International Support Vessel Owners Association
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ISOA Annual Meeting 7 December 2021
Because of the difficulties with international travel due to the pandemic, ISOA held its Annual Meeting online.
Review of past year’s activities
The meeting reviewed ISOA’s activities since the last Annual Meeting in February 2020. The main focus during this period has been responding to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, lobbying governments and UN organisations, together with providing information to support our members facing challenges with crew changes and other operational issues as a result of the pandemic
Plans for 2022
Members agreed to restart work on two items which had been put on hold due to the pandemic:
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Open Platform Data Sharing System
At the last Annual Meeting P and O Maritime had made a presentation which demonstrated an open-source platform being developed for vessel operators to share data and collaborate on key areas such as safety, sustainability, operational excellence and technical reliability.
A proposal will be put to ISOA members on how to develop this system for the benefit of ISOA members and the wider community of offshore vessel operators.
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Sustainability
The intention is to compile a joint ISOA position paper on sustainability, which we can then promote to appropriate audiences, including regulators.
As a starting point for this initiative, we will seek input from our members on the steps being taken in their own companies to improve sustainability, and any information they can share on their own environmental performance.
Next ISOA Annual Meeting
The next ISOA Annual Meeting has tentatively been fixed for June 16/17 in London, to be confirmed depending on developments with international travel restrictions, and the ease with which members can travel to London
ISOA General Meeting, 6/7 February 2020, London
Presentations were made by guest speakers on the following subjects of topical interest:
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Market Conditions in the Offshore Support Sector
Stephen Gordon, Managing Director, Clarkson Research Services made a presentation on ‘Market Conditions in the Offshore Support Sector’.
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Decarbonisation in the Maritime Sector
Guy Platten, Secretary General, International Chamber of Shipping made a presentation about decarbonisation in the maritime sector, and in particular about a proposal by ICS and other organisations at IMO to form the world’s first collaborative shipping Research & Development (R&D) programme to help eliminate CO2 emissions from international shipping. The proposal included core funding from shipping companies across the world of about USD 5 billion over a 10-year period.
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State of the Industry – a fundamental reset needed?
Diederik Nelissen, Partner, McKinsey and Co. made a presentation which included a suggested digital marketing platform for the OSV Sector.
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Data Collaboration in the OSV Sector
Ian Trebinski and Kris Vedat, P and O Maritime Logistics, made a presentation which demonstrated an open-source platform being developed by P and O Maritime for vessel operators to share data and collaborate on key areas such as safety, sustainability, operational excellence and technical reliability.
ISOA Participation at the OSJ Conference, 5/6 February 2020, London
After the successful trade association discussion forum held at the OSJ Conference in 2019, ISOA hosted a further session at this year’s conference, together with representatives from the following trade associations:
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International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)
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International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)
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The Nautical Institute (NI)
Much of the discussion at the forum focussed on the need for a clear message from the OSV Sector to regulators, particularly at IMO, on issues such as decarbonisation and environmental initiatives in the sector. Concern was expressed that the proposal from a number of industry organisations for an R and D Fund paid for by a levy on bunker purchases did not properly reflect the challenges of implementing such a scheme in the offshore sector.
Past Years
ISOA General Meeting, February 2019, London
Presentations were made by guest speakers on the following subjects of topical interest:
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Market Conditions in the Offshore Support Sector
Stephen Gordon, Managing Director, Clarkson Research Services made a presentation on ‘Market Conditions in the Offshore Support Sector’, which included discussions on market prospects, ship scrapping and green recycling.
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IMCA’s Resilience Awareness Programme
Mark Ford, Technical Manager, IMCA made a presentation on IMCA’s Resilience Awareness Programme.
This programme considers that a key attribute of a successful organisation is its ability to cope with challenging issues and to bounce back, and that its capacity to do so is largely dictated by the resilience of its people.
The programme consists of six videos and accompanying guidance notes which explain the main concepts of resilience. It is designed to be used by groups of employees, to help promote discussion and share thoughts, so that they become more resilient.
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Improving Environmental Performance in the OSV Sector
Arnstein Eknes, Segment Director - OSV & Special Ships, DNV GL, made a presentation on ‘Improving Environmental Performance in the OSV Sector’, looking at safer, smarter and greener solutions for offshore business activities.
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Maritime Corruption – A Global Issue
Cecilia Muller Torbrand, Program Director, Maritime Anti-Corruption Network made a presentation that covered the aims and objectives of MACN and its present work programme, followed by a discussion on some areas where corruption posed particular difficulties for offshore vessel owners and operators.
ISOA Surveys
Members discussed the latest results from the ISOA Personnel Accident Survey, and the ISOA Staff Numbers Benchmarking Survey.
ISOA Participation at the OSJ Conference in London, February 2019
In conjunction with the organisers of the OSJ Conference, ISOA hosted a discussion forum on the role of trade associations in the OSV Sector.
Alongside ISOA, the following trade associations were represented:
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International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)
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International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)
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The Nautical Institute (NI)
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Discussions covered issued such as:
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What do the different trade associations do and who do they represent?
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Do they meet the expectations of their members?
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What more should trade associations be doing for their members and the sector?
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Who else would benefit from joining these associations?
More than thirty representatives from companies in the OSV sector participated in the discussion, a report on which can be found at:
Review of BIMCO SUPPLYTIME charter party
ISOA was represented on BIMCO’s sub-committee which reviewed and updated the 2005 version of SUPPLYTIME.
ISOA’s objective was to achieve a balanced document so as to be acceptable to both owners and charterers, and to ensure the document was updated to reflect current practice.
The sub-committee submitted a final draft of the updated SUPPLYTIME charterparty, which was approved by BIMCO's Documentary Committee in June 2017.
The text of the new document ‘SUPPLYTIME 2017’ is available at:
https://www.bimco.org/contracts-and-clauses/bimco-contracts/supplytime-2017
Training and Certification for Dynamic Positioning Operators (DPOs)
ISOA takes an active interest in the industry led schemes for the training and certification of DPOs to ensure that the industry has an adequate supply of trained and experienced DPOs.
Currently, the scheme which is most used in the industry is that run by the Nautical Institute, and ISOA is a member of the Nautical Institute’s ‘Dynamic Positioning Training Executive Group’ (DPTEG) which is responsible for setting the standards for accreditation of training centres, and for setting the requirements for certification. DTPEG also advises the NI on the management of the scheme.
The content of the NI Scheme was reviewed in 2013/2014, and new rules/requirements were implemented as from 1 January 2015. ISOA played an active role in that review process.
ISOA has set up a ‘DP Expert Group’ of specialists from its members who advise the secretariat and agree ISOA’s approach on issues concerning DPO Training and Certification.
There have recently been two enhancements to the NI Scheme, which ISOA has been actively involved in developing:
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A Revalidation Course which will enable DPOs to revalidate their certificates through successful completion of this course as an alternative to the requirement for 150 days DP Sea Time over 5 years which is specified in the scheme.
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Introduction of an online test as an integral part of the Simulator Course, to be taken by all trainees as part of the initial certification process
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ISOA, through DPTEG, has been actively involved in developing two new NI Recognised courses, which will be provided by accredited training centres. These are:
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DP Emergency Shiphandling Course
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DP Knowledge for Technical Staff Course
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DPTEG has now developed a separate pathway to a DPO Certificate for DPOs undertaking their training on jack up/renewables vessels. This was available as from 1 January 2019.
Full details of the NI Training and Certification Scheme can be found at http://www.nialexisplatform.org