Getting Started in Dynamic Positioning
Working with dynamic positioning is a highly rewarding aspect of a career at sea. The large scale & technical nature of the jobs are both challenging & satisfying.
DP operators are marine Deck officers with an extra accreditation. The path to obtaining a DP qualification starts with holding an officers rank & then completing the requisite training, which consists of an Induction course, a required amount of sea time, & a second Advanced Simulator course. In many cases, an officer hired on by a company running DP vessels will receive this training on the job, especially if starting as a Watchkeeper.
If a candidate is trying to break into the game on their own, by putting themself through the Induction course & then finding a company with which to complete their training, then the water gets murkier.
Experienced mariners & new watchkeepers alike can have trouble finding a vessel on which to gain the needed desk time. A trend is emerging where the induction course is completed but then they getting hired on to complete their ticket. It is the age old story, where you can’t get a job without experience but you can’t get experience without a job!
Experience in DP, like in any trade, needs to be built from the ground up.
No matter what kind of deep sea or other experience you have, when you step into the DP game employers are looking for DP time. Even if the individual holds a Masters licence they will generally be passed over in favour of the life long watchkeeping mate with 10 years of DP experience. There are plenty of sailors out there that have no aspirations to complete senior tickets & sail only as DPO’s which creates a bottle neck in the entry level positions.
A second obstacle for experienced mariners is that the junior DPO’s position is usually the junior watchkeeping position. It can be a bit of a shock to be once again responsible for chart corrections after sailing as Master for 20 years! Some people will refuse to do any of these duties even though they knew what they were getting into when they signed on. These sailors are not asked to do a second trip.
So how does one get the time?
There have been talks in the industry about the possibility of company sponsored training vessels. The capital required for this makes it a long shot, but perhaps in the future if there is a shortage of experienced operators this could be a possibility.
Many of the new Supply Boats are now equipped with DP. While this won’t offer any segment specific training (Rov, Dive, etc) it could allow you to get the required sea time. The risk here is that the operator comes off of the required 6 months & goes straight into a senior position on a class 2 or 3 vessel. Although he now holds an unlimited ticket, there is still much job specific experience to be gained before moving to SDPO.
Another option is Shuttle Tankers. When pumping & receiving oil offshore they will typically keep station on DP. These vessels will be equipped with redundant systems due to the nature of the work, so will provide valuable experience.
Cruise ships & some large cargo vessels are now being equipped with DP to aid in docking & mooring operations. If you have experience in one of these industries then a transfer to a DP equipped vessel would allow some time on the desk.
Persistance pays off.
Patience & persistance are important for those struggling to find a berth. Like any other segment of the industry half of the battle is being ready to go when the call comes. With little to no experience you need to keep your name on the top of the pile by continuously letting employers know you are available. Also, those willing to go offshore during the holidays should be able to pick up work on the spot market & log some required time.
Check out my Career Links section for links to employers & start to contact them. Establish a relationship & update them with your availability. When the stars align & their usual go-to operators are already offshore, that’s when you will get the call.
Further Reading:
The Nautical Institute issues DP certificates.
IMCA has an excellent introduction to DP technology.
The Wikipedia Dynamic Positioning entry is a good read.
The International DP Operators Association is another great resource for both the experienced operator & those just getting into the game.
Finally, a great video explanation of dynamic positioning:
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Unfortunately there is currently a “log jam” in the DP training system – whereby those who fund their own basic/induction course often struggle to get the seatime required within Phase2, the 30 days at sea.
The International Dynamic Positioning Operators Association (IDPOA) is currently in talks to find a formal industry solution to this bottleneck – and we would like to hear from those who have run into this problem, as we search for solutions. We are also seeking partner companies to join us in developing a new system, or “Berthing Pool”.
While patience and persistance are great and can pay off, the DP sector is worthy of a proper scheme to take the guesswork out. So if you are an individual looking to get the all important seatime, or you work for a company seeking new talented trainee DPO’s, please contact us. Together we can create a new scheme to finally close this rather troublesome failure point in the current system.
More details will be in the launch issue of 6Degrees, the journal of IDPOA. Visit http://www.dpoperators.org to sign up and receive your free copy.
Good luck finding a berth,
Steven Jones
Wow! I feel like I have been validated. I am a life long seaman getting my teeth cut with THE major offshore company back in the late 80s and early 90s. Since that time and even before, I gained my passion for the Gulf of Mexico by fishing with my father and grandfather. I have become a “for hire” blue water captain in the tournament billfish series throughout the gulf and carribean in my spare time over the past 15 years and consider myself an expert. My day job, however, has been on land as I founded a highly successful homeland security company back in 2000 after learning the business as a regional rep in the south east over, of all things, aviation security during the late 90s. I have since sold my company always continuing to pursue my passion and currently hold a 200t master with STCW, FCC and Radar. I would LOVE to earn a living now solely in the commercial offshore segment but have ran into wall after wall. I was even told, no promised by one major Homa, La company that if I would complete my DPO induction course on my own dime, that they would put me on a boat. So I did and $2,500.00 and 3 months later, I still don’t have a job.
What these companies need to understand is that we are the most passionate, the most dedicated and are in it for the long haul. Our experience with the variety of boats, the many cultures of international ports and the dynamics of working with many different people with many different upbringings and beliefs has molded us into the perfect deck generals that earn respect every day rather than demanding it like so many do. All we need is a chance and things will change. Production, moral, pride, closeness are all things that will improve which will intern create a deep tradition for years!!!!!! Please Help
Hello Steven,
I agree 100% about the bottleneck undergone after taking the DP Operator basic course. Such as you said, it is struggle indeed. I think that there should always be an inception point whereby you can start performing your career, but if the worldwide offshore companies are only asking for people with experience, it is not fair since they had an entry level, opportunity that we are not having. How we are going to fulfill the 30 days exacted by the Nautical Institute. I have heard that before the companies accepted people with at least the DP Operator basic course, but nowadays they do not look for the DP Operator Advance course either. It means that the circle is every time more closed.
Regards,
Arnulfo Botacio Ruiz
I am one of the 2nd off looking for the sea time as JDPO.
I was in few big companies personally, I spoke to many, my mail list with cv is very long, – only few replied like THANKS BUT Nothing at the moment, I will keep going hope to find position soon.
Regards to all in same position
Hi ! Great educational vidio . I am was in training in a royal australian navy few years ago as a boatswain . At the moment i have gained my stcw76 qulification and looking for a fool time work in australia . Could you be kind and recomend me where it is best to apply and where my qulifications are most in demand .
Regards Dmitri.
In my opinion, the comapanies will be obliged to take DP Trainees on their vessels and “upbring” DP specialists in the nearest future, otherwise their nervous tension in finding qualified crew will become even worse.
In this case patience and investment from the companies’ side is needed, in order to get appropriate feedback. They have to remeber that DP theoretical part (DP Training centers) and their DP vessels are inseparable part, or so called Training Partnership in creating harmonized offshore sector.
Hi, I have the same problem, I’m really disappointed not because of this article but because just now I have discovered that it is a global problem not only in my country, God help us all.
some interesting discussion is on
http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&gid=1773416&discussionID=4933105&commentID=12622170&report.success=8ULbKyXO6NDvmoK7o030UNOYGZKrvdhBhypZ_w8EpQrrQI-BBjkmxwkEOwBjLE28YyDIxcyEO7_TA_giuRN#commentID_12622170
feel free to take a voice…
IMCA has produced an in-depth study entitled “The Training and Experience of Key DP Personnel”.
Published in 1996, this document has been referenced as an industry standard by IMO. It addresses the training required for not only watchkeeping DPOs, but also Masters, Chief and Watchkeeping Engineers, Offshore Installation Managers (OIMs) and ETOs or EROs.
The primary and secondary objectives identified in this guideline include:
To improve the safety of DP operations by defining minimum standards for
* the formal training of key DP personnel
* maintaining continuity of vessel experienced personnel onboard a DP vessel
* the familiarisation programme for key DP personnel new to a vessel
The primary objectives should assist in achieving the following secondary objectives:
* An internationally accepted standard for the training
* Training resources are spent where they are most effective
Onboard training, familiarisation programmes and simulators are encouraged.
Beside the COC , DP Induction etc, there are many other additional subjects which may help you to pass the filter:
- Ballast control
- Offshore Fire Fighting
- HLO
- Dearch and Rescue
- OPITO ( is a MUST )
- Reference system course
- Maintenance course
- Few months tour on conventional Drill vessel ( even not DP)
For your help please keep contact as well on Linkedin groups :
- International Dynamic Positioning Operators Association (IDPOA)
- DPO TRAINING
- Dynamic Positioning Operators
it is WRONG that a person can become a DPO without having no deep sea experience.
Being a DPO ought to be a reward for top class deck officers not for 20 years old graduatees.
Just my 3p.
This is your oppinion, just frustrated and ignoring…
fresh graduatees have bigger problems to get anything like a normal paid officers job today and have much worse conditions, than you had, when you started 20 years ago. That’s why we have to look for alternatives. Your oppinion is that of small child who says: everything is mine…
i have a 15 years sea experience in navy as radio operator petty officer. now i would like to do the DP courses , for doing dp courses is it required NWK certification for jobs in dp vessels as a dp operator. but i dont have a nwk . please guide me in positive way.
Ponnamalla,
It is not currently a requirement to hold a WKM ticket to do DP, but you will be very limited in where you can work & would have a difficult time finding somebody to take you on as a trainee.
i have completed my pre sea training and now i will be going on ship as a deck cadet, and i want to become DPO, how can i become DPO. please guide me . i am from India………please mail me your reply……i want
to know all the procedures and tell me any institute which offers DP courses…..and how much does it cost…..
thank you……..
I am still observing the situation on a “Global” DP market. 7 months have passed since my last comment. The situation remains the same or even worse. I’ve got experience as a Ch/Mate on Tug/Supply, PSV vessels + DP Induction + OPITO(but… without DP); hundreds of CVs were sent to different offshore and crewing companies worldwide. The same situation with “ignore” or “polite refuse” remains …
Tidewater company, with its international approach, seemed to be the last chance: they used to take Officers with DP Induction for lower salary. But they’ve recently sent me such a reply:
Quote
“Sorry, but at the moment we are interested only in candidates with DP Unlimted certificates. Maybe in future the situation on the market will change , and we will let you know…”
Unquote
So, the question is: what situation on the market should be, if offers/job ads are overloaded with hunger for Unlimited DP, though no new entries are available.
In my personal opinion, offshore companies temporary survives hard candidates’ searching process, offer bigger salaries to tempt Unlimited DPs from company to company, in the end the result is quite satisfactory: the position is closed, the candidate fits, no investment and patience are needed.
To sum up, brighter future may come, unless you are a very lucky man…
Am fully agree with you that trainee DP operator sometimes spent months for a job offered. Maybe you can try to post your CV in oilcareer and rigzone web by creating an account of yours there. Though any vacancies might pops-up that require your service within their minimum criteria. Just keep trying, you’ll never know something good will show up for you.
I am an OOW watch looking towards becoming a DP operator, I have six months time onboard a Class 1 DP vessel in a log book from when I was a cadet. Is it worth doing my basic course in order to get a trainee DPO position? Any information what so ever would be greatly appreciated
Hi Peter, It was a good experience that you have “taste” on DP-1 vessel. It seems a new requirements come into force that your six months DP seatime will be acknowledged for 30-days only if you about to join DP Basic course. Of course it is a long shot to gain your future DP Unlimited certificate but believe me it is worth for each penny you spent for DP Induction and later DP advanced course. You can browsing in NI website for fully understanding on a path to get there. Hope my opinion can fill you in.
Good day, I am a Jamaican deck cadet in my final year of school, I have 6 months sea experience on a container vessel and will be doing my other 6 months on a LNG Vessel soon. I would like to become a DPO and would really appreciate it if any veterans or newcomers have any information in regards to training, or just simple advice which could guide me. I would really appreciate the information and help.
If you would like to help please send me an email, my information is below. Thanks alot =)
Adrian Wright – adrian_wright16@hotmail.com
I have more than 35 years of experience of offshore experience as a chief mate .I have done my Dp induction course from Nautical institute singapore but its been two years I am not able to get a job as a DP trainee.Please help me in this.
owaissiddiqui1@yahoo.com
I am so glad to come across people like you who are so sincere in giving the real state of this DPO issue. I am from the Niger Delta area, looking for something tangible to earn a living & that was how I got attracted to this issue. I saw an ad in a daily newspaper to study in the UK to obtain DPO license induction/basic- 5 days, followed by 30 days supervised watch keeping on a DP vessel. Though I’m a novice in this stuff & very interested but not wanting to make a mistake, decided to do more research on the issue that’s when I came across you on the net. Pls polish me on the right way to go about it.
God bless
I’m a midshipmen at US Merchant Marine Academy and I’ll be graduating in June 2012. I’ve been researching getting a DP operator position as a job. I know it requires some intro education/courses as requisite and some training time. The problem is I wasn’t able to find a single company that is offering or has the DP operator trainee position. If anybody knows anything about this, please send me an email and keep me update. I greatly appreciate this. Thank you.
HELLO! Can i ask for some advise on how to acquire those required trainings to become a DPO and what trainings center(s) offered the said trainings in the Philippines? I’m currently onboard serving on a container ship as a 3rd officer. I’m just very interested to work on a Dynamic Positioning vessel. Hope i can achieve it soon through veterans help. THANKS!
Check this link for the up to date list of approved training centers:
http://www.nautinst.org/download.cfm?docid=159830B4-9C94-4B47-A387C93A1BB338AC
S.
I’m a nigerian with no practical xperience on bodship. I currently apply 2 c-mar.com, india centre fr dp training. Pls kindly advise me. Tnx
You need to have a marine license before getting into DP. If you are serious about an offshore career then I would advise that you enroll in a Nautical college & get your watchkeeping mates ticket.
Good Day Sir ,
Just done my basic DP Induction course six months ago , have been searching for a job since then , in order to complete my Seatime as a trainee DPO , could u advice me on how to go about it.
I’m looking for a job,as DP operator.as of present i have a basic DP training certificate and i completed a one month actual enhancement on board a shuttle tanker Offshore Norway.So far i just disembarked a VLCC last July 22 2012.And i am a tanker expereience since 1992 as well.Hopefully to hear something a job hiring for my endeavour which serves my best.thanking you.