The Nautical Institute

Additional Requirements

(for all applications)

The last few years have seen a large increase in the number of Dynamic Positioning (DP) applications. To ensure the validity of these applications The Nautical Institute has improved its verification procedures. Through these improvements, our team has discovered cases where fraudulent documents and signatures have been submitted. This has resulted in the cancellation of the suspected DP operators’ certificate or rejection of the application.

In order to further improve the integrity of the application process, from 1st July 2011, The Nautical Institute will require additional documentation, in the form of a testimonial letter from shipping companies, to be submitted with every application.

This letter must match the following criteria:

• Be written on original headed paper from the shipping company, and must contain the official company stamp;
• Signed by the Operations Manager, Marine Superintendent or equivalent. (Letters signed by Masters, Agency staff and HR personnel are not acceptable).
• Dated (the letter should be written and therefore dated, only once the DPO has achieved the necessary experience);
• Confirm the total time the applicant has performed as a DP operator on board the vessel(s), including the seagoing familiarisation period.
• Recorded sea time must only include actual DP time served on board the vessel(s); not time on leave/attending courses, etc. This DP sea time must be broken down and listed as individual trips.
• Limited DPO certificate holders upgrading to Full certificates only need to provide confirmation of DP watchkeeping time gained after their Limited certificates were issued.
• Sea time experience, not covered by a letter will not be considered for the DP application unless the candidate can prove extenuating reasons.

When the requested confirmation letters have been obtained, please post/courier the originals to The Nautical Institute; (digital signatures, photocopies and emailed scans will not be accepted).

Note that this letter does not replace the entries, signatures and stamps in the logbook, which need to be sent along with this document to The Nautical Institute.

Please be aware that applications with confirmation letters not meeting with the above requirements will be subject to delay.

Sample DP letter:

  Seatime Confirmation Sample Letter  Draft Seatime Confirmation Sample Letter

 

Requirements from 1st January 2012

The Nautical Institute has reviewed the DP Scheme in order to fit to the new STCW changes and conditions.

The following changes will apply from 1st of January 2012.

DP time prior to Basic Course

From 1st January 2012, The Nautical Institute will implement the following criteria for DP time acquired prior to Basic course:
A maximum of 30 days DP time gained prior to attending the Basic / Induction course will be recognised toward the award of a DP certificate.
These 30 days allow employers to continue the practice of evaluating prospective DPO’s prior to attending an Induction course.

Minimum Qualification Requirement (amended in December 2011)

From 1st January 2012, The Nautical Institute will implement the following criteria for entry onto the DP Operators Training Scheme:

• The Minimum qualification will be set at STCW Regulation II/1 - II/2  - II/3 Deck and  Regulation III/1 – III /2 – III/3 Engine

       Alternative appropriate marine vocational qualifications* will be considered on a case                by case basis

• Prospective DPO’s, who are in the process of training for an STCW certificate can start the DP scheme and complete Induction (basic) course and 30 days Familiarisation only. The Simulator (Advanced) course and watchkeeping training can only be completed after they hold an appropriate STCW certificate of competency.

Prospective DPO’s, not meeting the above requirements will be able to apply for certification, if they commenced training prior to the implementation date and all elements have been completed within a 5 year period at the time of application.

Following implementation of the above all existing DPO certification will be honored and will remain valid.

The implementation date for this policy will be 1^st January 2012

 *Marine Vocational qualification: is a non-STCW Certificate of Competency issued by a white list Maritime Administration for use in the administration’s local waters only.

If you are unsure about whether you belong to this category please consult the Institute. Institute DPO Request