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International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)

IMCA

We are the membership organisation representing marine contractors and suppliers worldwide, with 800 member companies and half of them in Europe.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Simone Ritzek-Seidl (Cabinet of Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas)

27 Jan 2026 · International marine contracting sector priorities

Meeting with Sanna Laaksonen (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen)

27 Jan 2026 · Cable Security

Response to Circular Economy Act

30 Oct 2025

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) welcomes the opportunity to provide input on the European Commissions Call for Evidence regarding the forthcoming Circular Economy Act (CEA). IMCA represents more than 800 companies globally, including over 400 based in Europe. They play a critical role in constructing, installing, and maintaining offshore wind farms, subsea infrastructure, and marine energy systems. Our membership spans the contractors, their supply chain, and energy companies in the offshore marine construction industry. Our aim is to enable the safe and sustainable development of marine energy resources, supporting the EUs ambitions to transition to clean energy while ensuring a resilient blue economy. The marine contracting and offshore construction sectors are key enablers of circularity in the EU economy. Offshore projects depend on long-lived, high-value assets (e.g. vessels, cables, subsea systems) whose lifecycle management, refurbishment, and reuse present significant opportunities to reduce resource dependency and waste. IMCA fully supports the Commissions ambition to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy.
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Response to Revision of the EU’s energy security framework

13 Oct 2025

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the European Commissions Call for Evidence on the revision of the EU Energy Security Framework. IMCA represents over 800 companies worldwide, including 400 in Europe. Our members design, install, inspect, and maintain offshore energy infrastructure. IMCAs mission is to enable the safe and sustainable development of marine energy resources, supporting the EUs clean energy transition and a resilient blue economy. With the EU targeting 300 GW of offshore wind by 2050 and expanding subsea interconnectors, hydrogen pipelines, and CO transport systems, Europes energy security will increasingly depend on critical offshore assetsand the contractors who build and protect them.
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Meeting with Mark Nicklas (Head of Unit Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs) and The Acker Group

13 Oct 2025 · EU Industrial Maritime Strategy and international offshore construction and marine contracting sector

Response to European grid package

4 Aug 2025

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) welcomes the opportunity to provide input on the European Commissions Call for Evidence regarding the European Grids Package Call for Evidence. IMCA represents more than 800 companies globally, including over 400 based in Europe. Our membership spans the contractors, their supply chain, and energy companies in the offshore marine construction industry. Our aim is to enable the safe and sustainable development of marine energy resources, supporting the EUs ambitions to transition to clean energy while ensuring a resilient blue economy. IMCA members play a critical role in constructing, installing, and maintaining offshore wind farms, subsea infrastructure, and marine energy systems. With the EU targeting over 300GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050, this will require 30,000 new wind turbines and associated infrastructure, all of which depend on a highly specialized fleet of vessels operated by IMCA members. These vessels and companies are strategic assets supporting Europes energy transition and economic growth. To support this view, IMCA has recently carried out an Economic Impact Assessment which is provided with this submission. Achieving the EU's 2030 and 2050 energy targets particularly in offshore renewables depends on an interconnected, reliable and expanded grid, including underwater cables. Yet these ambitions cannot be realised without targeted measures to accelerate planning, permitting, and integration of offshore grid infrastructure. We therefore urge the Commission to ensure that the European Grids Package: 1. Recognises marine contracting and offshore construction as a critical sector and as strategic enablers of grid deployment - Marine contractors are central to the EUs energy, security, industrial and environmental goals. The sector provides over 490,000 skilled jobs and contributes 80bn in GVA (Gross Value Added), with GVA per worker more than 2.5x the EU average. The sector is a key contributor to EU grid expansion, resilience and energy security. 2. Addresses the offshore grid deployment challenge directly - Europes grid expansion must move beyond land-based infrastructure. Offshore projects are core to EU decarbonisation but face unique deployment barriers. We urge the European Commission to align the EU Grids Package with the EU Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy (including interconnectors between nations) and to ensure coordination between offshore generation and offshore grid infrastructure deployment. 3. Accelerates permitting for offshore and cross-border infrastructure. 4. Ensures spatial planning and port capacity for grid deployment - The EU Grids Package should establish permanent fast-track procedures for strategic offshore grid infrastructure. 5. Supports the EU defence and maritime security objectives - The EU Grids Package should be aligned with the upcoming EU Ports and Industrial Maritime Strategies and encourage Member States to incorporate offshore energy and cable deployment needs into national maritime spatial plans. IMCA strongly supports the aims of the EU Grids Package and stresses that Europes ability to meet its energy security, climate, and digital goals is directly tied to the success of the offshore construction and marine contracting sector. The Package must recognise the critical role of this sector, prioritise investment in offshore infrastructure and port modernisation, and provide a regulatory framework that enables innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness. We look forward to continued engagement with DG ENER and other stakeholders as the Package develops and stand ready to support the European Commission in developing practical, industry-aligned solutions. Yours sincerely, Lee Billingham Director of Strategy and Energy Transition
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Response to EU industrial maritime strategy

28 Jul 2025

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) welcomes the opportunity to provide input on the European Commissions Call for Evidence regarding the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy Call for Evidence. IMCA represents more than 800 companies globally, with around 400 based in Europe. Our membership spans the contractors, their supply chains, and energy companies in the offshore marine construction industry. Our aim is to enable the safe and sustainable development of marine energy resources, supporting the EUs ambitions to transition to clean energy while ensuring a resilient blue economy. IMCA members play a critical role in constructing, installing, and maintaining offshore wind farms, subsea infrastructure, and marine energy systems. With the EU targeting over 300GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050, this will require 30,000 new wind turbines and associated infrastructure, all of which depend on a highly specialized fleet of vessels operated by IMCA members. These vessels and companies are strategic assets supporting Europes energy transition and economic growth. To support this view, IMCA has recently carried out an Economic Impact Assessment (which is included within the attachment to this submission). We commend the European Commissions ambition to develop a comprehensive framework for the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy. We stress the importance of recognizing the unique and essential role of the marine contracting sector in achieving Europes goals for energy security, decarbonisation and the sustainable use of marine space. IMCA therefore recommends the Strategy address the following areas, all of which are described in more detail within the attachment provided with the submission: 1. Recognising marine contracting and offshore construction as a critical sector (Marine contractors are central to the EUs energy, security, industrial and environmental goals. The sector provides over 490,000 skilled jobs and contributes 80bn in GVA (Gross Value Added), with GVA per worker more than 2.5x the EU average); 2. Upgrading port infrastructure to enable energy transition; 3. Accelerating fleet decarbonisation and modern shipbuilding; 4. Enhancing safety and skills to support a future-ready maritime workforce; 5. Supporting the EU defence and maritime security objectives IMCA strongly supports the aims of the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy and stresses that Europes ability to meet its energy security, climate, and digital goals is directly tied to the success of the offshore construction and marine contracting sector. The Strategy must recognise the critical role of this sector, prioritise investment in offshore infrastructure and port modernisation, and provide a regulatory framework that enables innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness. IMCA looks forward to continued engagement with DG MOVE, DG GROW, and other stakeholders as the Strategy develops. Your sincerely, Lee Billingham IMCA Director of Strategy
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Response to EU Ports Strategy

28 Jul 2025

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) welcomes the opportunity to provide input on the European Commissions Call for Evidence regarding the EU Ports Strategy Call for Evidence. IMCA represents more than 800 companies globally, around half based in Europe. Our membership spans the contractors, their supply chain, and energy companies in the offshore marine construction industry. Our aim is to enable the safe and sustainable development of marine energy resources, supporting the EUs ambitions to transition to clean energy while ensuring a resilient blue economy. IMCA members play a critical role in constructing, installing, and maintaining offshore wind farms, subsea infrastructure, critical telecoms and power cables, and marine energy systems. With the EU targeting over 300GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050, this will require 30,000 new wind turbines and associated infrastructure, all of which depend on a highly specialized fleet of vessels operated by IMCA members. These vessels and companies are strategic assets supporting Europes energy transition and economic growth. However, none of this is possible without effective, modernised, future-ready port infrastructure. We urge the European Commission to treat ports not only as logistics and trade hubs, but as strategic enablers of offshore industrial activity. Europe's marine contractors rely on ports for vessel deployment, maintenance, fuelling, and logistics ports are where the offshore energy transition begins. IMCA therefore recommends the Strategy address the following areas (further details on each area can be found in the attachment): 1. Recognising marine contracting and offshore construction as a critical sector (Marine contractors are central to the EUs energy, security, industrial and environmental goals. The sector provides over 490,000 skilled jobs and contributes 80bn in GVA (Gross Value Added), with GVA per worker more than 2.5x the EU average); 2. Acknowledging the critical role of ports in offshore infrastructure delivery (Europes ambitious targets for offshore wind (111 GW by 2030), CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage), and interconnectivity cannot be met without well-equipped and efficiently managed ports); 3. Expanding port capacity, modernising infrastructure and strategic spatial planning; 4. Supporting maritime decarbonisation: fuel availability, OPS and vessel electrification; 5. Enhancing safety and skills to support a future-ready port workforce; 6. Supporting the EU defence and maritime security objectives. IMCA strongly supports the aims of the EU Ports Strategy and stresses that Europes ability to meet its energy security, climate, and digital goals is directly tied to the success of the offshore construction and marine contracting sector. The Strategy must recognise the critical role of this sector, prioritise investment in offshore infrastructure and port modernisation, and provide a regulatory framework that enables innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness. (To support this, IMCA has recently carried out an Economic Impact Assessment which is provided within the file attached). Europes ports are no longer just gateways for trade they are launchpads for the EUs energy, climate and security ambitions. We look forward to continued engagement with DG MOVE and other stakeholders as the Strategy develops to ensure that ports are ready for the offshore future. Your sincerely, Lee Billingham IMCA Director of Strategy
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Meeting with Lukasz Kolinski (Director Energy) and

11 Mar 2025 · Offshore energy infrastructure, Commission’s current and upcoming priorities and initiatives

Meeting with Polona Gregorin (Head of Unit Climate Action)

11 Mar 2025 · Discussion on the implementation of the ETS extension to maritime transport in the offshore sector

Meeting with Kamila Kloc (Director Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and

11 Mar 2025 · Presentation of IMCA activities, in relation to the recently adopted Action Plan on the security of submarine cables

Meeting with Anne Katherina Weidenbach (Cabinet of Commissioner Dan Jørgensen), Anne-Maud Orlinski (Cabinet of Commissioner Dan Jørgensen)

10 Mar 2025 · Exchange of views on the Action Plan for Affordable Energy, the Clean Industrial and the revision of the EU energy security regulatory framework

Meeting with Sanna Laaksonen (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen)

10 Mar 2025 · Seabed Cable Security

Response to The European Oceans Pact

12 Feb 2025

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) welcomes the opportunity to provide input on the European Commissions Call for Evidence regarding the European Oceans Pact. The attached document provides more detailed feedback but a summary is provided here. IMCA represents the contractors, their supply chain, and energy companies in the offshore marine construction industry. Our aim is to enable the safe and sustainable development of marine energy resources, supporting the EUs ambitions to transition to clean energy while ensuring a resilient blue economy. IMCA members play a critical role in constructing, installing, and maintaining offshore wind farms, subsea infrastructure, and marine energy systems. With the EU targeting over 300GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050, this will require 30,000 new wind turbines and associated infrastructure, all of which depend on a highly specialized fleet of vessels operated by IMCA members. These vessels and companies are strategic assets supporting Europes energy transition and economic growth. We commend the European Commissions ambition to develop a holistic framework for ocean governance. However, we emphasize the need for the Pact to recognize the unique and essential role of the marine contracting sector in ensuring energy security, decarbonization, and the sustainable use of marine space. IMCA thus recommends that the Oceans Pact covers the following issues: 1. Recognition of offshore construction as a critical sector 2. Investment in ports and marine infrastructures 3. Removing barriers to vessel decarbonization 4. Enhancing safety and skills development in the marine workforce (Please read the attached document for more explanation and details on each area.) IMCA strongly supports the European Oceans Pacts objectives but stresses that the success of Europes clean energy transition depends on the offshore construction sector. To ensure effective implementation, the Pact must prioritize investment in offshore infrastructure, vessel decarbonization, and port modernization, while fostering an enabling regulatory environment. IMCA looks forward to continued engagement with DG MARE and other stakeholders to shape a sustainable and competitive European blue economy.
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