Minimum Qualifications for starting the DP Scheme

Following the 2010 Manila amendments to the STCW Convention and Code, The Nautical Institute has implemented the following criteria for entry into the DP Operators training scheme:

The minimum qualification is set at STCW Regulation II/1 ‐ II/2 ‐ II/3 Deck, Regulation III/1 – III /2 – III/3 – III/6

Engine and Regulation III/6 for ETOs

STCW	DEFINITION
II/1 Deck	Officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 GRT or more.
II/2 Deck	Master or chief mate on ships of 500 GRT or more.
II/3 Deck	Officers in charge of a navigational watch and Masters on ships of less than 500 GRT.
III/1 Engine	Officers in charge of an engineering watch in a manned engine‐room or designated duty engineers in a periodically unmanned engine-room.
III/2 Engine	Chief engineer officers and second engineer officers on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000kW propulsion power or more.
III/3 Engine	Chief engineer officers and second engineer officers on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of between 750kW and 3,000kW propulsion power.
III/6 ETO	Electro-Technical Officer

Alternative appropriate Marine Vocational Qualifications (MVQs) will be considered on a case by case basis. The NI defines an MVQ as a non-STCW Certificate of Competency issued by a white list Maritime Administration for use in the administration’s local waters only.

 Naval Officers with appropriate watch keeping qualifications and those whose qualification can be found on the approved list may be accepted into the training scheme without pre-approval or reference to NI, see approved list below.

MVQ - Issuing Authority - V1.3 - April 2018

 It is recommended that training centres and prospective DPOs check the qualifications with the NI in case of any doubt.

Officer trainees (Cadets or ratings on a defined training programme)

• Prospective Offshore DPOs on the new scheme who are in the process of training for an STCW certificate may complete, the DP Induction Course (Phase A), the 60 DP sea time days (Phase B) and the DP Simulator Course (Phase C). The remaining 60 DP sea time days (Phase D) and the subsequent suitability sign-off (Phase E) shall only be completed after they hold an appropriate STCW Certificate of Competency.
• Candidates who completed Phase B when they were a Cadet are not allowed to claim for STR in Phase D of the training scheme and must complete a minimum of 60 DP sea time days in Phase D.
• Prospective DPOs on the Shuttle Tanker Scheme who are in the process of training for an STCW certificate may complete, the Induction Course (Phase 1), the 24  sea time days and two offshore loading operations (Phase 2), the task section (Phase 2) and the Simulator Course (Phase 3). The remaining phases shall only be completed after they hold an appropriate STCW Certificate of Competency. 

These rules are effective from 1^st January 2015 and reflect changes introduced from 1^st January 2016 and apply to those who have already commenced training on the new scheme as well as new starters. The time permitted to complete the training scheme for those who commenced the Induction Course after 1^st January 2015 is five years.

Centres should keep electronic copies of students’ documentation for audit purposes as well as for reference should any questions arise at a later stage in the student’s application process.

STCW CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY:

Training centres are required to ask for, and keep, a copy of the Certificate of Competency of their students before accepting them onto the Induction Course and the DP scheme. The Certificate of Competency number should be noted and properly recorded by the centre in the student record as well as in the logbook provided to them. The NI will require a copy of the Certificate of Competency when receiving their application to cross-check the information.