A Limited or Unlimited Dynamic Positioning certificate can be issued providing you meet The Nautical Institute’s requirements. The New Offshore Scheme is for those applicants who started the scheme after 1st January 2015. You will hold the new grey A5 Nautical Institute logbook.
Please note that the time to complete the New Offshore Scheme has been extended from four years to five years.
You must complete all sections of the logbook as laid out below before applying for your DP certificate:
Phase A – DP Induction Course
The DP Induction Course should be entered into the Induction Course section of your logbook. This must be stamped, signed and dated by the training centre. This date must be within the previous five years upon receipt of the DP application in the NI office. The examination must be passed in order to continue with the scheme.
Phase B – DP Sea Time Records
60 DP sea time days are required for Phase B. These should be completed on a DP classed vessel and be stamped and signed in the logbook by the master of the vessel. This time must be completed after the DP Induction Course. A minimum of two hours per day can be counted as a DP day.
During these 60 DP sea time days, all items in the Task sections of the logbook must also be completed. The applicant will not be permitted to attend the DP Simulator Course until all tasks have been completed.
Phase C – DP Simulator Course
The DP Simulator Course should be entered into the DP Simulator Course section of your logbook. This must be stamped, signed and dated by the training centre. This date must be within the previous five years upon receipt of the DP application in the NI office.
Phase D – 60 Days DP Sea Time Records
60 DP sea time days are required for Phase D of the scheme. These should be completed on a DP classed vessel and each entry should be stamped and signed in the logbook by the master of the vessel. A minimum of two hours per day can be counted as a DP day.
A minimum of 30 DP sea time days must be completed after the initial attendance of the DP Simulator Course. The NI is able to count up to 30 additional DP sea time days completed after the Phase B DP sea time days (60 days) towards the mandatory 120 days in Phase D.
The optional Sea Time Reduction Course (STR) can be taken directly after the DP Simulator Course. This must be followed by a minimum of 30 DP sea time days on board a DP classed vessel.
The type of certificate issued is dependent on the type of DP sea time which is completed for this section:
•If 120 DP sea time days are completed on a DP1 vessel, a Limited Certificate will be issued.
•If 120 DP sea time days are completed on a DP2 or DP3 vessel, an Unlimited Certificate will be issued.
•If a mixture of DP1 and DP2 or DP3 classed sea time is completed, these can be added together to reach the mandatory amount of 120 days in order to obtain an Unlimited certificate, but at least 60 of these days must be completed on board a DP2 or DP3 vessel.
- In order to be eligible for an Unlimited certificate using a mixture of sea time on DP 1/2 & 3 vessels, the last 30 days on the last vessel within Phase D, must be completed on a DP 2 or 3 vessel. If the last 30 days are completed on a DP 1 vessel, then only a Limited certificate will be issued.
Phase E – Statement of Suitability Form
A Statement of Suitability form must be completed after the mandatory amount of DP sea time days in Phase D has been completed.
The master of the last vessel needs to sign the Statement of Suitability form. You, as the applicant, must also sign this form. Please note that if the master is not a certificated DPO, this section will need to be countersigned by the certificated DPO on board the vessel. The signatures on the Suitability Sign Off form will be checked against the final DP sea time days recorded in the logbook.
Please note that if you are applying and you are the master of the vessel, the Statement of Suitability form must be signed off by the certified DPO.
Confirmation Letters
For all applications, company letters confirming the DP sea time days must be provided for any time to be used as part of the application. The definition of a DP sea time day for applicants on the new scheme is classed as a minimum of two hours per day on DP watch.
Note: DP sea time completed before the successful completion of the DP Induction Course cannot be used as part of the DP application.
Jenny Daintree