IMCA Revises Hyperbaric Evacuation Guidance
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has recently published the revised document ‘Hyperbaric Evacuation Systems (HES) Interface Requirements’ (IMCA D 051 Rev. 1); and an Information Note that demonstrates the importance of cross-industry collaboration of a topic as vital to safety as hyperbaric evacuation.
IMCA D 051 seeks to address the interface issues encountered when a diving contractor needs to remove its divers from a stricken facility by use of a hyperbaric rescue unit (HRU). It outlines IMCA’s recommendation of requirements for future builds, it is not written with intent to retrofit existing systems.
The guidance has clear objectives, as IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler explained, “In publishing the revised version of D 051 we are planning for the future; providing drawings and technical data that will advise and support all interested parties; recognizing and reflecting current good practice; and aiming to gain recognition and total world-wide acceptance of the fact that the ultimate objective is that ‘every HRU will be able to mate with every DSV or HRF of any class anywhere in the world’.
“We recognize that this particular objective might not be met for 30 years or more, until non-IMCA D 051 compatible diving support vessels (DSVs), mobile saturation systems on vessels and/or barges; and hyperbaric reception facilities (HRFs) in use today have reached the end of their service life, but now is the time to plan for an ever-safer future.”