Two regional directors appointed by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) ensure that the association has an increasingly active presence in two key offshore oil and gas areas of the world – Asia, and Australia & New Zealand.
Chris Charman , Chief Executive of IMCA, announced at last week’s IMCA Annual Seminar in London that Denis Welch had been appointed Regional Director for Asia-Pacific; and Andy Bolton has taken up a similar position in Australia & New Zealand. IMCA plans to appoint a third Regional Director in Houston, USA.
“Some 50% of our global membership of 1,045 companies in over 60 countries operate outside the area covered by our Europe and Africa Section,” he explains. “So, it makes extremely sound sense to have someone who is well respected and knowledgeable on the ground in these three important regions to provide a constant presence for IMCA, to work with our existing members and with stakeholders including regulatory authorities, government representatives – both politicians and officials, regional trade associations, learned bodies and professional membership organisations, NGOs; clients, and potential member companies.
“The marine contracting industry plays a vital global role. Its vessels account for 4% of the world’s maritime fleet. Collectively our members employ some 350,000 people and have an annual turnover of around $150bn. They work in all the world’s major offshore areas, delivering large offshore oil and gas and marine renewables projects around the globe that quite literally fuel the global economy.”
Denis Welch is based in Singapore and has a track record of Board level appointment in leading international companies and start-ups spanning the marine, civil, automotive and aerospace sectors. He is an elected member of the American Bureau of Shipping, and a member of both the Det Norske Veritas and ABS Southeast Asia Committees. He has also served on the Singapore Workplace Safety and Health Committee and the Singapore Shipowners Association Offshore Committee.
After 35 years’ experience in marine oil and gas construction, repair and maintenance projects, Andy Bolton set up an independent consultancy based in Auckland, New Zealand to service not only the oil and gas industry, but also other large NZ infrastructure projects.