Nautical Institute DP Revalidation (without seatime)

The Nautical Institute (the NI) has introduced an alternative route to revalidation through the implementation of a Revalidation Course. The requirements for the Revalidation Course are listed below. This course allows a certified DPO to revalidate without the sea time requirement when taken the course for the first time. 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.

The Course duration: 5 days
Course assessment: Nautical Institute online and practice test on simulator.
Pre-requisite: DPO Certificate

The Nautical Institute (the NI) has introduced an alternative route to revalidation through the implementation of a Revalidation Course. The requirements for the Revalidation Course are established through this document. This course allows a certified DPO to revalidate without the sea time requirement when taken for the first time, or when taken after a subsequent revalidation with 150 DP sea time days.

MINIMUM ENTRY QUALIFICATION 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. For information on how to revalidate a Shuttle Tanker Certificate or convert to the Offshore Scheme please see Appendix E.

The course is designed for Deck Officers, Engineer Officers and personnel working toward an STCW Certificate of Competency (COC) who wish to start The Nautical Institute’s DP Operator Training Scheme.

Participants must hold appropriate STCW certification, or state equivalent or be studying towards an appropriate recognised certificate. Please note that participants may only accrue a maximum of 30 days’ recognised seatime on completion of this course as a cadet or trainee. Please see www.nautinst.org or contact FSOSC for further information.

A minimum of 34 hours of teaching and simulator time is required for this course which includes the time needed for the examination and assessments. The course must schedule both practical and theoretical aspects with about 50% of the time assigned to each. The course is to be delivered over five days.

The NI allows a maximum of four students per class being taught by one instructor per one Class B or A Simulator. By exception and where justified, five or six students may be considered at the discretion of the NI’s Accreditation Team, based on the number of simulators in place, rotation of students and the use of the training methodology in place.
When two simulator systems ASOG/CAMO are available in a training centre, the best practice is to keep the trainee on the same simulator throughout the course. A minimum requirement is to use an NI DP Class B Simulator to correspond with the training objectives for the Revalidation Course.

Training will be split equally between theory and practical exercises. Theory may be used to support the practical exercises either as a briefing, a de-briefing or for demonstration purposes.

The assessment for the Revalidation Course includes a theoretical (online) and a practical assessment. Each component must be completed successfully. There is no specific order in which they must be completed. After the course is completed, an entry will be made in the appropriate logbook.

In order to be awarded a certificate of completion for the Revalidation Course the DPO must pass an online assessment at the training centre.
The exam is composed of multiple choice questions that have already been developed from the Basic /Induction Course and the Simulator Course. The online assessment will consist of 30 questions and shall be completed in one hour with a pass mark of 70%.
Students who fail the first attempt are allowed to have another two attempts within six months of the first attempt; however, the second attempt must be undertaken within 96 hours of the first attempt. If the student fails these three attempts, they are student is required to repeat the Revalidation Course and undertake the assessment again.

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 training centres must develop their own practical exams based upon the course objectives listed above. The student must pass all the four items listed above. The training centre is responsible to ensure that the assessment is carried out in a professional manner and that the student is assessed with thoroughness in line with the standards of the NI.

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 recognize 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

The following is a list of the objectives which should be attained by the DPOs upon completion of the Revalidation Course.
By the completion of the training session or period for DP Rules and Regulations the trainee should be able to:
1. List the various providers of documents containing statutory requirements and guidance relating to DP operations, including:
a. IMO (including IMO MSC/Circ. 645 of 1994 Guidelines for Vessels with Dynamic Positioning Systems)
b. Classification society DP rules
c. International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)
d. Marine Technology Society (MTS)
e. IMCA and MTS guidelines for ASOG
2. Explain the purpose of documentation associated with DP operations, such as DP operations manuals, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and capability plots
3. Describe the IMO (DP) equipment classes and their application, with reference to the IMO Guidelines for Vessels with DP Systems.
4. Understand the importance of reporting DP incidents knows where to find DP incident reports and knows how to report DP incidents.
By the completion of the training session or period for DP Sensors and PRS the trainee should be able to:
5. Describe the following position reference systems commonly associated with DP installations: Differential GNSS, hydroacoustic, INS, taut wire, Artemis, FMCW Radar and laser-based systems.
6. Describe the failure modes of the following position reference systems: Differential GNSS, hydroacoustic, INS, taut wire, Artemis, FMCW Radar and laser-based systems.
7. Describe the following sensors associated with DP installations: vertical reference sensor/unit, motion reference unit, gyro compass, wind sensor (anemometer) and draught input sensor. ASOG, TAM and CAM.
8. Describe the failure modes of the following sensors: vertical reference sensor/unit, motion reference unit, gyro compass, wind sensor (anemometer) and draught input sensor.
By the completion of the training session or period for DP Set Up the trainee should be able to:
9. Ensure the vessel is on DP in accordance with the vessel’s class and the vessel’s operation manual. Class approved FMEA and ASOG (Complete DP Checklist)
10. Determine and set alarm and warning limits
11. Evaluate most appropriate PRS for specific DP-operations
12. Select the number of position reference systems required in accordance with the DP class
13. Use correct thruster allocation for a specific operation and weather conditions
14. Test vessel’s maneuvering capability during prevailing weather conditions
15. Determine a Safe Position and minimum distances to stabilize the vessel in DP
16. Obtain information and clearance from e.g. installation, on issues important for the safe operation of the vessel under DP.
By the completion of the training session or period for DP Bridge Watchkeeping the trainee should be able to:
17. Demonstrate a continuous awareness of the vessel’s status, operation and impact of operating under DP
18. Recognize the importance of maintaining lookout and awareness of the external situation including weather when controlling a vessel close to installations or other objects
19. Recognize situations in which to call the Master to the bridge
20. Log and report DP station keeping events
21. Monitor position reference systems, sensors and signal quality in anticipation of the possibility of failure causing instant/violent reaction from main engines/thrusters
22. Monitor power output and thrust
23. Monitor thruster efficiency for station-keeping at different headings and drafts, which may affect DP Class
24. Recognize DP-related changes in vessel systems and technical equipment which may affect DP Class
25. Recognize technical and operational issues which may limit or stop DP operations
26. Monitor that the DP operating parameters of continuous operating power are not exceeded.
By the completion of the training session or period for Position Keeping the trainee should be able to:
27. Recognize alarms related to the incorrect operation of the DP-system and maintaining position
28. Acknowledge alarms within time constraints
29. Discuss alarms with relevant department
30. Evaluate the possible consequences of each alarm and possibility to continue the operation
31. Analyze the consequence analysis alarm
32. Interpret visual indicators, indicating conditions which may result in malfunction of DP
33. Monitor movement of the vessel and changes in the position and heading, in keeping with safe excursion limits depending upon the ongoing task/operations
34. Monitor movement of the object / installation / target
35. Monitor by various means, changes in distance/heading between object and own vessel (if applicable)
36. Recognize limitations of vessel movement when having equipment or divers deployed.

By the completion of the training session or period for Environmental Conditions the trainee should be able to:
37. Recognize changes in environmental conditions
38. Recognize when environmental conditions become critical with reference to station keeping
39. Recognize increased importance of situational awareness when operating close to floating objects

By the completion of the training session or period for Alarms and Indicators the trainee should be able to:
40. Identify the procedures to follow for DP and non-DP alarms
41. Identify the procedures for when to change DP Alert status (e.g. from green to amber/yellow, or red).
42. Prepare a hand-over checklist
43. Transfer vessel’s status and DP-details when handing over the watch (where not covered by the watch-keeping checklist)
44. Provide an update on the ongoing operation and planned operational activities
45. Review a hand-over checklist
46. Verify vessel’s position or movement and status
47. Interpret all necessary information of vessel and operation
48. Take-over / hand over DP-watch in a formal and clear manner
49. Determine the DP-status and recent occurrences which may have an effect on the DP-operation during the watch.

By the completion of the training session or period for Normal Completion of a DP Operation the trainee should be able to:
50. Identify safe departure route and best vessel heading for departure
51. Recognize external dangers prior to departure
52. Identify an Emergency Escape route which may or may not be the same as the normal departure route
53. Retrieve Position Reference System Equipment from e.g. the installation or seabed (if applicable and as part of a Departure checklist)
54. Demonstrate moving to a safe position in appropriate steps
55. Recover / retract deployed equipment (if applicable).

By the completion of the training session or period for Operating in Joystick Mode (DP Joystick) the trainee should be able to:
56. Stop the vessel at a pre-determined position
57. Determine the need to stop the vessel completely before switching to DP control (system specific)
58. Operate the DP Joystick to maintain position and/or heading in a controlled and safe manner
59. Operate the DP Joystick to change position and/or heading in a controlled and safe manner
60. Demonstrate DP Joystick station-keeping of the vessel under prevailing weather conditions.
By the completion of the training session or period for Emergency Situation the trainee should be able to:
61. Move the vessel to a safe position in a safe and controlled manner
62. Demonstrate an awareness of the Emergency Escape Route.
By the completion of the training session or period for Emergency Performance/Response the student must demonstrate at least two of the following:
63. Demonstrate actions in case of unstable Position Reference System(s)
64. Demonstrate actions when losing Position Reference System(s)
65. Demonstrate actions if Position Reference System(s) suddenly indicate significant changes in position/range/bearing data
66. Demonstrate actions in case of error in wind input
67. Demonstrate actions in case of a DP drive-off
68. Demonstrate actions in case of a DP drift-off
69. Demonstrate actions in case of a DP force-off
70. Demonstrate actions in case of one thruster runoff
71. Demonstrate actions in case of error in sensor input
72. Demonstrate the proper sequence of actions if experiencing an onboard emergency which may influence DP-control during DP-operations
73. Explain actions when losing all DP control functions
74. Explain the proper sequence of actions if colliding or about to collide with an installation, nearby objects or vessels during DP-operations.

This course requires the ability to read and interpret typical project specifications, procedures, technical manuals and safety information as provided to operators. Writing is required to the level of completing workplace forms and completing logs and reports. The training and assessment are conducted in English.

5 days. Day 1 – 8:30am to 4:30pm Day 2 – 8:30am to 4:30pm

Day 3 – 8:30am to 4:30pm Day 4 – 8:30am to 4:30pm

Day 5 – 8:30am to 4:30PM