Application Process Now Open for IMCA's DP Practitioner Accreditation Scheme

Published on 1 May 2019

The application process for the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) DP Practitioner Accreditation Scheme opens today (1 May 2019). The launch sees additional support documentation added to the IMCA website and the first dates announced for examinations with further dates to follow.

Two categories of practitioners are eligible for accreditation:

• A DP Trials and Assurance Practitioner, i.e. an individual actively involved in producing, witnessing and assessing the results of DP Failure Modes and Effects Analysis proving trials and DP annual trial programmes; and
• A company DP Authority, i.e. the responsible individual for a vessel operator or end charterer for managing DP trials and assurance processes.

Information documents covering the scheme are available to download free of charge from the IMCA website and DP practitioners are requested to register their interest by emailing IMCA at [email protected]

Captain Andy Goldsmith, IMCA’s Technical Adviser – Marine sets out the aims of the scheme:

“The scheme aims to improve the consistency and conduct of DP trials throughout our industry; and to set a recognised level of knowledge for DP practitioners responsible for developing, witnessing and reporting of DP trials, and those responsible for the management of the DP assurance processes”.

“It is vital that DP practitioners attending vessels for trials, and those conducting DP assurance duties in both vessel operators and client offices, are accredited to an internationally recognised standard. The scheme ensures that the requirement of the OCIMF white paper on DP assurance is met; and that DP trials practitioners and office-based personnel maintain and increase their knowledge base.

“Before applying applicants should satisfy themselves that they meet the requirements of qualifications, certification, experience and knowledge for their chosen category of application, thus avoiding the risk of a failed application and the associated costs. These requirements are clearly set out in the new publications, all applications will be reviewed by IMCA’s Secretariat.”.

First examinations announced

On successful completion of an application an examination will be scheduled. The first examinations, which are multiple-choice in format, have been scheduled for Aberdeen (25 June), London (26 June) and Singapore (1 July). More dates will be added to the IMCA website shortly.

The examination consists of eight modules:

1. Code of Conduct
2. IMCA Guidance Documents
3. DP Control Systems
4. DP Power Systems
5. Thrusters & Thruster Control Systems
6. DP Documentation
7. IMCA M190, Guidance for Developing & Conducting DP Annual Trials Programmes
8. Scenario based experience

Work on the accreditation scheme began in early 2018 when IMCA’s Marine Division Management Committee appointed a workgroup of DP experts from Member companies.

For more information click here