AB
Mobilisation Checklist for
Offshore Survey Operations
International Marine
Contractors Association
www.imca-int.com
IMCA S 016
March 2011
AB
The International Marine Contractors Association
(IMCA) is the international trade association
representing offshore, marine and underwater
engineering companies.
IMCA promotes improvements in quality, health, safety,
environmental and technical standards through the publication
of information notes, codes of practice and by other
appropriate means.
Members are self-regulating through the adoption of IMCA
guidelines as appropriate. They commit to act as responsible
members by following relevant guidelines and being willing to be
audited against compliance with them by their clients.
There are two core activities that relate to all members:

Competence & Training

Safety, Environment & Legislation
The Association is organised through four distinct divisions,
each covering a specific area of members’ interests: Diving,
Marine, Offshore Survey, Remote Systems & ROV.
There are also five regional sections which facilitate work on
issues affecting members in their local geographic area –
Asia-Pacific, Central & North America, Europe & Africa, Middle
East & India and South America.
IMCA S 016
www.imca-int.com/survey
The information contained herein is given for guidance only and endeavours to
reflect best industry practice. For the avoidance of doubt no legal liability shall
attach to any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
© 2011 IMCA – International Marine Contractors Association
Mobilisation Checklist for Offshore Survey Operations
IMCA S 016 – March 2011
Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1
Aim .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Framework ............................................................................................................................................................................ 1
Glossary ................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
1
Checklist Details .................................................................................................... 3
2
Personnel ................................................................................................................ 4
2.1
2.2
2.3
3
HSE.......................................................................................................................... 5
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
4
Online Computer Systems................................................................................................................................... 7
Offline Computer Systems................................................................................................................................... 7
Communications ..................................................................................................................................................... 7
Surface Positioning Systems and Vessel Survey Sensors .............................................................................. 8
Subsurface Positioning – USBL............................................................................................................................ 8
Subsurface Positioning – LBL ............................................................................................................................... 8
Offsets and GPR Calibrations ............................................................................................................................. 9
ROV System Sensors Checklist .......................................................................................................................... 9
Survey System Comments ................................................................................................................................... 9
Procedures and Reporting .................................................................................. 10
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
7
Specified Survey Systems ...................................................................................................................................... 6
Online and Offline Survey Computer Systems ............................................................................................... 6
Field Background Data .......................................................................................................................................... 6
Positioning Systems ................................................................................................................................................ 6
Acoustics .................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Procedures and Specifications ............................................................................................................................. 6
Reporting and Charts ............................................................................................................................................ 6
Scope for Minimal Checklist – Comments ...................................................................................................... 6
Survey Systems ...................................................................................................... 7
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8
5.9
6
PPE ............................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Housekeeping .......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Safety Procedures, Precautions and Practices ................................................................................................ 5
HSE – Comments ................................................................................................................................................... 5
Scope for Minimal Checklist ................................................................................. 6
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
5
Survey Personnel .................................................................................................................................................... 4
IMCA Competence Guidelines ........................................................................................................................... 4
Personnel – Comments ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Procedures ............................................................................................................................................................ 10
Log and Record Keeping ................................................................................................................................... 10
Reporting ............................................................................................................................................................... 10
Procedures and Reporting – Comments ...................................................................................................... 10
References and Further Reading........................................................................ 11
Introduction
Aim
This document is a mobilisation checklist for offshore survey operations, for example, a pipeline
survey by an ROV.
Survey contractors, ROV contractors, pipeline installation contractors and clients have a variety of
in-house checklists. This document seeks to provide a standard framework for such a checklist.
The intent is that it can be used by the contractors themselves and presented to a client or used by
the client acting separately. In both cases it seeks to improve efficiency:

It should act as a prompt to ensure the equipment, personnel and procedures are fit for purpose,
able to do the work and ready to deliver the contemplated operation to the satisfaction of all
parties;

It should act as a catalyst towards a ‘no surprises situation’. Surprises usually mean delays in
mobilisation which can be expensive for all parties;

It should help to deliver safe and efficient operations.
Framework
The document provides a framework to build either a brief or detailed mobilisation checklist for
survey support operations. The document could be expanded to cover any offshore survey
operation; the extent of the checklist developed depends on the complexity of the survey operations
which could include:

Pipeline/subsea architecture condition surveys;

Pipeline/subsea architecture post installation surveys;

Pipeline/subsea architecture installation support observations (and installation/construction
support).
For specific LBL acoustic and INS operations additional information may be required to reflect specific
technical requirements and survey specifications.
The person completing the checklist may require access to the complete scope of work, survey
specification, tolerances and procedural documentation required by the survey team to perform the
tasks required.
The comments sections – 2.3, 3.4, 4.8, 5.9 and 6.4 – can be used for additional comments or
observations not covered by the checklists.
IMCA S 016
1
Glossary
CD
Compact disc
CTD
Conductivity, temperature and depth
DPO
Dynamic positioning system operator
DVD
Digital versatile disc
GPR
Ground penetrating radar
HSE
Health & Safety Executive (UK)
INS
Inertial navigation system
LBL
Long baseline
MRU
Motion reference unit
PPE
Personal protective equipment
QC
Quality control
ROV
Remotely operated vehicle
SIMOPS Simultaneous operations
2
UPS
Uninterruptible power supply
USBL
Ultra-short baseline
VHF
Very high frequency
IMCA S 016
1
Checklist Details
Date:
Author:
Role or Position:
Employer:
Engaging Company:
Vessel:
Vessel Operator:
Client:
Survey Party Chief:
Survey Procedure:
Survey Scope of
Work (Tasks):
IMCA S 016
3
2
Personnel
Description
2.1
Yes
No
Remarks/Signature
Survey Personnel
Is there sufficient survey crew onboard
to perform the survey tasks according
to project procedures and specifications
Are all survey crew trained and
familiarised with the onboard survey
operation
Is the experience level of the survey
crew sufficient to meet the job
requirements
2.2
IMCA Competence Guidelines
Is there an appropriate way for
personnel to demonstrate competence,
for example, a company scheme based
upon the IMCA competence guidelines
(IMCA C 004 – Guidance document and
competence tables: Offshore Survey
Division)
2.3
4
Personnel – Comments
IMCA S 016
3
HSE
Description
3.1
Yes
No
Remarks/Signature
PPE
Is PPE appropriate, available and worn
by survey crew as a matter of practice
3.2
Housekeeping – is the general housekeeping in good order
At online and offline survey stations
At survey stores and spares
Are all standard templates (e.g. survey/
dive log) onboard
3.3
Safety Procedures, Precautions and Practices
Is there existing evidence that risk
assessments are being actively
undertaken as a normal practice by the
survey team
Is there existing evidence that toolbox
talks are being actively undertaken as a
normal practice by the survey team
Have all survey crew been given a vessel
and project induction
Are the survey crew aware of the
electrical isolation procedure and
process used onboard
Are adequate and appropriate
precautions taken when working at
height (e.g. installing antennas on mast)
Do the survey crew carry out manual
handling assessments where relevant
Does the survey crew participate in
incident reporting and investigations
Are the survey crew familiar with the
permit-to-work system and any site
standards
3.4
HSE – Comments
IMCA S 016
5
4
Scope for Minimal Checklist
Where only a minimal checklist is required, the HSE section (section 3) can be completed and the following
technical items checked. Any technical concerns should be discussed between the survey party chief and the
relevant client representatives and appropriate sections of the more detailed checklists in sections 5 and 6
completed where relevant.
Description
4.1
Yes
No
Remarks/Signature
Specified Survey Systems
Are all survey systems installed,
interfaced and calibrated
Is the accuracy of the survey
instrumentation onboard sufficient to
meet the project specifications
Is all hardware and software, including
sufficient spares, onboard to perform
the scope of work
4.2
Online and Offline Survey Computer Systems
Are online and offline survey computer
systems installed and operational
4.3
Field Background Data
Are field background data as well as any
proposed route(s) confirmed to be
latest version
4.4
Positioning Systems
Are surface positioning systems
checked/calibrated
4.5
Acoustics
Is there an acoustic management plan in
place covering any issues such as seabed
array planning, SIMOPS
4.6
Procedures and Specifications
Are survey procedures and
specifications in place and are survey
crew briefed
4.7
Reporting and Charts
Are survey reporting requirements,
digital data delivery and chart formats
agreed
4.8
6
Scope for Minimal Checklist – Comments
IMCA S 016
5
Survey Systems
Description
5.1
Yes
No
Remarks/Signature
Online Computer Systems
Latest software updates and licenses
installed and tested
Data logging and (digital) video
recording set up and tested
Latest field background and proposed
route(s) available
Helmsman displays and spare computer
systems and monitors available
Runline computations tested
Geodetic parameters checked
Peripheral equipment such as printer/
copier/scanner with consumables
available and functional
Clean power supply available and
functional
UPS systems tested
All equipment and cables secure
Job parameters stored and hard copies
filed
5.2
Offline Computer Systems
Latest software updates and licenses
installed and tested
Spare computer systems and monitors
and storage devices available
Printer copier/scanner, plotter, tape
drive, etc. available with consumables
(cartridges, CD/DVDs, tapes, etc.)
Example deliverables available for
approval
Data storage and backup facilities
function tested
5.3
Communications
Communication protocol and
emergency response understood
Full duplex communication system
operational for survey/bridge/ROV, etc.
Helmsman displays set up for bridge/
DPO/ROV, etc.
VHF communications operational (e.g.
bridge/deck/ROV/survey)
Telephone installed and working at
survey desk
Data telemetry to/from other vessel, if
required
IMCA S 016
7
Description
Yes
No
Remarks/Signature
Video telemetry to/from other vessel, if
required
5.4
Surface Positioning Systems and Vessel Survey Sensors
Surface positioning systems fully
functional and operating per
specifications
Antenna/dome locations checked for
masking and multipath effects
Antenna offsets measured and checked
Interfacing to online system tested
Positioning comparisons and QC checks
performed
Most recent installation and health
check reports available onboard (dates)
5.5
Subsurface Positioning – USBL
USBL system meets project
specifications
Transponders (/responder(s)) and
charger checked
Code frequency management in place
Depth rating of transponders suitable
USBL hydrophone XYZ offsets
measured and checked
Most recent installation and calibration
report available onboard (date)
Transponder deployment method
evaluated and approved
GPR sensor(s) interfaced to USBL
system
Full calibration required or position
check only
5.6
Subsurface Positioning – LBL
LBL system meets the project
specifications
Array layouts agreed/as per survey
procedure
Depth rating transponders and collars
suitable for working area
Transponder deployment method
evaluated and approved
LBL system function tested, including
interface to vessel survey sensors
Transponder status checked and
correctly configured (e.g. battery status,
code settings, etc.)
Anodes, shackles, collars, roping, etc.
checked on transponders
LBL software and calibration package
tested and interfaced to online system
8
IMCA S 016
Description
Yes
No
Remarks/Signature
LBL installation aids (e.g. frames/gravel
bags/rope/shackles/acoustic/hydrostatic
releases) onboard
5.7
Offsets and GPR Calibrations
Vessel/ROV/structure sensor XYZ
offsets measured and checked
Vessel/ROV/structure gyro calibrations
completed and comparisons logged
Latitude and speed settings for gyros
correct
Ongoing daily gyrocompass
comparisons planned and documented
Gyros and MRUs operational and with
valid calibrations
All XYZ vessel/ROV/structure offsets
and corrections entered and verified in
the online computer systems
5.8
ROV System Sensors Checklist – ROV system/sensors interfaced/checked (include additional systems/sensors as required);
tick off as appropriate

Altimeter

Depth sensor

Swathe profilers/multi-beam

Doppler velocity log

INS

Sound velocity meter

Gyro, pitch, roll sensor

Current meter

Pipe/cable tracker

Video overlay


Depth rating ROV survey sensors
suitable for working area
Calibration certificates valid for depth
sensors and sound velocity/CTD probes
5.9
Survey System Comments
IMCA S 016
9
6
Procedures and Reporting
Description
6.1
Yes
No
Remarks/Signature
Procedures
Relevant procedures and drawings
available to survey team
Equipment operating procedures and
manuals available
Management of change system in place
and understood
All survey team briefed and aware of
work scope
Target and route coordinated available
and checked
6.2
Log and Record Keeping
Detailed survey log maintained
All results independently checked and
signed
Filing system set up for results and
calibrations
Mobilisation and calibration report
prepared
6.3
Reporting
Project reporting requirements
understood
Chart formats and content agreed
Provisional reporting and chart schedule
for checking/review
6.4
10
Procedures and Reporting – Comments
IMCA S 016
7
References and Further Reading

IMCA C 004 – Guidance document and competence tables: Offshore Survey Division

IMCA M 149 – Common Marine Inspection Document

IMCA M 189/IMCA S 004 – Marine inspection checklist for small workboats

IMCA M 204 – Vessel assurance

IMCA M 205 – Guidance on operational communications

IMCA R 009 – ROV mobilisation
IMCA S 016
11