As DP gains prevalence in all aspects of the Maritime industry worldwide & the number of ticket holders & training centers continue to increase, the regulation of the system will undergo re-examination.

While the Nautical Institute has successfully run the training scheme for the past 20 years, the unprecedented growth in the last 5 years calls for a fresh look at way certifications are received & maintained.  Training centres have increased from less than 10 to almost 50 today & there are currently more than 7000 individual certificates issued!

Current issues

One of the points currently being examined is the inclusion of DP certification into STCW regulations.

Currently the Nautical Institute issues the licences & the industry is self regulating.  If included into STCW then individual nations could come up with their own training scheme that may or may not be to the same standard as the one currently in place.  The obvious concern is a reduced competance due to inferior training.

It should be noted that IMCA does not feel that this is required at this time, as industry has not expressed a desire for it & the current system has a sound record.

Mandatory refresher training is something else that we may be seeing in the future.  Currently the dynamic positioning license remains valid as long as the operator has 6 months of DP time within the past 5 years.  This new scheme, if implemented, would likely require the operator to complete a refresher course every 5 years, even if he or she has been accumulating DP time & experience for that entire period.

Operational specific training will also be looked at.  Kongsberg already offers a DP Drilling Simulation Course & although this is not a mandatory requirement for work on drill ships, this may not be the case in the future.

Another issue that needs to be addressed in the current training scheme is the tendency to endorse DP time in the operators logbook for individuals onboard who are not actually involved in the DP operations, or for crediting full time onboard as DP time when the actual amount of time spent on DP is considerably less.

This can lead to poorly trained Operators holding a full ticket, & perhaps moving into Senior positions on Diving or Drilling vessels , where the operational risk is much higher. It should be recognized that upon completing the NI training scheme, the Operator is only equipped up to the Minimum Level of competence.

Perhaps a further graduation of the licensing system is required?

DP-TEG

To aid in the regulation of training for the exponentially increasing number of DPO’s, the Nautical Institute has created the DP Training Executive Group.

The aim of DP-TEG is to cement the Nautical Institutes DPO training scheme as the Gold Standard for the industry.  The group is made up of representatives that are influential in the DP industry such as:

• The Nautical Institute
• International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)
• International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)
• International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC)
• Accredited DP training centres

Captain Mark Pointon, Nautical Institute DP Manager & DP-TEG Chairman, says “DP-TEG will legitimise the decision making processes for training & certification, while having industry credibility & reflecting the views of all the major stakeholders.”

The newly formed International DP Operators Association (IDPOA) was roundly welcomed at the latest DP-TEG meeting and the consensus of the group was that it would provide valuable DPO input to the forum.  The issue of IDPOA becoming an observer on DP-TEG has been discussed, and with continued growth in membership and of industry presence they will take up a place within the group.  The IDPOA is also spearheading a new Training Initiative that would benefit self funded trainee’s.

Some issues the DP-TEG are looking at:

• Instructor qualifications
• Student entry level requirements
• Competence assessment
• Refresher training
• Simulator specifications
• Implementing an electronic certification process

DP-CAP

Another program to improve training is Dynamic Positioning Competence Assurance Practice, or DP-CAP.

Launched in 2003 for the shuttle tanker industry, DP-CAP makes it possible for the Operators to use idle time for DP training in order to have the  focus on DP related safety aspects.  It allows Operators to carry out formalised training on site, in field realistic conditions.

Onward & Upward

There are certainly a number of potential changes on the horizon, as well as a number of people working hard for the benefit of all DPO’s.

Do you think this will empower the individual Operators, & make the industry safer as a whole?

Or do you think the industry is fine in continuing to self-regulate itself as it has been doing?