Revision of the Nautical Institute DP Training and Certification Scheme

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Revision of the Nautical Institute (NI) Dynamic Positioning Operator (DPO) Training and Certification Scheme
In order for vessel owning/operating members to prepare for the changes to be implemented, as a result of review of the Nautical Institute DPO training and certification scheme, the following items have been extracted from the final report of the group reviewing this scheme.
It should be noted that this is not the entire document, as some changes should not affect vessel owning/operating members and that the language used in the original has on the whole been retained. It should be further noted that a separate DPO certification scheme is being developed for shuttle tankers.
1 Cadets
Prospective DPOs, who are in the process of training for an International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) certificate, can start the DP scheme and complete Induction (basic) course and 30 days DP sea time between the basic and simulator course only. The simulator (advanced) course, and the remaining DP sea time training, can only be completed after they hold an appropriate STCW certificate of competency.
2 Sea Time Prior to Basic Course
The 30 days DP sea time prior to the basic course shall not be acceptable anymore, due to the reduction of DP sea time along the training phases.
3 Training Model
Induction Course (Basic) + Online Assessment + 60 days DP Sea Time + Simulator Course + 30 days DP Sea Time (which can be replaced by Sea Time Reduction Course) + 30 days DP Sea Time + Completion of Task Book + Section F Sign Off + Company Assessment.
4 Definition of DP Sea Time
One sea day can be counted if the trainee DPO is involved with active or passive DP training for a minimum of two (2) hours per day claimed. A maximum of 25% sea days can be ‘Passive’ sea days.
4.1 Active – with propulsion under the guidance by a certified DP Operator
? Using DP system to control ship;
? Setting up on DP;
? Completing task book combined with DP operations;
? FMEA, Annual, Class, Charterer, Field arrival and DP Proving trials;
? Emergency ship handling training using manual controls using ONLY the thrusters available after worst case failure.
4.2 Passive – without propulsion under the guidance by a certified DP Operator
? Maintenance of DP and associated system;
? Testing relative position reference system with targets on own ship;
AB
Information Note IMCA M 10/13
IMCA /13
For more details, please contact:
Ian.Giddings@imca-int.com
Issue date:
June 2013
Document reference(s):
Marine Division IMCA M 10/13
The information contained herein is given for guidance only and endeavours to reflect best industry practice. For the avoidance of doubt no legal liability shall attach to any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
? Verifying all DP inputs - all sensors and position reference system inputs;
? Training on in built ship based DP simulator;
? Task book assessments by Master/SDPO.
5 Time to Complete the Training Scheme
Within the reduction of DP sea time required for training, the time to complete the DP training scheme will be 4 years instead of 5 as previous settings. In order to avoid gaps during the training period, the trainee shall:
? Have to complete the simulator course and sea time within 12 months before applying for a DP certificate. The 60 days DP sea time after the simulator course must be completed after this course. In cases where the trainee does the Sea Time Reduction course, this course, and remaining sea time also, must be completed within 12 months before applying for a DP certificate. All the phases must be within 4 years;
? In case the trainee does not complete the requirements within 4 years’ time, he/she will have to repeat the simulator course and the 60 days DP sea time afterwards, to have the training accepted by the Nautical Institute.
6 Final DP Certificate
It was found that there was a need to split the certification between shuttle tanker and offshore industry, as they have such different needs for DP training, and it has proved impossible to reconcile them without detracting from the training required for the rest of the offshore industry; as a result:
? The Nautical Institute will remove the word LIMITED and UNLIMITED from the DP certificates, creating a general training certificate for offshore industry. Further training can be provided by companies following IMCA guidelines;
? There will be a separate training scheme for shuttle tanker industry, where the DP certificates will have the restriction to be valid to use in shuttle tanker only (restricted to shuttle tanker). The shuttle tanker training scheme can be found later in the body of this document;
? It will be possible to remove the restriction from shuttle tanker certificates as far as the applicant completes further 60 days DP sea time training on board of other types of vessel and re-apply the documents to the Nautical Institute for verification.
7 Reduction of DP Sea Time
? The maximum allowed to be reduced in terms of DP sea time will be 30 days, as per the new training module. The Sea Time Reduction course can be done straight after the simulator course, i.e. back-to-back, but the trainee will be required to undertake a minimum of 30 days DP sea time onboard of a DP vessel class 1, 2 or 3 after this course, being at least 15 days (out of 30 DP sea time) on active mode, in order to have the training validated by the NI;
? This course cannot be used to reduce the 60 days DP sea time required, as further training to remove the restriction from shuttle tanker certificate towards the general DP certificate.
DPCAP will be removed from the NI DP training scheme.
OFFSHORE LOADING COURSES remain recognised by the NI (course not accredited) and shall be valid only for shuttle tanker training with the maximum reduction of 30 days DP sea time.
8 Re-validation of DP Certificates
The re-validation of DP certificates issued by the NI becomes mandatory from January 2014, following the conditions below:
a. If more than 150 days DP sea service is done within a period of 5 years, then the person needs to re-send the documents to the NI to replace the certificate with a new validity date.
b. If the DPO has less than 150 days of DP sea service within the preceding 5 years, then the person needs to do an advanced course and a minimum of 30 days DP sea service.
c. If no DP sea service is obtained within the period of the last 5 years, then the person would have to undertake an advanced course and do a minimum of 60 days DP sea time on a DP vessel to have his/her license re-validated.
d. If the DP professional has been engaged in an occupation the NI considers being equivalent to the sea service (i.e. DP lecturer /instructor, DP surveyor, DP consultant, DP auditor, DP superintendent, DP supervisor), it will be required for revalidation of his/her DP certificate a minimum of 150 days in the activity claimed of the preceding 5 years.
The number of days is cumulative along the 5 years, but a minimum of 30 days are required per annum. The entries to prove the activity shall be done on an NI or IMCA logbook and signed by the accredited training centre (in case of DP lecturer), vessel’s operations manager (in case of DP superintendent, DP consultant, or DP supervisor), where the person has performed the work/activity, or by the Nautical Institute’s authorised person (in case of DP auditor). If the person decides to apply with a mix of experience that involves criterion ‘d’ and criterion ‘a’ or ‘b’, then the sea time obtained during the last 5 years shall be counted towards the required cumulative 150 days. Example: 15 days as DP lecturer and 15 days DP sea service, totalling the minimum 30 days required per year.
POSMOOR: The time onboard of a vessel with the classification of POSMOOR ATA can be counted towards the DP sea time obtained for re-validation purposes only. The DP class for POSMOOR ATA is not acceptable for DP initial training.

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The Nautical Institute has gone through DP applications received from Ukraine and Russian which contained DP sea time signatures and stamps gained in the black market. This was picked up due to inconsistencies related to the sea time claimed. In order to improve the verification system, The Nautical Institute is now requesting certified copies of the passport, CoC and discharge book of the Ukrainian and Russian DPOs who have applications in our office so that further checks can be put in place to avoid further fraudulent applications.

Please note that The NI is not saying that you have falsified your DP sea time; rather, this further check is to make sure that your application is correct and we are being fair with those who have really done the DP sea time as required by the training scheme.

As your logbook is being sent to our office, currently in the queue for processing, or is currently on a query waiting for further documentation, please send in the above mentioned documents into our office as soon as possible so that they can be added to your application and not delay the processing of your application further.

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The Nautical Institute has asked us to share the details of a recent DP time fraud – we do so to highlight the sanctions in place, the fact that actions are being taken and to warn others not to be tempted to forge their time.

Recently, the Institute received an application for a DP certificate, from Mr. Andriy Kosyanov, DoB 26/03/1979, seaman’s book AB 305390, which we investigated due to inconsistencies related to the sea time he presented to us to qualify for his certificate.

The Nautical Institute contacted the company, from which Mr. Kosyanov claimed his DP sea time training, to cross check his time. The company provided the daily report of the vessel to the Institute, for the period claimed, which showed that Mr.Kosyanov had never been onboard the vessel, as claimed in his documents (DP logbook and seaman’s book).

The Institute contacted Mr. Kosyanov, asking him an explanation. Mr Kosyanov acknowledged that he falsified his DP logbook and seaman’s book, by paying someone from the black market to provide a stamp and signature for the sea time period claimed.

As a result of the findings, The Nautical Institute is notifying all DP accredited Training Centres and the maritime industry about this fact and informing that any further applications received from Mr. Kosyanov will not be accepted by The Nautical Institute for a period of five years from this date. The fraud has also been communicated to the Ukrainian Maritime Authority with copy of documents and evidence. The NI is retaining his DP logbooks and all other documents sent to us as part of his application.

In order to double check DP applications from Ukraine and Russia, The Nautical Institute has started asking for certified copies of DPO’s passport, CoC and discharge book, in addition to the company confirmation letter; The NI reserves the right to contact the company directly to cross check the DP sea time claimed.

The Institute asks the Training Centres to not sell a new logbook to Mr. Andriy Kosyanov and to prohibit him to re-enter into the training scheme during the next 5 year period and to be vigilant for all future Ukrainian and Russian applications, this is due to the fact that stamps and signatures have been sold on the black market in those countries.

Alert notes must be put in place with immediate action at your centre.