Membership to suit your organisation's needs

Contractor
Contractor

The largest membership category and represents the majority of marine contractors operating on a national or regional level.
Workboat
Workboat

Companies that support offshore operations with workboats of less than 500 gross tonnage and a load line length of less than 24m.
Supplier
Supplier

The supply chain plays an important role at IMCA. Four sub-categories cover equipment and services, personnel, and training providers.
Energy Company
Energy Company

Companies working in all offshore energy markets including oil and gas, wind, tidal. Open to operators, developers, and co-ventures.
Global Contractor
Global Contractor

IMCA’s highest category of membership, representing leading industry contractors operating on a global scale.
International Contractor
International Contractor

For contractors with a strong international presence – operating in three or more of IMCA’s geographic regions.
Associate
Associate

Government departments, NGOs, trade associations and professional institutions may be eligible for associate membership.

Membership fees

Membership runs from January to December annually and is calculated on a pro-rata basis for new members.

IMCA has two fee structures depending on the membership category.

Flexible annual fees have a ‘basic’ element, and at least one divisional fee (Diving, Marine, Offshore Survey, ROV). Each member in these categories must join the one or more divisions relevant to its own activities.

Flexible annual fee

Applies to Contractor and certain Supplier (S1, S2, and Training Provider T3) members.

Fixed annual fee

Applies to Workboat, certain Supplier (Training Provider T2), and Energy Company members.

View membership fees

Applications fees and process

Most new membership applications require a non-refundable £1,200 application fee, except diving contractor applications which are subject to a non-refundable £2,700 application fee. Former members are charged a £2,500 re-application fee.

From application fee payment to final approval and membership, the process is expected to take around six weeks, although this timeframe can be extended in busy periods.

Diving Contractors

There is a specific auditing process which covers any applicant which conducts offshore diving operations – find out more below.

Training Providers

Training providers (T2 and T3) applying for Supplier membership have additional checks to complete – find out more below.

View application fees

More information for diving contractors

Find out what type of membership is right for your organisation, and additional details on temporary and affiliate membership.

The documents below outline IMCA’s membership assessment procedures in full for diving contractors. Please read these in detail before applying. All applications received by IMCA are handled on a “first come, first served basis.”

Membership applications received from companies and organisations which conduct offshore diving must be approved as a member of the IMCA Diving Division before they are able to apply for membership of any other division (Marine, Offshore Survey, and Remote Systems & ROV).

There are two types of diving contractor members at IMCA - organisations which:

  • only undertake surface supplied diving operations.
  • use both surface supplied and saturation diving techniques.
Temporary diving contractor members

Organisations that meet IMCA’s acceptance criteria in full, other than being able to provide evidence of conducting an offshore diving project, can apply for temporary membership of IMCA’s Diving Division.

They can 'upgrade' to become a full diving contractor member once they subsequently meet the necessary acceptance criteria. Read more in the link below.

Affiliate diving contractor members

Organisations may apply to extend existing diving contractor membership of the IMCA Diving Division to an affiliate or subsidiary company in another region. Read more on the assessment requirements in the link below.

More information for training providers

Find out more about the two types of membership for training providers in our Supplier Category, each with their own application criteria.

Applicants should note that organisations must maintain membership in every division relevant to the courses that they run. All applications received by IMCA are handled on a “first come, first served basis.”

Training providers offering courses approved by IMCA (T2)

IMCA offers approval of six specific courses: Assistant Life Support Technician, Diver Medic, Trainee Air Diving Supervisor, Trainee Bell Diving Supervisor, Trainee Diving Systems Inspector, and ROV Introductory Training.

Training providers applying in the T2 category will be required to successfully complete the assessment procedure supplemented by the relevant course-specific document which includes initial desktop assessment, on-site audit, plus periodic revalidation.

New applicants must complete both the online membership application and a separate training course approval application. Applicants will be required to submit an evidence portfolio as set out in the course-specific guidance document so that the desktop review can start.

Assessment and revalidation fees are incorporated into annual membership fees. Course approval and membership must be held together, so neither application process can be completed until both assessments have successful outcomes and all fees are received by IMCA.

Training providers offering courses not aligned with IMCA training programmes (T3)

Organisations offering courses not covered by the T2 category are eligible to apply for membership in the T3 category – examples include providers of safety and marine-related training.

While there are no audit requirements, providers remain subject to the general requirements of IMCA members set out in the Bye Laws.

As IMCA does not approve these courses, the IMCA logo cannot be used to imply approval or recognition.

More information for data platform providers

Find out more about membership and approval options for 'digital logbook' providers, within the Supplier (S1) category.

Companies offering data platforms for work and skills ('digital logbooks') can apply for membership and interim approval from IMCA if they wish to demonstrate alignment with the IMCA principles for data platforms for work and skills (IMCA C019).

Providers will be required to successfully complete the assessment procedure, which includes initial desktop assessment, on-site audit, plus periodic revalidation.

New applicants must complete both the online membership application and a separate data platform approval application. Applicants will be required to submit an evidence portfolio so that the desktop review can start.

Assessment and revalidation fees are incorporated into annual membership fees. Data platform approval and membership must be held together, so neither application process can be completed until both assessments have successful outcomes and all fees are received by IMCA.

Photo Of Vessel Helix Photo Of Vessel Helix

Ready to apply online?

Join more than 700 member organisations around the globe today.

There is a three stage process for membership approvals:
(1) administrative due diligence; (2) technical and management review; and (3) IMCA Operations Committee approval.

From application fee payment to final approval and membership, the process is expected to take around six weeks, although this time frame can be extended in busy periods.

Make sure you are aware of the application and membership fees, and if you have offshore diving operations, or are applying as a training provider, that you have read the additional information above.

Apply online now

Which IMCA Membership are you applying for?

Contractor members are contractors and/or vessel owners/operators/charterers of any offshore vessel exceeding 500 gross tonnage. This is the largest category of membership and represents the majority of marine contractors operating on a national or regional level.

Global and international contractors should apply online here and then contact us.

Workboat members are companies involved in supporting offshore marine energy operations through owning and/or operating small workboats less than 500 gross tonnage and a load line length of less than 24 metres; and are therefore not required to comply with the ISM or ISPS Codes.

Membership is primarily linked to the Marine Division, although all of IMCA's technical output can be accessed.

Supplier members provide equipment/services to IMCA's members, including manufacturers, R&D, consultants, personnel agencies, and training providers. You will be asked to choose one or more sub-categories:

  • S1 – Supplier of equipment or services (non-training)
  • S2 – Supplier of equipment or services (non-training) - available to companies with fewer than 50 employees
  • T2 – Training providers offering courses approved by IMCA
  • T3 – Training providers offering courses not covered by IMCA approval schemes.

Energy Company members include offshore renewable energy (wind, tidal), offshore oil and gas, and other offshore operators or developers. Energy Company membership includes all four technical divisions (Diving, Marine, Offshore Survey, and Remote Systems & ROV).

Global Energy Company membership is available, please apply online and select a single region before contacting us.

Associate membership is usually invitational and offered on a non-fee-paying basis. Where possible it is reciprocal and some examples of Associate members include national government departments, NGOs, business associations, professional institutions, and other safety organisations.

Get in touch to register interest in Associate membership for your organisation.

Register your interest

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