Attention Dynamic Positioning Officers certified by Nautical Institute: Changes to NI DPO renewal/revalidation requirements

Changes to revalidation requirements – continuing professional development

From January 2024, the requirements to revalidate Dynamic Positioning Certificates will be changing.

To make sure that DP operators keep pace with the developing standards in a fast-changing industry, DPOs renewing their certificates will now be asked to demonstrate Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as well as experience.

To revalidate your Unclassed/Limited/Unlimited DP Certificate, you will need to:

  • Complete the Nautical Institute Dynamic Positioning Refresher Course

    Note: STAR Center will offer a five-day approved DP Revalidation/Refresher and Competency Assessment Course, which will meet the NI CPD requirement. This will include completing the NI revalidation examination. STAR Center will begin offering the DP Revalidation/Refresher and Competency Assessment Course starting in 2024. Please see STAR Center’s schedule online.

OR

  • Be enrolled in an NI-approved Continuing Professional Development program. Note: There are currently 2 online approved CPD program options:

    There is an annual subscription fee of approximately $150/year. The individual would enroll each year and be responsible for all fees including the exam. In addition to the yearly CPD program Individuals are also required to take the NI Revalidation Exam which will be arranged directly with NI online.

To make sure all applicants have enough time to meet the requirements, the NI will be introducing the changes gradually over the next five years as follows.

If you have 150 days of DP sea time/DP activities and are due to revalidate your certificate in the following years, please see requirements below:

2024 – NI DP Refresher course, OR NI Revalidation online exam AND one year of an NI-approved CPD program

2025 – NI DP Refresher course, OR NI Revalidation online exam AND two years of an NI-approved CPD program

2026 – NI DP Refresher course, OR NI Revalidation online exam AND three years of an NI-approved CPD program

2027 – NI DP Refresher course, OR NI Revalidation online exam AND four years of an NI-approved CPD program

2028 – NI DP Refresher course, OR NI Revalidation online exam AND five years of an NI-approved CPD program

If your certificate is due to expire in one of the years above, and you do not have all the requirements in place to revalidate your certificate before the expiry date, you will be granted an automatic 12-month extension to your existing certificate to complete the CPD requirements.

  • If you have between 30-150 days sea time: You must complete the NI DP Refresher Course
  • If you have less than 30 days sea time: You must complete the NI DP Revalidation Course

IMPLEMENTATION OF CPD SCHEME

Table 1 Revalidation Matrix

1 Jan 2024:

A DPO/DPVM with 150 days DP sea time who is applying for revalidation will have to sit the NI Revalidation Course on line exam and complete a minimum of one year of the NI-approved CPD program or complete the NI DP Refresher Course. Those who do not meet all the new requirements will be given 12 months to do so, after which they can reapply for revalidation.

1 Jan 2025:

A DPO/DPVM with 150 days DP sea time who is applying for revalidation will have to sit the NI Revalidation Course online exam and complete a minimum of two years of the NI-approved CPD program or complete the NI DP Refresher Course. Those who do not meet all the new requirements will be given 12 months to do so, after which they can reapply for revalidation.

1 Jan 2026:

A DPO/DPVM with 150 days DP sea time who is applying for revalidation will have to sit the NI Revalidation Course online exam and complete a minimum of three years of the NI-approved CPD program or complete the NI DP Refresher Course. Those who do not meet all the new requirements will be given 12 months to do so, after which they can reapply for revalidation.

1 Jan 2027:

A DPO/DPVM with 150 days DP sea time who is applying for revalidation will have to sit the NI Revalidation Course online exam and complete a minimum of four years of the NI-approved CPD program or complete the NI DP Refresher Course. Those who do not meet all the new requirements will be given 12 months to do so, after which they can reapply for revalidation.

1 Jan 2028:

A DPO/DPVM with 150 days DP sea time who is applying for revalidation will have to sit the NI Revalidation Course on line exam and complete a minimum of five years of the NI-approved CPD program or complete the NI DP Refresher Course. Those who do not meet all the new requirements will be given 12 months to do so, after which they can reapply for revalidation.

All information may be found on the NI Alexis.

The above information is also available on the STAR Center website.