THE DPSAO SHOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER ALL OF THE LISTED SERVICES ON THIS PAGE!
Dynamic Positioning Verification Acceptance Document
Every vessel over 500GT will be required to obtain a DPVAD. This document is issued by a Dynamic Positioning System Assurance Organization (DPSAO) and is valid for five (5) years, contingent on inspection requirements below.
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
All applicable vessels that use a DP system while engaged in critical operations on the OCS must complete and maintain an FMEA. These will be assessed by LOC Inc. using the MTS DP Gap analysis tool. It is envisioned that the FMEA will cover some of 46 CFR 62.20-2 – Required plans for DP Systems, which includes:
- DP System description including block diagrams
- Specifics of position reference systems
- Location of thrusters and control system components
The Tests to Check the Analysis
As part of the FMEA, proving trials must be conducted as the initial test and again as the periodic test after five (5) years. Some tests may be removed from the original FMEA proving document if no changes have been made to the vessel in the last 5 years and testing has shown that the systems are in no way cross connected or capable of being cross connected.
Personnel Training Requirements
The Dynamic Positioning Operator, Qualified (DPOQ) must be under the direct supervision of a by a DPO at all times.
Dynamic Positioning Operator (DPO) – Senior DPO – Including the parts of the DPOQ, the DPO must also have training and practical experience of the complete DP System as installed on board as well as handling faults, failures and emergencies to ensure that operations are continued or terminated safely, along with full knowledge of the documentation on board including FMEA’s, manuals, capability plots etc.
DPOQ – Junior DPO – Completed introduction training, 30 days of DP system training, demonstrate thorough knowledge of DP systems as installed on board and industrial mission criteria.
Incident Reporting Requirements
Vessel operators will be required to submit an incident report to their DPSAO following any reactive DP status change from Green to Yellow or Red. Further to this, they must also submit a report to the USCG for any incident involving:
- A status change from Green to Red
- A Major incident
Incident reporting should be carried out as stated in section 4.11 of the MTS DP Operations guide for MODUs or section 4.12 for either project / construction or logistic vessels. The incident report must include the cause of the incident and whether it is already addressed by the FMEA, WSOC, ASOC and CAMO and lessons learnt to incorporate into any revised documents.
If the cause is not addressed by the vessel documents then those are to be updated and recorded in the report. Immediatley after addressing any safety concerns resulting from a DP incident the owner / operator must notify the OCMI verbally and by email if the incident involved a reactive change from green to red, required an emergency disconnect from a well, was a serious marine incident as defined by 46 CFR 4.03-2.
Further Investigation if Required
The USCG may require further investigation of incidents if deemed necessary. This could be based on severity or the amount of incidents reported by one entity. Details of the criteria are sketchy at the moment.
WSOC, ASOC AND CAMO Requirements
WSOC (Well Specific Operating Criteria) – for MODU’s only Based on the MTS DP Operations Guidance Part 1 and Appendix 1 – MODU
ASOC (Activity Specific Operating Criteria) – for DP vessels engaged in critical activities: Based on the MTS DP Operations Guidance Part 1 and Appendix 2 & 3 (Project / Construction Vessels & Logistics Vessels)
Critical Activity Mode of Operation (CAMO): Required by 46 CFR 62.20-2 and to be approved by the DPSAO. The CAMO will be based on the FMEA of the vessel and is to ensure the vessel is operated in the most redundant and fault tolerant mode.