DP Induction

Course Aims

  • The student should knowledge of the principles of DP, a basic understanding of how to set up a DP system.
  • Have an understanding of the practical operation of associated equipment, including position reference systems.
  • Be able to recognise the various alarm, warning and information messages.
  • Be able to relate the DP installation to the ship system, including (but not limited to) power supply, manoeuvring facility, available position reference systems and nature of work.
  • Be able to relate DP operations to the existing environmental conditions of wind, sea state, current/tidal stream and vessel movement.

Course Objectives

  • Completed of the training session or period for the DP control station, the trainee should be able to :
    • Define DP, explain the need for DP in various types of vessel
    • Describe the following aids to maneuvering commonly fitted to DP vessels, including their practical and operational advantages and disadvantages: fixed and controllable-pitch propellers, azimuth thrusters, AZ iPod thrusters and tunnel thrusters etc.
  • Completed of the training session or period for the power generation and management, the trainee should be able to :
    • Describe the power generation and distribution arrangements in a typical diesel-electric DP vessel, with particular reference to system redundancy as described in IMO MSC Circ. 645, 1580 and vessel FMEA
    • Describe the power supply, the functions of a power management system
    • Describe the provision of uninterruptible power supply to the DP system.
  • Completed of the training session or period for the propulsion units, the trainee should be able to:
    • Describe types of propulsion system commonly installed in DP equipped vessels
    • Describe the importance of monitoring the displayed values of set point and feedback data for thruster and propeller rpm, pitch and/or azimuth
    • Describe the operational characteristics and common failure modes of the different types of propulsion systems
  • Completed of the training session or period for the position reference systems (PRS), the trainee should be able to :
    • Describe the operation of HPR system, the principles of position-fixing using underwater acoustic systems working in SSBL/USBL, LBL and SBL modes, the various types of hydro acoustic beacon
    • Describe the principle and operation of the Artemis position reference system, the principles of the Differential GNSS (DGNSS) system.
    • List the operational advantages and limitations of acoustic systems as a position reference for DP, operational advantages and limitations of the Artemis position reference system, different types of taut wire position reference system.
    • Etc.
  • Completed of the training session or period for the heading and motion reference systems, the trainee should be able to :
    • Describe the function of gyro compasses and their redundancy within a DP system.
    • Describe how to obtain pitch, roll and heave information for input into a DP system.
    • Describe the reason for inputting pitch, roll and heave into a DP system
  • Completed of the training session or period for the environmental reference system, the trainee should be able to :
    • Describe the provision of wind sensors within the DP system, wind feed-forward facility and its importance within the DP system.
    • Describe the method by which the DP system determines the value for DP current or Sea Force (the residual error resulting from unmeasured errors & unmeasured forces acting on the vessel).
    • Etc.
  • Completed of the training session or period for the external force reference system, the trainee should be able to :
    • Describe the use of external force reference systems such as hawser tension, plough cable tension and pipe tension monitoring.
  • Completed of the training session or period for the DP Operation, the trainee should be able to :
    • Describe the procedures to be followed when approaching a worksite and transferring from conventional navigation to DP control.
    • Discuss the need for completing pre-DP and other checklists prior to and during DP operations.
    • Explain the need for keeping logbook records of all DP operations, failures and incidents, for keeping records of operation, maintenance and repairs of DP and ancillary equipment.
    • Describe the need for effective communications during the conduct of DP operations, structure of alarm / warning and information messages provided on the DP system displays and on the DP printer.
    • Etc.
  • Completed of the training session or period for the practical operation of a DP system, the trainee should be able to :
    • Demonstrate the use of the joystick to maneuver the vessel and bring the vessel to a stop in a seamanlike manner, the correct procedure for setting up the DP system in both manual and automatic modes.
    • Demonstrate position and heading change maneuvers, using both automatic and manual DP facilities.
    • Demonstrate the use of commonly provided functions on the DP control panel. As a minimum, including Gain, Fixed Azimuth mode and Thruster bias.
    • Demonstrate the use of common modes found on a DP system, as a minimum Track Follow, Minimum Power and ROV Follow.

Course Assessment

  • Online Assessment
    The exam is composed of multiple choice questions and shall be completed in 1 hour 15 minutes. The online assessment will consist of 40 questions and shall be completed with a pass mark of 70%.

Admission Requirements

The minimum qualification is set at STCW Regulation II/1 - II/2 - II/3 Deck , Regulation III/1 - III/2 - III/3 Engine and III/6 ETO (Electro-Technical Officer).

Duration

5 days

Participants

Max 8

Language

The course will be conducted in English.

Course Booking

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