NI DP Emergency Ship handling, includes Az drive ship handling.

1. Glossary
2. Introduction
3. Minimum entry qualification requirements
4. Course aims
5. Course objectives
6. Documentation
7. Safety
8. Learning objectives:
The expected learning outcome is that the students will be able to:
9. Number of hours
10. Ratio of students/instructors/equipment
11. Instructor Qualifications
12. Delivery method

NI The Nautical Institute

The Nautical Institute (The NI) DP Emergency Shiphandling Course has been designed to provide industry guidance for participants who engage in manual ship handling activities in vessels operating in Dynamic Positioning mode. The course will enhance the safety of navigation in confined water and in close quarter to oilfield structure to increase the O.O.W. / DPO situation awareness, risk assessment and management under different emergency situation and environmental conditions. It covers the learning objectives, practical assessment, the assessment skills tables and information about continuous assessment.

1. The expectation is that the participant will have successfully completed a Dynamic Positioning Operator training programme. The course is suitable for DPOs seeking to enhance their skills and suitable for experienced DPOs who may require to refresh their manual shiphandling skills.

2. The course will cover shiphandling duties on DP vessels.

3. The programme involves a course of study with continuous assessment during the course. The overall emphasis of the course is:
• To provide emergency shiphandling training for certificated and prospective DPOs.
• DP vessel ship handling knowledge and practical exercises for deck officers and Masters.
• To use this course in compliance with on-board competency assessment as per:
♣ IMCA M117 The training and experience of key DP Personnel,

♣ IMCA C002 IMCA Guidance on Competency Assurance and Assessment
– Marine Division and

♣ C007 Guidance on Assessor Training.

♣ STCW Table A-II/1

• Ensure that candidates are prepared for emergency situations in which manual ship handling techniques are required AND the circumstances in which the change to manual should not be made.
• The course is comprised of two parts
o Class room – Instruction (Theoretical part maybe conducted on the Navigational Bridge (Simulator) to have more ship like atmosphere and to have descriptive materials at hand, immediate use of material during briefing and debriefing of theory and exercise) and;
o Simulator
Upon successful completion of the course the participants will be able to demonstrate competence in a number of ship handling emergency scenarios. The
participants will be proficient in the conning of the vessel in different operational situations and loss of equipment.

The minimum entry requirement is that participants should hold a deck Officer Certificate (Officer of the watch (OOW), Chief Mate or Master) or DPO qualification.

The aims of the course are to give the student the following:
• Confidence to respond appropriately to major failure in the Dynamic Positioning control systems
• To be able to make the decision when to change to Manual control
• An improved understanding of shiphandling in the context of offshore operations
• Experience of keeping the vessel safe through manual shiphandling skills in a range of conditions

The course includes conventional and azimuth propulsion simulation, use of thrusters, manoeuvring in sheltered waters and offshore environments including close quarters manoeuvring, holding a vessel in the one position after an emergency and operating with reduced machinery capability.

The theory content will revise basic principles of ship handling including:
• Discussion of wind/current, and their influence on the operation in adverse weather/wind condition.
• Planning of (safe) operation
• Manoeuvring theory with focus on Offshore Support Vessels
• The effects of displacement, draught, trim, speed, velocity, kinetic energy and under-keel clearance on various manoeuvres, squat effect, turning circles and stopping distance.
• The importance of the pivot point and effecting ship handling on vessels that are moving and not steaming.
• The effect of current, wind and waves on the vessel’s capabilities when vessel is on different headings.

Specific focus on offshore activities will include:
• The effect and interaction between different type of rudders and propellers, thrusters and their operational advantages and limitations
• Advantages and Disadvantages of different types of thrusters;
• Contingency planning in case of thruster, rudder and/or propeller failure.
• Contingency operation in the event of a partial -blackout
• Correct procedures for changeover between manual, joystick and dynamic positioning manoeuvring mode
• Effect of a loss of heading when on DP and vessel turn beam to conditions
• Safe operation in different weather conditions
• Thruster loss at low speed
• Manoeuvring without bow thrusters
• Emergency ship handling after a worst case failure.
• Stopping distance when maintaining heading and round turn.
• Effect of external forces on a vessel.

Relevant ship characteristics and capabilities will be provided for vessels used for exercises on the simulator. Students will have access to examples of sea trial reports, pilot cards, capability plots and other relevant manoeuvring information.

The course will cover critical safety-related aspects including:
• Use of emergency backup systems.
• Holding position in open water and in channels after system failure.
• Thruster emergency stops
• Alarm associated with propulsion system

The expected learning outcome is that the students will be able to: 1. Vessel Machinery Characteristics

1.1. Types of Main Propulsion
• Demonstrate use of the major types of main propulsion systems including:
o Conventional twin/single-screw
o Azimuthing propulsion
• Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the major types of main propulsion systems.
• Utilise the features of various azimuth type propulsion systems.

1.2. Propellers
• Understand the difference between fixed-pitch and controllable pitch propulsion (CPP) propellers.
• Compare the advantages and disadvantages of fixed-pitch and controllable pitch propellers.

1.3. Azimuthing Bow Thrusters
• Demonstrate the benefits of using azimuthing bow thrusters including their use in pulling power and maneuverability when pivot point is on the stern.

1.4. Tunnel Thrusters
• Demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of tunnel thrusters.
• Describe the differences between fixed-pitch and controllable pitch tunnel thrusters.
• Identify how the characteristics of water flow, hull design and speed of the vessel affect the efficiency and effectiveness of a tunnel thruster.

1.5. Rudders
• Demonstrate the use of different configurations and types of rudders including: high-lift rudder, fishtail, conventional rudders and split rudders to increase side thrust.
• Understand the advantages and disadvantages of each rudder type.

1.6. Power Management Systems (PMS)
• Describe the functionality of a PMS.
• Demonstrate an understand of how the PMSs may affect power availability in an emergency shiphandling situation.

2. Vessel Manoeuvring Characteristics
2.1. Pivot Point of the vessel
• Demonstrate the effect that the use of different thrusters located at different positions on the hull has on the pivot points.
• Describe the effect that trim has on a vessel’s Manoeuvring characteristics.

2.2. Environmental Forces
• Demonstrate an understanding of the effect that Wind, Sea and Current has on a vessel’s Manoeuvring characteristics
• Demonstrate an understanding of the forces of wind and current based on the ship’s hull coefficient and wind and current force and relative direction.

2.3. Other Factors
• Demonstrate the ability to maneuver a vessel under varying environmental, hydrodynamic and ship pivot point conditions

3. Vessel Manoeuvring Modes

3.1. Traditional Manoeuvring
• Demonstrate the process of manual ship handling and station-keeping using individual thrusters.
• Demonstrate proper use of thrusters, rudders and Azimuthing propulsion systems to maneuver a vessel in varying sea conditions with no defects.
• Demonstrate the use of fixed pitch and CPP Azimuth thruster with and with biasing
• Demonstrate the standard Offshore use of the aft control to berth and unberth

3.2. Heading Control and Joystick Manoeuvring
• Describe changing rotation centres and power requirements
• Describe advantages of set heading
• Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between an Independent Joystick and a DP system joystick
• Describe the importance of setting center rotation to the center of the vessel
• Demonstrate the correct use of weather and data inputs as these relate to heading control.

3.3. DP Manoeuvring
• Describe changing rotation centres and power requirements of a DP system
• Describe advantages of set heading when using a DP system
• Demonstrate the ability to maneuver using Independent Joystick and DP under varying environmental, hydrodynamic and ship pivot point conditions.

Operating Procedures & Risk Assessment

3.4. Operating Procedures & Risk Assessment: Guidelines for Offshore Marine Operations (GOMO)
• Describe the importance of procedures and safety guidelines as they apply to offshore marine operations.
• Describe the importance of industry best-practice in establishing a safe working environment.
• Understand the use of risk assessment processes and the benefits of assessing the risks in mitigating hazards.

3.5. Company Specific Procedures with respect to industry best practices
• Discuss the procedural considerations for operating alongside a platform
• Describe scenarios when an operation may be suspended
• Define risk assessment and management of change as applied to a company’s procedures
• Demonstrate the ability to apply procedures and risk assessments for a specific operation.

4. Special Manoeuvring Scenarios including Emergency Shiphandling
4.1. Laying alongside an installation
• Define the information required before approaching an installation.
• Define the information that may be found on a rig data card
• Utilise the information from current and detailed weather reports
• Describe the importance of crane information
• Demonstrate the process for setting up on weather and non-weather side working.
• Demonstrate the ability to follow approach and departure procedures.
• Describe the effect of changing trim and excessive trim

4.2. Operating with reduced equipment due to equipment failure
• Demonstrate the effect that a loss of bow thrusters on a azimuth propulsion ship may have on maneuverability and station keeping
• Demonstrate the effect that a loss of stern thrusters on an azimuth propulsion ship or conventional twin screw vessel may have on maneuverability and station keeping
• Manoevre using only azimuth thrusters (biasing and non-biasing techniques)
• Demonstrate the use of engines and rudders in the event of thruster failure.
• Demonstrate the ability to overcome equipment failure while maintaining safety of vessel.

The course will be of at least 4 days’ duration with a minimum of 32 hours’ instruction, with at least 65% of the time assigned to practical ship handling exercises using a Class A simulator or NI Class ‘S’ Simulator1.

The course will be run in English. The student-to-instructor/simulator ratio will be a maximum of 3 students to one instructor/simulator.

Course to be conducted at a Nautical Institute accredited Training centre. The Instructor must be appropriately qualified and experienced including qualifications as a simulation instructor and relevant seagoing professional qualifications.

The instructor may be assisted by a Ship’s Master experienced in offshore vessel shiphandling .

Instructors must be approved instructors under the NI DPO Scheme and must have a minimum of 150 days documented DP time

The instructor/s delivering the course must be approved as an instructor at a NI accredited training centre. He/she must be able to demonstrate that they possess the adequate ship handling knowledge which affirms them to be sufficiently competent to deliver the course.

The course will be a blend of learning provided by theory-based instruction with guided practical simulator-based exercises giving a balance of lectures, instruction and practical assessments. This will be achieved through a concentrated period of exercises on a DP equipped ship handling simulator, supported by a program of lectures and instruction. This course may also be delivered, in part, using individual computers for training.

1 The Nautical Institute will consider submissions for a shorter course with fewer students provided that a minimum of 9 hours actual bridge exercise time in control of the ship is assigned to each participant.