Getting Started in Dynamic Positioning
Working with dynamic positioning is a highly rewarding aspect of a career at sea. The large scale & technical nature of the jobs are both challenging & satisfying.
DP operators are marine Deck officers with an extra accreditation. The path to obtaining a DP qualification starts with holding an officers rank & then completing the requisite training, which consists of an Induction course, a required amount of sea time, & a second Advanced Simulator course. In many cases, an officer hired on by a company running DP vessels will receive this training on the job, especially if starting as a Watchkeeper.
If a candidate is trying to break into the game on their own, by putting themself through the Induction course & then finding a company with which to complete their training, then the water gets murkier.
Experienced mariners & new watchkeepers alike can have trouble finding a vessel on which to gain the needed desk time. A trend is emerging where the induction course is completed but then they getting hired on to complete their ticket. It is the age old story, where you can’t get a job without experience but you can’t get experience without a job!
Experience in DP, like in any trade, needs to be built from the ground up.
No matter what kind of deep sea or other experience you have, when you step into the DP game employers are looking for DP time. Even if the individual holds a Masters licence they will generally be passed over in favour of the life long watchkeeping mate with 10 years of DP experience. There are plenty of sailors out there that have no aspirations to complete senior tickets & sail only as DPO’s which creates a bottle neck in the entry level positions.
A second obstacle for experienced mariners is that the junior DPO’s position is usually the junior watchkeeping position. It can be a bit of a shock to be once again responsible for chart corrections after sailing as Master for 20 years! Some people will refuse to do any of these duties even though they knew what they were getting into when they signed on. These sailors are not asked to do a second trip.
So how does one get the time?
There have been talks in the industry about the possibility of company sponsored training vessels. The capital required for this makes it a long shot, but perhaps in the future if there is a shortage of experienced operators this could be a possibility.
Many of the new Supply Boats are now equipped with DP. While this won’t offer any segment specific training (Rov, Dive, etc) it could allow you to get the required sea time. The risk here is that the operator comes off of the required 6 months & goes straight into a senior position on a class 2 or 3 vessel. Although he now holds an unlimited ticket, there is still much job specific experience to be gained before moving to SDPO.
Another option is Shuttle Tankers. When pumping & receiving oil offshore they will typically keep station on DP. These vessels will be equipped with redundant systems due to the nature of the work, so will provide valuable experience.
Cruise ships & some large cargo vessels are now being equipped with DP to aid in docking & mooring operations. If you have experience in one of these industries then a transfer to a DP equipped vessel would allow some time on the desk.
Persistance pays off.
Patience & persistance are important for those struggling to find a berth. Like any other segment of the industry half of the battle is being ready to go when the call comes. With little to no experience you need to keep your name on the top of the pile by continuously letting employers know you are available. Also, those willing to go offshore during the holidays should be able to pick up work on the spot market & log some required time.
Check out my Career Links section for links to employers & start to contact them. Establish a relationship & update them with your availability. When the stars align & their usual go-to operators are already offshore, that’s when you will get the call.
Further Reading:
The Nautical Institute issues DP certificates.
IMCA has an excellent introduction to DP technology.
The Wikipedia Dynamic Positioning entry is a good read.
The International DP Operators Association is another great resource for both the experienced operator & those just getting into the game.
Finally, a great video explanation of dynamic positioning:
Unfortunately there is currently a “log jam” in the DP training system – whereby those who fund their own basic/induction course often struggle to get the seatime required within Phase2, the 30 days at sea.
The International Dynamic Positioning Operators Association (IDPOA) is currently in talks to find a formal industry solution to this bottleneck – and we would like to hear from those who have run into this problem, as we search for solutions. We are also seeking partner companies to join us in developing a new system, or “Berthing Pool”.
While patience and persistance are great and can pay off, the DP sector is worthy of a proper scheme to take the guesswork out. So if you are an individual looking to get the all important seatime, or you work for a company seeking new talented trainee DPO’s, please contact us. Together we can create a new scheme to finally close this rather troublesome failure point in the current system.
More details will be in the launch issue of 6Degrees, the journal of IDPOA. Visit http://www.dpoperators.org to sign up and receive your free copy.
Good luck finding a berth,
Steven Jones
[...] on supply boats can be a good way to obtain DP time when trying to obtain your license, however as it is a class 1 vessel the ticket will be Limited [...]
[...] there are some resources to assist you in finding that elusive berth. There is the active Dynamic Positioning Operators [...]
[...] hope this sheds some light on what goes on during a typical day for those interested in getting into DP or maybe just [...]
I am one of the 2nd off looking for the sea time as JDPO.
I was in few big companies personally, I spoke to many, my mail list with cv is very long, – only few replied like THANKS BUT Nothing at the moment, I will keep going hope to find position soon.
Regards to all in same position
Hi ! Great educational vidio . I am was in training in a royal australian navy few years ago as a boatswain . At the moment i have gained my stcw76 qulification and looking for a fool time work in australia . Could you be kind and recomend me where it is best to apply and where my qulifications are most in demand .
Regards Dmitri.
In my opinion, the comapanies will be obliged to take DP Trainees on their vessels and “upbring” DP specialists in the nearest future, otherwise their nervous tension in finding qualified crew will become even worse.
In this case patience and investment from the companies’ side is needed, in order to get appropriate feedback. They have to remeber that DP theoretical part (DP Training centers) and their DP vessels are inseparable part, or so called Training Partnership in creating harmonized offshore sector.
Hi, I have the same problem, I’m really disappointed not because of this article but because just now I have discovered that it is a global problem not only in my country, God help us all.
some interesting discussion is on
http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&gid=1773416&discussionID=4933105&commentID=12622170&report.success=8ULbKyXO6NDvmoK7o030UNOYGZKrvdhBhypZ_w8EpQrrQI-BBjkmxwkEOwBjLE28YyDIxcyEO7_TA_giuRN#commentID_12622170
feel free to take a voice…
IMCA has produced an in-depth study entitled “The Training and Experience of Key DP Personnel”.
Published in 1996, this document has been referenced as an industry standard by IMO. It addresses the training required for not only watchkeeping DPOs, but also Masters, Chief and Watchkeeping Engineers, Offshore Installation Managers (OIMs) and ETOs or EROs.
The primary and secondary objectives identified in this guideline include:
To improve the safety of DP operations by defining minimum standards for
* the formal training of key DP personnel
* maintaining continuity of vessel experienced personnel onboard a DP vessel
* the familiarisation programme for key DP personnel new to a vessel
The primary objectives should assist in achieving the following secondary objectives:
* An internationally accepted standard for the training
* Training resources are spent where they are most effective
Onboard training, familiarisation programmes and simulators are encouraged.
Beside the COC , DP Induction etc, there are many other additional subjects which may help you to pass the filter:
- Ballast control
- Offshore Fire Fighting
- HLO
- Dearch and Rescue
- OPITO ( is a MUST )
- Reference system course
- Maintenance course
- Few months tour on conventional Drill vessel ( even not DP)
For your help please keep contact as well on Linkedin groups :
- International Dynamic Positioning Operators Association (IDPOA)
- DPO TRAINING
- Dynamic Positioning Operators
it is WRONG that a person can become a DPO without having no deep sea experience.
Being a DPO ought to be a reward for top class deck officers not for 20 years old graduatees.
Just my 3p.
Leave your response!
Industry Links
Career Links
News Categories
Most Commented
Pages