According to Chief Executive Iain Grainger, the association was one of the driving forces behind the introduction from the late 2000s onward of commercial motion-compensated gangway systems for offshore personnel transfers, now used globally by wind farm maintenance crews.

An IMCA workshop in 2024, conducted jointly with the G+ (Global Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation), examined the scope for further safety improvements in walk-to-work access systems. The conclusions formed the basis of a three-phase initiative now led by IMCA’s Offshore Wind Special Interest Group.

Phase 1, overseen by the association’s Marine Renewable Energy Committee, was supported by feedback from further workshops held in the Far East, US and western Europe. The team identified a scope for various improvements in gangway operations, including competence and the information that developers require from the vessel operators. This led to a revision of IMCA’s guidance for walk-to-work operations.

The current Phase 2 focus is on the competence of users, operator training, potential incident reporting, software updates, telescopic speeds and vessel assurance, with broader involvement of OEMs and contractors. A further revision of IMCA M254 walk-to-work guidelines will follow in Phase 3. The special interest group is also developing competence guidance for diving operations on offshore wind projects.

Lifting and rigging operations

In May 2025, the G+ issued new guidance, prepared jointly with IMCA’s Marine division, on sharing and promoting good practice in offshore wind lifting operations. The guidance can be incorporated into company standards, procedures and practices. It can also be included in contract specifications or used in the development of golden rules for frontline personnel, such as the right/duty to cease work if a dangerous situation arises.

As offshore wind components expand in size and weight, this too is presenting issues for lifting and rigging. The updated IMCA LR006 guidelines for lifting operations feature a section on lifting offshore wind turbine components (nacelles, blades and tower sections), and the risks associated with repetitive lifts at height. The guidance also addresses the use of specialist lifting tools and details some of the rigging arrangements for monopiles and transition pieces. 

“Aside from the increasing scale of the equipment being installed,” Grainger said, “IMCA has noted the limited pool of specialist offshore construction vessels capable of safely handling the largest offshore wind foundations, turbine components and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations. The next generation of 2-GW converter stations can weigh up to 30,000 metric tons."

He pointed to TenneT as an example, which has entered long-term arrangements with Heerema Marine Contractors and Allseas for the transport and installation of its 2-GW offshore platforms. "This illustrates the demand for the relatively small number of vessels capable of undertaking installations on this scale," he said. "The scale of foundations is increasing too, with the latest XXL monopiles for the largest turbines reaching weights of around 2,000-2,800 metric tons, and lengths of more than 100 m."

He also emphasized the importance of consistent marine assurance. "Vessel suitability cannot be judged by crane capacity, deck strength or class notation alone," he continued. "Assurance needs to consider the complete operation, including vessel configuration, environmental limits, crew competence, lifting and seafastening arrangements, port interfaces, simultaneous operations and credible failure scenarios.”

Developers are seeking to expand offshore wind subsea power transmission networks. Marine contractors are responding by commissioning new vessels that can transport and lay much longer cable lengths for offshore grid connections.

Boskalis is investing in a new 24,000-mt cable-lay ship with two 12,000-mt carousels to take on long-distance interconnector and offshore wind projects. Jan De Nul is building two 28,000-mt cable-lay vessels, Fleeming Jenkin and William Thomson, which the company describes as the largest vessels of their kind.

But as IMCA points out, aside from the capability to install fast-expanding networks of offshore power cables, other specialist vessels, personnel and equipment are needed to repair this critical subsea power infrastructure when damage occurs. Maritime Intelligence group Windward’s latest Undersea Cables Risk report highlighted the growing levels of vessel activity around critical subsea routes.

Grainger said, “As we become more dependent on these energy links, our response and recovery frameworks must evolve to match the scale of the infrastructure.”

IMCA is calling for a coordinated government and industry response, including:

• Targeted support for repair capability and sector-specific solutions for power cable repairs;

• Policy reform and regulator alignment with fast-track permitting, supported by harmonized processes across jurisdictions; and

• National programs to train and retain specialist cable/jointing engineers, marine engineers and deck officers.

Future fuels

Following the European Commission’s call for evidence concerning EU rules governing alternative fuels infrastructure, IMCA responded that policy makers should adopt a "practical and flexible" approach more in line with the realities of offshore marine contracting operations, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all decarbonization target on offshore fleets. IMCA pointed out that the onus to install the estimated 30,000 new offshore wind turbines and subsea infrastructure needed to meet the EU’s long-term offshore wind capacity target will fall on specialized offshore vessels. These ships may operate across 20- to 30-year lifecycles performing specialist roles.

The association called for increased focus on offshore and onshore recharging to support vessel electrification, and greater availability of alternative fuels at ports supporting offshore energy operations.