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News in brief from the DP Committee

  • M190 Code of practice for developing and conducting DP annual trials programmes and M191 Code of practice for DP annual trials for mobile offshore drilling units, published June 2023
  • M117 Code of practice for the training and experience of key DP personnel, published June 2023
  • M263 Recommended Practice for shallow water DP operations, published October 2023

    Station Keeping Events STATS

    The information below is a snapshot of the DP Station Keeping Events to date for 2023.

    The percentage of DP incidents (loss of position/heading) reported per year has increased since 2019, a year before the pandemic, which is a concerning trend. The 2022 figures showed that the percentage of incidents had decreased, and this was encouraging. However, so far this year we are seeing a sharp increase to date. See the graph below:

    Figure 6‑1     Percentage of DP Event Reports received resulting in DP Incidents (Loss of Position/Heading)

    Dynamic Positioning Station Keeping Review – Incidents and Events Reported for 2022 can be downloaded from our website. The Incident and Event report for 2023 will be published February 2024.

    If you are employed by an IMCA member company, you can register on the website using your company domain email address. Once registered, you will be given direct access to the members area including all guidance and publications. This also applies to Bridge, ECR or Rank email addresses onboard vessels.

    The IMCA DP reporting form available here. You may want to consider using this form for your vessels. Please forward reports to dpreports@legacy.imca-int.com.

    Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

    Following the announcement from the Nautical Institute (NI) about the new requirements for revalidating the DPOs Certificate, a Key DP Personnel continuing professional development (CPD) learning programme has been developed by IMCA and the Nautical Institute to provide valuable CPD learning to DPOs who perform a safety critical role onboard offshore DP vessels.

    The learning programme is accessible to all Key DP Personnel to ensure that their technical knowledge of the latest industry practices is up to date and measured though questions delivered through an application available on desktop and on mobile devices. This will ensure professional currency with the latest IMCA / industry guidance, DP safety bulletins, DP exercise and training drills, and help prevent knowledge and skill fade in the various DP related roles on vessels,

    The content has been designed for use on mobile devices. The delivery of the content is through the EdApp application software which is a mobile device learning management software. The application is available across a wide range of operating systems, for example, IoS and Android, and the app functionality provides offline capability meaning the content remains available without internet connection, an important factor for seagoing personnel.

    Registration and payment for the app is undertaken via the NI Alexis Platform which is accessible by all Key DP Personnel who wish to purchase the CPD programme.

    Find out more @ https://legacy.imca-int.com/certification/dp/cpd/.

DP Event

Published: 22 December 2023
Download: IMCA DPE 04/23

Submit a Report

The following case studies and observations have been compiled from information received by IMCA. All vessel, client, and operational data has been removed from the narrative to ensure anonymity.

Case studies are not intended as guidance on the safe conduct of operations, but rather to assist vessel managers, DP operators and DP technical crew in appropriately determining how to safely conduct their own operations. Any queries should be directed to IMCA at dpreports@imca-int.com. Members and non-members alike are welcome to contact IMCA if they have experienced DP events which can be shared anonymously with the DP industry.

IMCA’s store terms and conditions (https://www.imca-int.com/legal-notices/terms/) apply to all downloads from IMCA’s website, including this document.

IMCA makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in the documents it publishes, but IMCA shall not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained. The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual’s or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.