DP Revalidation

Course Aims

The course is intended for those who have already been issued a DPO Certificate from the NI but are unable to revalidate their DPO Certificate if they have not gained sufficient DP sea time. The overall course aim is to update the DPOs with the latest rules and regulations, position references and sensors, known DP incidents and lessons learned. At the end of the course, the student should:
  • Have acquired knowledge of the latest rules and regulations
  • Have acquired knowledge of the latest developments within sensors and PRS
  • Have acquired knowledge of the latest relevant DP incidents and why they occurred
  • Be able to recognise the various alarm, warning and information messages
  • Carry out operational planning, risk assessment and hazard identification tasks
  • Set up the DP system for a particular task/operation
  • Decide on courses of action because of systems failure

Course Objectives

On completion of the Revalidation Course the following objectives will have been attained by the DPO. The DPO / Trainee should be able to:
  • Describe and explain the purpose of DP rules, regulations, equipment classes and documentation associated with DP operations including FMEA and Capability Plots.
  • Understand the importance of reporting DP incidents, knowing where to find and how to report DP incidents.
  • Describe various DP Position Reference Systems, their sensors, working, operation and failure modes associated with these.
  • Ensure correct setting up of vessel on DP in accordance with vessel’s class and type of operation. Evaluate most appropriate PRS, correct thrusters allocation for specific DP operations.
  • Test the vessel’s maneuvering capability during prevailing weather conditions and determine a ‘Safe Position’ and minimum distances to stabilize the vessel in DP.
  • Demonstrate continuous awareness of vessel’s status during DP watch keeping with regard to on-going operations. Importance of monitoring PRS, sensors and signal quality, power and thrusters output, anticipating the effects/possibility of failure, recognize situations in which to call the master, log and report DP station keeping events.
  • Recognize various alarms both DP & non-DP, their acknowledgement, analyses consequence analysis alarm, monitoring the movement of the vessel, object, installation or target, recognize limitations of vessel movement when having equipment or divers deployed and procedures for when to change DP Alert Status.
  • Recognize changes in environmental conditions, when they become critical with reference to station keeping and importance of situational awareness when operating close to floating objects.
  • Change of watch procedures, checklists, take-over/hand-over DP watch in a formal and clear manner; determine DP-status and recent occurrences which may affect DP operations during the watch.
  • Completion of DP operations, safe route and best heading for departure, identify and demonstrate awareness of an Emergency Escape route, moving to a “safe position” in appropriate steps, recover/retract deployed equipment and PRS equipment from the seabed or installation.
  • Operating in DP Joystick mode, stations keeping and maintain/change position and heading in a safe and controlled manner using DP Joystick.
  • Demonstrate performance/response under various Emergency Situations e.g. loss of or unstable PRS, errors in wind input, DP drive-off, drift-off, force-off, one thruster run-off, action when losing all DP control functions and actions if colliding or about to collide with an installation, nearby objects or vessels during DP operations

Course Assessment

  • Practical Assessment :
    The practical assessment must be done individually. The practical assessment shall include the following items which the student must pass to be awarded a certificate of completion for the Revalidation Course:
    • Complete a DP Checklist
    • Set up the vessel on DP
    • Move the vessel from setup position to a worksite
    • Deal with a system/sensor / thruster failure or environmental change (at least two)

    The student must pass all the four items listed above.

  • Online Assessment :
    The online assessment will consist of 30 questions and shall be completed in one hour with a pass mark of 70%.

Admission Requirements

  • The minimum entry requirement is a DPO Certificate issued by the NI. The original DPO Certificate should be presented at the DP Centre where the Revalidation Course is completed.
  • The Revalidation Course may be completed up to six months before the revalidation date set by the NI. The course will be valid for a period of 12 months only, in which the DPO must send in an application into the NI.
  • If the participant is completing the course for the first time, there is no minimum DP sea time requirement.
  • If the participant is completing the course for a second or subsequent time, a minimum of 28 DP sea time days will be required to revalidate. This DP time may be completed prior to or after the Revalidation Course. Where a participant subsequently revalidates after taking the course by completion of the full sea time requirement of 150 DP sea time days that participant can then take the Revalidation Course again without a DP sea time requirement. Legacy and Grandfathered certificate holders will be able to take the course to revalidate until 31st December 2019. After this date, previous Legacy and Grandfathered certificate holders will need to complete DP Sea time days towards revalidation.

Please Note: Shuttle Tanker Certificate holders will be unable to revalidate their certificates with the Revalidation Course.

Duration

5 days

Participants

Max 4

Language

The course will be conducted in English.

Course Booking

Click here to book this course.