dynamic positioning
Standards and competence checks need improvement
Manning, training and certification are key elements in having a proper DP operator strategy for the industry that is constantly developing new technology
T he future of dynamic positioning
(DP) regulation, human resources and technology were a key topic of discussion at the Annual Offshore Support Journal Conference. DP systems have become such an important element of OSV operations that a whole session on the afternoon of the first day was devoted to the subject. It provoked lively discussion from delegates and highlighted the importance of getting the regulations, standards and training right. The key challenges ahead of the DP industry are the manning, training and certification of DP operators at a time when the offshore industry continues
expanding rapidly.
offshore vessels owners are competing with their rivals and owners of drilling rigs and drillships for the talents of well-trained and experienced DP operators.
Demand for DP OSVs is likely to continue
rising as long as the world requires hydrocarbons for energy and transport. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that 40 per cent of global energy needs will be extracted from offshore assets by 2030. This will add to the challenges the industry already faces in manning the existing fleet, said C-Mar’s chief operating officer, Peter Aylott. “Clearly, the industry will need more mariners
capable of operating sophisticated DP offshore vessels,” he told delegates at the conference. “Against this demand, the supply of such personnel will be affected by the demographics of the world population and the broader career
Industry experts addressed all of the main issues in the DP sector at the conference Increasingly,
choices available to young people today. These factors suggest that the industry may witness manning ‘pinch points’ in the future.” The DP industry has always relied upon the free movement of labour to maintain the manpower requirements. But countries with cabotage and local content requirements, such as China, Brazil and India, will continue to struggle to meet the demand. Many of the emerging markets have relatively poor levels of seafarer and offshore training, and this does have a direct influence on generating competent DP operators, said Mr Aylott. He highlighted the issues surrounding checking DP operator competence. “It is inevitable that DP competence will become part of standards of training, certification and watchkeeping (STCW) for seafarers in due course,” he said. There will be two schemes available for certification of DP operators and setting training
standards. The Nautical Institute (NI) has one and is making improvements this year. Norwegian classification society Det Norske Veritas (DNV) is introducing its own competence standards. Mr Aylott said the areas of uncertainty are in the organisations responsible for assessments and auditing. He suggested that the answer may come from other areas of maritime training, where flag states and class societies play a role in assessment and checks. Mr Aylott thinks there will be more changes coming in DP operator training that are enabled by the recent changes in STCW, and improvements in experience measurement. “Distance learning can help with DP training, and experience could be measured in hours instead of days. Measurement of competence could be done by vessel type as the catch-all DP competence measure may not be right,” he said. The measurement of competence could also be
Conference to include interactive DP discussions
There will be more discussion and presentations on the current status of DP systems, and their future, at Riviera’s European Dynamic Positioning Conference. This will be held in association with The Dynamic Positioning Centre, on 20-21 June, 2013 at the Thistle Marble Arch Hotel in London.
At the conference there will be sessions on
how regulations and standards are impacting on best practice, and the evolution within DP certification and training. There will be presentations by the Nautical Institute (NI), C-Mar, DNV and International Marine Contractors Association
10 I Annual Offshore Support Journal Conference and Awards 2013
(IMCA). The second day of the conference will include presentations and discussions on DP innovations, design integration, and optimisation of performance. IMCA and NI will be supporting the conference. For
more information
www.rivieramm.com/events www.osjonline.com please visit
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