How to get The Nautical Institute DPO certificate? (NEW NI DP scheme)

STCW CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY

Lerus Training centres are required to ask for, and keep, a copy of the Certificate of Competency of their students before accepting them on to the Induction Course and the DP scheme. The Certificate of Competency number will be noted and properly recorded by the centre in the student record as well as in the logbook provided to them. The NI will require a copy of the Certificate of Competency when receiving their application to cross- check the information.

Officer Trainees (cadets or ratings on a defined training programme):

• Prospective offshore DPOs on the new scheme who are in the process of training for an STCW certificate may complete the DP Induction Course (Phase A), the 60 DP sea time days (Phase B) and the DP Simulator Course (Phase C). The remaining 60 DP sea time days (Phase D) and the subsequent suitability sign-off (Phase E) must be completed only after they hold an appropriate STCW Certificate of Competency.
• Candidates who completed Phase B when they were a cadet are not allowed to claim for STR in Phase D of the training scheme and must complete a minimum of 60 DP sea time days in Phase D.
• Prospective DPOs on the DP Self-Elevating Platform (Jack-up) Scheme who are in the process of training for an STCW certificate may complete the DP Induction Course (Phase A), the 60 days on board with 15 DP operations (Phase B) and the DP Simulator Course (Phase C). The remaining 60 days on board and 15 DP operations (Phase D) and the subsequent suitability sign-off (Phase E) must be completed only after they hold an appropriate STCW Certificate of Competency.
• Prospective DPOs on the Shuttle Tanker Scheme who are in the process of training for an STCW certificate may complete the DP Induction Course (Phase 1), the 24 sea time days and two offshore loading operations (Phase 2), the task section (Phase 2) and the Simulator Course (Phase 3). The remaining phases must be completed only after they hold an appropriate STCW Certificate of Competency.

These rules became effective from 1 January 2015 and reflect changes introduced from 1 January 2016; they apply to those who have already begun training on the new scheme as well as new starters. The time permitted to complete the training scheme for those who started the Induction Course after 1 January 2015 is five years.

To avoid deterioration of skills during the training period, all elements of the DP training scheme must be completed within five years. The five-year rule applies for those who have entered the schemes from 1 January 2015.

When applying for a new certificate and submitting documents to The Nautical Institute, ALL components of the programme (shore-based courses, DP sea time, task sections, Statement of Suitability form and other elements) must have been completed within the five years prior to the date the Statement of Suitability is signed. In the event any of the training phases fall outside the five-year validity period, the trainee will be required to repeat the expired training phase. Providing all training has been completed within this timeframe, the time between the date the Statement of Suitability was signed and the date the application is received at the NI should not exceed three months.

By completing the Offshore training scheme within five years the DP operator may receive one of the three types of DP Certificate:

• Unlimited Certificate: for training completed on board vessels classed DP 1/2/3 where at least 60 DP sea time days have been completed on vessels of DP Class 2 or 3.
• Limited Certificate: for training completed on board vessels classed DP1/2/3 where less than 60 DP sea time days have been completed on vessels of DP Class 2 or 3.
• Restricted to Unclassed vessels: for training completed on board vessels of Unclassed DP, DP Class 0 or a mix of experience on board classed and unclassed vessels where insufficient time has been completed to be eligible for one of the other certificates.

Lerus DP REVALIDATION COURSE Visit course page >

This course allows a certified DPO to revalidate without the sea time requirement when taken for the first time, or when taken after a subsequent revalidation with 150 DP sea time days.

The components of the scheme are set out in the following flowchart. To obtain a DP Operator Certificate (Limited and Unlimited), the route outlined below must be followed.

The DP sea time should be carefully and accurately entered in this section. It is important that the DP class and the DP system are entered. The dates of joining and leaving the vessel may be confirmed through the discharge book, but not the DP sea time, which must be confirmed by the company to verify the DP sea time logged.

Any DP sea time gained while the logbook is at the NI for verification will now be counted towards gaining certification or applying for an upgrade.

The task section can only be signed off by a certificated DPO on board the vessel. Those responsible for signing this section of the logbook should adhere to high professional standards and appropriately rigorous assessments of trainees before signing that a training task has been completed.

The tasks must not be block-signed; each task must be signed and dated individually.

The Master is required to countersign each section once all tasks in that section have been completed and signed by a certified DPO on board. If the Master is a certified DPO on board, then a note shall be made in the logbook and the Master’s DP Certificate number must be annotated for verification. The Master can then sign both sections.

If the trainee DPO is the Master, he/she is permitted to sign off the task sections once the certified DPO on board has signed off the tasks for that section individually.