Bryan McGlinchy, IMCA Diving Technical Adviser and Secretary to DMAC (photo: IMCA)

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) and the Diving Medical Advisory Committee (DMAC) are staging a two-day IMCA Diving Seminar and DMAC Workshop in London on 25-26 September 2017 that will present a number of topics of interest to the global offshore diving community.

The event, being held at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in Great Queen Street, London WC2, will focus most closely on certain medical issues currently considered particularly relevant to IMCA Diving Division members.

There will be three sessions spread over two days, with the first two sessions comprising a DMAC Workshop – the first since 2014. The DMAC Workshop will be opened by Dr Olav Sande Eftedal (DMAC Chairman) and Chaired by Dr Phil Bryson.

The first topic to be considered on the afternoon of 25 September will be “Nutrition and hydration for saturation divers” with three presentations, followed by workshop discussions/questions and answers. A “Diver health risk assessment and rapid decompression workshop” will follow with two highly relevant presentations and a workshop discussion. The first session will end with Dr Phil Bryson summing up the afternoon. Thereafter delegates will be invited to enjoy a drinks reception.

The second DMAC Workshop session will look at ‘Deep diving – A medical perspective’ and “Deeper diving projects”. The first topic will feature two presentations and the second three, with discussion and Q&A at the end of each one. Dr Phil Bryson will then close the DMAC sessions with a summary of the completed DMAC Workshop.

The afternoon of 26 September will be under the control of IMCA and several matters of interest to the offshore diving community will be presented. There will be an account of the management of an accelerated emergency saturation decompression instigated by a severe tropical storm: “Resolute case history”. The focus on medical issues will continue when “Incapacitated diver rescue during closed bell diving operations” and “Health, fitness and medical issues in diving operations” are considered. The penultimate topic will examine how a “Class B digital dive control simulator” may be used for the training of dive team personnel. Finally, a discussion of the question: “Should IMCA diving supervisors periodically re-qualify?” will conclude the seminar.

The two days will be attended by many of the world’s foremost experts in diving medicine, with several contributing directly to the programme. Others expected include operations personnel, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, training establishment staff, oil and gas company representatives and national regulators.

“It is hoped that the DMAC Workshop and discussions will help identify areas of interest/concern for DMAC and other specialists to pursue and resolve on behalf of the industry,” explains Bryan McGlinchy (IMCA Diving Technical Adviser and Secretary to DMAC). “We also envisage that the event will raise awareness of current issues in offshore diving operations and bring forward sensible suggestions for future consideration by the IMCA Diving Division Management Committee.”

Further information on the event, including the full programme, is at www.imca-int.com/events. Those planning to attend should register free-of-charge at events@imca-int.com

Tags: Diving Medical Advisory Committee (DMAC), International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)