attachment to structures by means of a weak link • IMCA D082 - Guidance on diving operations in support of underwater ship husbandry Lifting & rigging • IMCA LR 003 - Diver and ROV based concrete mattress handling, deployment, installation, repositioning and decommissioning • IMCA LR007 - Guidance on open parachute type underwater air lift bags • IMCA LR011 - The initial and periodic examination, testing and certification of ROV launch and recovery systems • IMCA LR013 - Guidance on operational communications Offshore survey • IMCA S021 - Guidelines for the management of peripheral survey sensors ROV division • IMCA R010 - Guidance on module outlines for ROV-related training courses • IMCA R011 - The initial and periodic examination, testing and certification of ROV launch and recovery systems • IMCA R016 - Diver and ROV based concrete mattress handling, deployment, installation, repositioning and decommissioning • IMCA R020 - Remotely operated vehicle intervention during diving operations Competence and training • IMCA C019 - Principles for data platforms for work and skills (digital logbooks) Environmental Sustainability • IMCA ES002 - Guidance on mitigation of marine invasive species: Biofouling and ballast water • IMCA ES003 - Practical guidance to implement the circular economy principles

The Marine Technology Society (MTS) has several technical committees that publish guidelines. However, no new published guidelines were found for the period between November 2023 and the beginning of February 2024. Nonetheless, the following publications are available on their website:

UT Two - Underwater technology - Issue 1/ 2024. This document, published by “UT2 Publishing” for and on behalf of the Society for Underwater Technology, provides articles on recent technologies and manufacturer addresses.

Underwater robotics - Issue 12 This document, also published by “UT2 Publishing” for and on behalf of the Society for Underwater Technology, provides articles on Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV), and Autonomus Underwater Vehicles (AUV), in addition to manufacturer addresses.

The South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS), jointly with the European Underwater and Baromedical Society (EUBS), published the following paid articles in the third issue, Volume 53, of their journal Issue 4, December 2023 available now via society login or through this internet address: https://www.dhmjournal.com/index.php/purchase- an-embargoed-article. • Rapture of the deep: gas narcosis may impair decision-making in scuba divers.. Authors: Ahti PA, Wikgren J. • Cerebral arterial gas embolism (CAGE) during open water scuba certification training whilst practising a controlled emergency swimming ascent. Authors: Banham N, da Silva E, Lippmann J • University of Auckland Postgraduate Diploma in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine. Author: Davis M. • Hyperbaric oxygen treatment in delayed post-hypoxic encephalopathy following inhalation of liquefied petroleum gas: a case report. Authors: Canarslan Demir K, Turgut B, Ozgok Kangal K, Zaman T, Şimşek K. • Within-diver variability in venous gas emboli (VGE) following repeated dives. Authors: Doolette DJ, Murphy FG. • Risk assessment of SWEN21 a suggested new dive table for the Swedish armed forces: bubble grades by ultrasonography. Authors: Hjelte C, Plogmark O, Silvanius M, Ekström M, Frånberg O. These articles are paid for one year, execpt for registered members of EUBS and SPUMS. Passed the one year embargo, the articles are free of charge, and can be downloaded through this link: https://www.dhmjournal.com/index.php/full-journals-embargoed/full- journals Note that many of these articles are published through other organizations and are also integrated in our database.

South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS)

International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)

Marine Technology Society

In appendix 1, “Saturation diving” of the document IOGP 411, it is said: “Any SDC (Bell) to contain equipment that can measure H2S and hydrocarbon contamination of an equivalent or greater specification to the Analox Hypergas. This equipment to be capable of alarming and notifying both the Surface Diving Supervisor and the SDC inhabitants of contamination of the breathing atmosphere”. Contrary to what this document suggests, the Analox Hypergas does not detect H2S. Refer to the UK HSE report 030, "Development of the ANALOX Hyper- Gas Diving Bell Monitor", by Valerie Flook below. Click on the cover or the text of presentation to download it. Similar information can be found on the manufacturer's website: https://www.analoxgroup.com/products/hyper-gas-mkii Based on this IOGP guidance, many divers, diving supervisors, and client representatives think they are protected from this gas, which is untrue. That is proof that we must ensure that guidelines are correctly written and based on scientific documents, which is not the case with this IOGP document that, according to the study, CCO Ltd. #9 below should be definitively withdrawn from publication and never used by companies. Regarding the numerous reasons that guidelines can be incorrectly written, read our post, "About Standards", in the rubric "Food for thought". This document is also the "Diving Management Study #12".

Dangerous guidelines

Unimed Scientific Limited” was contracted to lead the development of a hydrocarbon monitor for diving bells. That resulted in the creation of the ANALOX Hyper-Gas Diving Bell Monitor in 2003 This document, from Valerie Flook, can also be downloaded through the UK HSE website at this address: https://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr03 0.pdf

IOGP 411 "Recommended Diving Practices 2021" replaces the original diving guidelines published in June 2008 by the Diving Operations Sub-Committee of the Safety Committee. IOGP intends to make it mandatory for all companies working for its members.

It briefly describes the function and origins of standards, the methods used by unethical pressure groups to deviate them to their profit, and how the various ethical organizations can organize to fight these pressure groups.

Marine Technology Society Journal The Marine Technology Society Journal is a quarterly publication that features articles on topics of interest to its members. Access is restricted to members only.