Seminar on DNV GL DP Operator Training & Certification

Kongsberg Maritime Ltd, the UK subsidiary of global marine technology company Kongsberg Maritime, welcomed customers to its Aberdeen training centre on Thursday 30th June for a seminar on the future of Dynamic Positioning Operator (DPO) Training and Certification. Delegates from operators including Helix, V-Ships and Technip attended the seminar to find out more about the new KONGSBERG Training and Certification Scheme for DP Operators, which is certified by DNV GL and recognised by the industry.

The seminar detailed how the KONGSBERG Training Scheme for DP Operators is a step-change in the critical area of DPO training, with teaching and assessor competence, and the use of advanced simulators forming the platform for training and certification. Themes of the seminar included training and certification of DP Operators on vessels and movable drilling units, presented by Capt. Aksel D. Nordholm of DNV GL SeaSkillTM. KONGSBERG’s Lars E. Rosenhaug Bjorset also gave a presentation detailing a practical way for educating and certifying DP Operators in accordance with the DNV GL standard for competence of DP Operators, ST 0023.

The final section and an optional part of the seminar involved a live DPO exam streamed from the in-house simulator facility to the meeting room, giving delegates a practical insight into KONGSBERG’s established methods of DPO training and certification.

The seminar received positive feedback with participants interested in the intensive, time saving and competence assuring nature of the new scheme. Debbie Ross, HR Advisor from Helix said: “The DNV GL DP operator training seminar was very insightful, highlighting a new approach to DPO training and certification. The course schedule condensed into a short period and backed up by an exam looks like a practical approach to ensuring competence for safe and efficient DP operations when the trainees get to their vessels.”

KONGSBERG’s DPO Training and Certification Scheme with simulator training and exams has already successfully taken place in Norway, where the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) considers the DNV GL concept to be equivalent to the international recognised standards. Other flag states have also acknowledged the scheme as well. The first UK course is planned to take place in early autumn at Kongsberg Maritime Ltd’s training facility in Aberdeen.

The scheme is based on a three-step program. Step-one focuses on gaining knowledge by covering theory and practical elements with significant time spent on cutting-edge KONGSBERG DP and offshore training simulators. Step-two is about gaining experience, and after logging the required sea-time, course participants will return to the training centre to complete their training. For step-three, participants can choose to gain training and certification for specific DP operations - Offshore Loading, Drilling or Offshore Operations - all of which require the DPO to take an application specific exam. Step-three participants will benefit from highly specialised training in theory, and on application specific simulators. Experienced DPOs will have the option to renew their certificate and enter the scheme at step-three.

During the whole process, simulator and theoretical exercises are used to monitor student learning levels.