Bad News for future DPOs

[cajuntugster]

The Nautical Institute has moved up a requirement to document actual DP time in addition to the book. Looks like they are going to require 180 days of actual desk time now, this became effective July 1 2011.


From: Greg Szczurek
Sent: Thu 7/7/2011 3:11 PM
To: Falck Alford - Houston Marine Office
Subject: Changes in DP qualification process


Effective July 1, 2011 the Nautical Institute is requiring applicants to submit a service letter in addition to the logbook to document their DP time. That’s not a big deal for our students or companies, except that the policy (attached) announcing the requirement states that the letter must “Confirm the total time and hours the applicant has performed as a DP Operator.”

Until now the Nautical Institute has accepted time stated in days, so even though a supply boat may be in DP operations only a portion of a day the person got credit for the entire day. Recognizing that, the NI has been discussing ways to count time by hours without penalizing situations where a vessel is on DP only part of a day. The attached requirement seems to be more than a bit premature. I’m going to point that out to the Nautical Institute and ask for some clarification and accommodation.

Please pass this along to companies who have been sending students to DP courses.

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Greg Szczurek
Manager, Curriculum Development

[richard8000milesaway]

good. its about time. im tired of all the BS DP operators out there: lets have a rigidly controlled standard. i would actually like to see the NI give this up and pass the reins to STCW.

[Flyer69]

The NI would never give this up without a hell of a fight.
They have too much invested in it, and I imagine it is paying off for them.
And, isnt the USCG making noises about getting involved as well with the adoption of the Manila Amendments?

[skycowboy]

Of course they change it, I start school on Monday

[PR-9]

good. its about time. im tired of all the BS DP operators out there: lets have a rigidly controlled standard. i would actually like to see the NI give this up and pass the reins to STCW.

Everything the USCG gets involved with becomes a problem!! They never give you a straight answer! I believe it should stay the way it is!! (Not that anyone cares what I believe!)

[Miek]

I wonder how many new dpo's where created last year in the gom when most boats where secure at the dock I know for fact people where using dock time for their dp log books. It's sad it's coming to this but most people will take the easy route if left to there own means. I believe the proposed changes are needed.

[chemcarrier]

I believe the NI is slow to make changes to their program, but so far it has worked out ok. No matter what someone is going to slip through every program. There should be no such thing as a DPO who does not now how to manually drive the vessel he or she is operating on DP. Although that is already happening the Ni is addressing the problem. Of course I cannot speak for all vessels I am speaking from an OSV standpoint only.

[PR-9]

I wonder how many new dpo's where created last year in the gom when most boats where secure at the dock I know for fact people where using dock time for their dp log books. It's sad it's coming to this but most people will take the easy route if left to there own means. I believe the proposed changes are needed.

Well I am sure you are right lots of DPOs created with dock time!! The same way everyone upgraded and renew licenses with DOCK time!! The same way DPOs in drilling rigs and drill ships get sea time when they are standing a fake navigational watch.
With time everyone get a few days that they truly don't deserved. It's part of it.

[Jemplayer]

NI needs to have you write out an essay about the first time you had the boat drive off from you while on DP while pumping and how what you did to regain control. I.E go into joystick and the back into DP, Into manually and then DP, or just into manual and just stayed there.

Granted you would have to have a basic level of writing comprehensions, but you can't call your self a DP operator until you've had to pull your underwear out your ass when something like that.

[Skoidat69]

The same way DPOs in drilling rigs and drill ships get sea time when they are standing a fake navigational watch. .

Can you explain for me how a DPO on a drillship is standing a "Fake" navigational watch?
I due believe that collision avoidance, updating charts and pubs would make what i do a navigational watch. Next you are going to say that mariners work onboard vessels in Diego Garcia aren't real mariners because they ship at anchor for months on end. most of us are professional mariners and goto sea to put greenbacks in the checking account.

[anchorman]

I thought I was going to read bad news in here

[anchorman]

Can you explain for me how a DPO on a drillship is standing a "Fake" navigational watch?
I due believe that collision avoidance, updating charts and pubs would make what i do a navigational watch. Next you are going to say that mariners work onboard vessels in Diego Garcia aren't real mariners because they ship at anchor for months on end. most of us are professional mariners and goto sea to put greenbacks in the checking account.

You didn't do yourself any justice with that post. Updating charts and pubs is not considered navigation watch duties. If you hit something or something hits you....and you happen to say I was correcting charts....you might as well throw your license off the bridge wing.

[PR-9]

Can you explain for me how a DPO on a drillship is standing a "Fake" navigational watch?
I due believe that collision avoidance, updating charts and pubs would make what i do a navigational watch. Next you are going to say that mariners work onboard vessels in Diego Garcia aren't real mariners because they ship at anchor for months on end. most of us are professional mariners and goto sea to put greenbacks in the checking account.

Collision Avoidance!!! Hahahaha you s/by on location with the RAM lights on and a 500m zone!! Everyone avoids you! Come on be real!!

And NO if you saw the post I was answering, he was saying that dock time should not count for the DP days(I believe he must be a drill ship guy, they are always trying to say that the boat guys don't have a full day of DP because of the dock time and transit time) so I said everyone will get questionable days for DPO or license.

By the way I am not trying to hate. But you know that your actual transit time and day to day collision avoidance is minimal. Just like my DP time is minimal. I am just been real!!!

[Miek]

I don't believe anyone can call themselves a competent DPO without spending some time at the console on DP it's easy to reed a book it's a little different when you have a diver over the side and you make a poor decision. Why did the CG start using assessments apparently just a open book test wasn't enough.

[anchorman]

it's easy to reed a book.

Not with that spelling.

[Jemplayer]

My transit time should count as DP time as my auto pilot is run by my DP computer. So technically I'm in DP just using auto heading.

[PR-9]

My transit time should count as DP time as my auto pilot is run by my DP computer. So technically I'm in DP just using auto heading.

Very True!!! I didn't think about that one!!!

[c.captain]

Very True!!! I didn't think about that one!!!

WRONG, NOT TRUE! Running on auto pilot mode is not DP time..Making an in-field move or using follow track mode is DP but auto pilot function is only that...nothing more or less. All you are doing is maintaining a heading. The two are not the same hence why all vessels have autopilots including non DP ones. It is a tool used to help get you there without having to steer the whole way. You must be maintaining a position in some sense for any vessel to be "on DP".

Sounds to me that you're just trying to game the system...no shame to get that piece of paper. Whatever it takes and damn everything else.

[PR-9]

WRONG, NOT TRUE! Running on auto pilot mode is not DP time..Making an in-field move or using follow track mode is DP but auto pilot function is only that...nothing more or less. All you are doing is maintaining a heading. The two are not the same hence why all vessels have autopilots including non DP ones. It is a tool used to help get you there without having to steer the whole way. You must be maintaining a position in some sense for any vessel to be "on DP".

Sounds to me that you're just trying to game the system...no shame to get that piece of paper. Whatever it takes and damn everything else.

Actually I had have mine for some time! I have plenty of DP days! (actual days on DP).

The point I am trying to bring is that every one wants to argue the point of the dock time but no one wants to here that when it comes to your actual USCG license. If dock days count for sea days then dock days should count for DP days. If a guy that sits in a DP platform is allowed to upgrade his license (or a guy sitting at anchor in Diego Garcia) then a boat guy (50-50 time transit and DP) should get DP days for every day onboard.

[anchorman]

Actually I had have mine for some time! I have plenty of DP days! (actual days on DP).

The point I am trying to bring is that every one wants to argue the point of the dock time but no one wants to here that when it comes to your actual USCG license. If dock days count for sea days then dock days should count for DP days. If a guy that sits in a DP platform is allowed to upgrade his license (or a guy sitting at anchor in Diego Garcia) then a boat guy (50-50 time transit and DP) should get DP days for every day onboard.

Not a very good point to make. You only get DP time while on DP - period. Your actual USCG license and the sea-time you get, in large part is based on cargo operations that must take place while moored. No cargo, no need to go to sea. Dock operations are on the test for that same USCG license. Remember? That experience counts because it must, but there is a limit. You're not going to see Auto-pilot in Advanced DP or have a space in the logbook from NI. If you are on a vessel while on DP, you are considered underway (this goes for everyone), and meets the legal definition.
Boat guys never do high risk DP, on occasion it happens, but not normally, meaning that you have the option to go to manual if needed - default for the boat guys. That is not an option on MODU's.
Just remember, most drilling companies have preconceived notions about "boat people", just for the logic you posted. There are many good personnel that got unlimited licenses and went to drilling and had to fight the stereotype that you so eloquently reiterated for the drill ship Captains that read here.