A Limited or Unlimited Dynamic Positioning certificate can be issued providing you meet The Nautical Institute’s requirements. The Old Offshore Scheme is for those applicants who started the scheme before 1st January 2015. You will hold the old blue or green A6 logbook or the black A5 logbook.
You must complete all sections of the logbook as laid out below before applying for your DP certificate:
Section A – DP Basic/Induction Course
The DP Basic/Induction course should be entered into the DP Basic/Induction Course section of your logbook. This must be stamped, signed and dated by the training centre. This date must be within the previous six years upon receipt of the DP application in the NI office.
Section B – Seagoing DP Familiarisation
30 DP sea time days are required for the Familiarisation section. This 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 Basic/Induction Course. A minimum of one hour per day can be counted as a DP day.
Section C - Seagoing Familiarisation Watchkeeping Log
A minimum of 50% of the mandatory activities in Section C must be completed within the seagoing familiarisation period (section B). The remaining Section C activities must be dated within DP sea time entries recorded in Section B or E of your logbook.
1. Shiphandling
1.1 Controlling vessel movements using - manual controls jointly and individually
1.2 Controlling vessel's movement using - joystick control
1.3 Setting the vessel up on DP
1.4 Manoeuvre v/l in auto DP mode
2. DP control system
2.1 General understanding of dynamic positioning system installed on vessel
2.2 Use of the desk facilities
2.3 Use of the reference input systems
3. DP computer system
3.1 Power supplies
3.2 Emergency power supplies
3.3 Alarm signals
6. Understanding & use of propulsion units
(a) In manual control
(b) In DP operation
7.1 Ship's primary & auxiliary supply alternative generating & distribution systems
7.2 Understanding & use of ups systems
Section D – DP Advanced/Simulator Course
The DP Advanced/Simulator Course should be entered into the Advanced/Simulator Course section of your logbook. This must be stamped, signed and dated by the training centre. This date must be within the previous six years to the receipt of the DP application in the NI office.
Section E – DP Watchkeeping Experience
180 DP sea time days are required for the DP Watchkeeping Experience section. This 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 one hour per day can be counted as a DP day.
For applications on the old scheme only, The Nautical Institute will accept a maximum of 30 DP sea time days towards the application which has been completed before the attendance of the Basic/Induction course. This time can only be counted towards DP watchkeeping time.
A minimum of 30 DP sea time days must be completed after the attendance at the DP Advanced/Simulator Course for the first time. The NI is able to count any additional time completed in Section B - Familiarisation sea time (after the required 30 days) towards Section E - Watchkeeping (mandatory 180 days).
The type of certificate issued will be dependent on the type of sea time which is completed for this section:
- If 180 DP sea time days are completed on a Class 1 vessel, a Limited certificate will be issued.
- If 180 DP sea time days are completed on a class 2 or 3 vessel, an Unlimited certificate will be issued.
- If a mixture of class 1 and class 2 or 3 is completed these can be added together to reach the mandatory amount of 180 days, however any class 1 sea time will only count as 0.5 if applying for an Unlimited certificate. Also, in order to obtain an Unlimited certificate, at least 60 of the days must be completed on a DP class 2 or 3 vessel.
Section F – Suitability Sign Off
A Section F suitability form must be completed after the 180 DP sea time days have been completed.
The master of the last vessel needs to sign the Section F form. You, as the applicant, must also sign this form. Please note, when completing the black NI logbook, if the Master is not a certificated DPO, this page must be countersigned by the certificated DPO on board the vessel. The signatures on the Section F form will be checked against the final DP sea time days recorded in the logbook.
Please note that if you are the applicant and the master of the vessel, the Section F must be signed off by one of the following authorised personnel:
- The vessel Relief Master
- A certified DPO onboard
- A Marine Superintendent/Manager who is aware of the applicants DP capabilities
A note should also be made and submitted with the application to explain.
Scanned or photocopies versions of this form cannot be accepted. The original signed form must be submitted with the application.
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 old scheme is classed as a minimum of one hour per day on DP watch.
Jenny Daintree