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. The approved list can be found here. 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 1st January 2015 and reflect changes introduced from 1st 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 1st 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.
Note for information
Prospective DPOs who are not Officer Trainees or certified Officers will be able to apply for certification if they commenced training prior to the implementation date (1st January 2012) and all elements have been completed within a six-year period at the time of application.
MARINE VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATION (MVQ):
Before starting the Induction Course, the candidate shall present his/her documents to the training centre. If these do not meet the minimum requirements as set out in this document, training centres will advise the candidate to contact the NI for official approval to attend the course. The candidate shall provide a copy of the documents of competency or proficiency and/or any other relevant document as evidence of qualification. The NI will assess those and may or may not issue an authorisation letter to the candidate to start the course. This procedure shall be undertaken before the candidate starts the Induction Course. Some MVQs do not require an authorisation letter, which are listed here.
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.
OFFICER TRAINEES
(Cadets or ratings on a defined training programme): Officer trainees should present proof, such as a letter from the company employing them or the college they are attending, indicating that they are on STCW or MVQ training before joining the Induction Course.
Please click here to take you to the page where the current standard can be downloaded.
Jenny Daintree