SHUTTLE TANKER TRAINING SCHEME ; General Overview and Training Process Phases

GENERAL OVERVIEW : Shuttle Tanker DP certification is restricted to DPOs who have completed their DP training on-board a DP shuttle tanker. This training can be done in any DP classes (i.e. classes 1, 2 or 3 shuttle tanker vessels) which shall be classed by a classification society. 

    The existing concept of the DP Induction course and then some practical experience, followed by a DP Simulator course as the precursor to the practical training regime is well proven, and needs little change – except for some additional shuttle tanker specific tasks as an amendment/supplement to the DP training task section in The Nautical Institute DP logbook. 

    A mix thereafter of practical experience and further simulator training applies, including the use of shuttle tanker operation specific simulations e.g.Offshore Loading Course Phase 2 which is a good example of the type of simulations expected. The practical DP sea time should be based on the number of complete offshore loading operations experienced, rather than the number of DP days only. A regime of time on-board the shuttle tanker is expected as the trainee will be in an environment where questions can be asked of experienced DPOs and equipment studied independently to try and help consolidate the training course learning. 

    The shuttle tanker vessel Master and the vessel operating company are both required to confirm the trainee’s practical experience and understanding being satisfactory in the same manner as the Offshore DP application process. This should help ‘validate’ the logbook entries as the vessel operator will be heavily involved in oversight and planning of the DPO training program.

    TRAINING PROCESS PHASES : Shuttle Tanker training and the definition of sea time is completely different to the Offshore training scheme and we draw the trainee’s attention to look carefully into these differences. Shuttle Tanker training has a total of 11 phases to be completed by the trainee DPO as per the following diagram and explanation.

Phase 1: DP Induction course + online examination 

Phase 2: Minimum of 24 days sea time as practical time on-board a shuttle tanker with participation in at least two complete offshore loading operations (field arrival, set-up approach, connection, loading, disconnection and departure). Both criteria must be achieved, i.e. if the person completes only one offshore loading operation within 24 days, it will be necessary for the trainee to undertake more sea time until he/she completes the second offshore loading operation as required. 

During this period, the task section entries should be completed to ensure that a good knowledge of DP operations is achieved prior to attending the DP Simulator course. 

    The attention of operators and Masters is drawn to the task sections expectation and it is recommended that trainee DPOs have few other duties during this period to ensure that they have the opportunity to meet these guidelines. 

Phase 3: DP Simulator course to help consolidate general DP theory and understanding as well as coping with errors, faults and failures + online examination. 

Phase 4: Minimum of 24 days sea time as practical time on-board a shuttle tanker with participation in at least two complete offshore loading operations (field arrival, set-up approach, connection, loading, disconnection and departure). Both criteria to be achieved. 

Phase 5: Training course (one of A, B, or C described further in this document) 

Phase 6: Minimum of 24 days sea time as practical time on-board a shuttle tanker with participation in at least two complete offshore loading operations (field arrival, set-up approach, connection, loading, disconnection and departure.) Both criteria to be achieved. 

Phase 7: Training course (one of A, B, or C not already completed) 

Phase 8: Minimum of 24 days sea time as practical time on-board a shuttle tanker with participation in at least two complete offshore loading operations (field arrival, set-up approach, connection, loading, disconnection and departure). Both criteria to be achieved. 

Phase 9: Training course (one of A, B or C not already completed during the training) 

Phase 10: Minimum of 24 days sea time as practical time on-board a shuttle tanker with participation in at least two complete offshore loading operations (field arrival, set-up approach, connection, loading, disconnection and departure). Both criteria to be achieved. 

Phase 11: Upon satisfactory assessment of performance, submission of application to The Nautical Institute for the Shuttle Tanker DPO certificate, with appropriate confirmations and details from the Master and company that the training regime has been complied with. Training logbook entries to specify location and type of installations experienced. 

This gives an aggregate minimum of 120 days on-board and a minimum of 10 loading operations as the pre-certification practical experience. Each practical experience stage must comply with 24 days on-board and 2 complete loading operations – whichever limit is reached last. There is no option for any sea time reduction within this program i.e. the Sea Time Reduction and Offshore Loading courses will not reduce the sea time required, but will be counted for training purposes only. 

NOTE about Shuttle Tanker DP operations: Offshore Loading Operations not conducted with the DP system in use shall not be counted as Offshore Loading Operations within the training and certification scheme. 

Definition of Shuttle Tanker days: shuttle tanker sea service days are not the same as those in the Offshore scheme. Shuttle Tanker sea time days are considered the days from embarking to disembarking the DP shuttle tanker. However, the times recorded for the offshore loading operations should be done while the vessel is operating in DP mode. 

Source : The Nautical Institute 

             Version 1.0 March 2014

             © The Nautical Institute 2014 

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DISCLAIMER 

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that all the information in this document is updated and correct, The Nautical Institute cannot be held responsible for any loss, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect, resulting from use of this information. Likewise, The Nautical Institute cannot be held responsible for any damage to property, trainers or operators whilst following these guidelines. This information is produced in good faith, but we cannot guarantee the accuracy and/or completeness of the information which is produced for guidance purposes only.