Training and simulation enhance DP operator competency

Accredited training and continuous development are vital to mitigating dynamic positioning (DP) incidents and accidents, as the offshore industry ramps up activity and DP2-class vessels come out of layup.

Some of the challenges faced by the industry in this regard were discussed at Riviera Maritime Media’s European Dynamic Positioning Conference, held in London in February.

International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) technical advisor Richard Purser shared IMCA’s latest analysis of DP station-keeping events and incidents. He explained these

figures suggested the number of reported DP incidents had stabilised, after rising throughout 2019-2021, as demand for OSVs started to climb and owners reactivated vessels.

In 2022, of all the reports received by IMCA, 52% were for undesired DP events, 27% were DP incidents and 21% DP observations.

“Human factors will be something we will always be dealing with”

DP incidents are major system failures, or environmental or human factors resulting in a loss of DP capability leading to loss of vessel position or heading.​ DP undesired events are system failures, environmental or human factors that cause a loss of redundancy and/or compromised DP capability; DP observations are any events deemed worthy of sharing.

Event reports are normalised and anonymised, then published in IMCA bulletins, typically four a year, each with a case study designed to generate discussion and understanding on how best to approach a given incident.

“We are not here to point fingers, we are here to learn lessons,” Mr Purser said. “There is a positive impact coming out of this negative event reporting,” he added.

Although many of the reported events are down to electrical, computer and mechanical failures, many still stem from the human element. There were 31 events in 2022 where human errors were the primary or secondary cause, of which 73% caused position losses. IMCA did not have data on incidents prevented due to trained DP operators’ quick reactions.

“Human factors will be something we will always be dealing with,” Mr Purser said, adding that training, interface standardisation, continuous personal development and concise decision support tools would help reduce such errors.

Owner case

Solstad Offshore implements training, simulation-based practice and continuous personal development to DP operator competence. It also uses Global Maritime’s DP management system to identify gaps in experience, competence and expertise, plus issues with decision support and operational tools.

"Trends on the reoccurrence of findings in all categories are used to assess the need for adjustments on planned maintenance routines and/or training for the key DP personnel to mitigate possible gaps in knowledge," said Solstad Offshore DP authority Rodrigo Fabireza.

The Norwegian OSV owner implements DP testing with the goal of ensuring safer fleetwide operations by assessing technical and operational challenges seen in the fleet. It develops specific training on the experience gaps identified.

Solstad uses DP management systems and annual trials to gather data to improve awareness, drills and guidelines for vessel operations, as well as sharing technical knowledge gained from past challenges.

Global Maritime manager for marine Services Dag Leo Emblemsvåg said many of the findings are repeated across the fleet: “The same findings are on different vessels. It can be a sister vessel; it can be within the fleet … but you can take learnings from those. To be able to share that between a fleet gives added value within the system.” This repository of DP data could become a blueprint for other owners.