Dynamic Positioning or DP is a system which keeps a vessel automatically in
position with the help of active thrust the system utilizes thrusters rudders
and propellers to withstand the external forces like wind waves and current
dynamic positioning was first used in the 1960s and has since then been
improved and modified to better suit the emerging offshore and oil industry the
system is today used on rigs designed for drilling production vessels diving
in ROV vessels pipe-laying vessels in addition to standby and supply vessels
one of the most important vessels in the offshore industry is the platform supply
vessel a platform supply vessel or PSV supplies the rig with everything it
needs to perform its task rig needs everything from provisions for its crew
water fuel and crucial equipment to drill a produce oil or gas Viking a
voluntas on her way to supply drilling platforms in the North Sea before the
platform supply vessel leaves the harbour there are many issues which need
to be resolved the vessel is loaded by base personnel and supervised by the
crew of Viking Avant whose job is to make sure that the cargo arrives safely
to the offshore installation
to aid the crew the platform supply vessel is equipped with the latest in
advanced technology Viking Avant is a DP two vessels which means it has
safeguards in place to withstand a single Fault in the technical system
without the vessel losing its position a
typical DP 2 vessel has the following equipment DP operator stations position
reference systems gyro compasses vertical reference sensors wind sensors
UPS's technical redundancy on thrusters and propellers technical redundancy on
the power supply
before Viking a volatile Reds at the installation all the equipment must be
checked through procedures and checklists the crew prepares for the
operation when all equipment is checked and controlled the vessel ask for
permission to enter the 500 meters safety zone setting the vessel up on DP
is a critical part of the operation the DP II contains a mathematical model of
the vessel which is continuously updated while being operated the wind forces are
measured by two wind sensors but other external forces like current and waves
have to be calculated by the DP computers due to this calculation the
vessel needs some time to become stable
when the vessel and the DP is stable the vessel will move to the final loading
position by using the DP
the DP system has many functions and modes but the most common mode is to
keep a vessel in the same position the DP operator can change the position or
heading effectively by using the desk facilities on the operator station when
the vessel has reached its position the loading and offloading can start
this is a very high-risk environment and the precise and accurate cooperation
between the a B crane operator and bridge personnel is essential the
situation is never the same and there's always a risk involved though the DP
system takes control of the positioning of the vessel the DP operator must
always be ready to act
after loading and unloading the vessel will exit the 500 meters safety zone and
proceed to its next location to become a certified DP operator you must complete
the basic in advance DP course from a certified DP Center approved by the
nautical Institute in addition you must have a minimum of two hundred and ten
days of experience onboard a certified DP vessel after completing courses and
the minimum DP experience you can apply for a DP operator certificate