IMCA has created a professional development program for Key DP Personnel to enhance their skills and knowledge, ensuring they are well-equipped for their critical safety roles on offshore DP vessels.
The program is aimed at ensuring that all essential DP staff keep up-to-date with the latest industry standards and operational best practices, as well as fulfilling the revalidation requirements for The Nautical Institute DPO certificates. The EDApp enhances professionals’ understanding of the most current IMCA and industry guidelines, DP safety bulletins, training exercises, and drills, contributing to improved safety and operational efficiency in offshore environments, along with increasing technical expertise.
The CPD app reflects the enduring dedication of both NI and IMCA to dynamic positioning (DP) and its key personnel. For over 25 years, IMCA has managed the industry’s DP event reporting initiative, sharing ‘lessons learned’ to benefit the sector and provide essential guidance for the CPD scheme. Additionally, the NI’s significant work in developing and updating the DPO Handbook, first issued in 2008, enhances the program. Industry feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, acknowledging CPD as a successful approach to address knowledge and skill decline.
Allen Leatt, the CEO of IMCA, provided an explanation:
IMCA’s foundation is deeply embedded in Dynamic Positioning (DP), highlighting the crucial contribution of key DP personnel in our sector. Thus, broadening this Continuing Professional Development (CPD) initiative to include all essential stakeholders is a natural step towards enhancing offshore safety and efficiency. Our DP event reporting indicates that human factors frequently contribute to adverse DP station keeping incidents. The CPD program is already proving effective in enhancing safety and managing risks in DP operations, and expanding this scheme would provide further support. We have observed promising outcomes in the diving industry, attributed to established certification programs and our Diving Supervisor CPD app launched in 2020, with emerging positive trends similar to this initiative.
Content of the CPD App
The learning program’s content is based on over 25 years of DP committee work by IMCA members, resulting in extensive industry-leading guidance. It also incorporates significant contributions from the NI in developing and regularly updating the DPO handbook.
The material is organized into learning modules, with each module featuring courses across six distinct categories:
- Data Protection Guidelines
- Functional Requirements for Data Processing
- DP Skill Development
- DP Management
- Understanding DP Redundancy
- DP Evaluations & Experiments
Every category is subdivided into various units.
Course Delivery
Mobile-optimized content is provided via the EdApp app, a learning management system tailored for mobile devices. This application is compatible with various operating systems, including iOS and Android, and offers offline access, ensuring that seagoing personnel can access the material without needing an internet connection.
Key DP Personnel interested in acquiring the CPD program can register and make payments through the NI Alexis Platform.
Enrolling in a course module
To buy and finish the modules for the Dynamic Positioning Operators CPD App, you must have an NI Alexis Platform account. Having an NI DP Certificate is not a requirement to access the modules.
After setting up your account, log in by selecting the DP Login option at the top of the page. Then, scroll down your account homepage to find a new section titled Nautical Institute DPO CPD app.
Click on the ‘Book a new course’ option to view the available modules. After purchasing a module, a link will appear under the Action heading, directing you to EdApp to access the module.
Registered learners will have access to purchased modules.
New modules will launch every six months and will be accessible for purchase in your account six months after finishing the previous module. Upon passing the final exam for a module, you will receive a course completion certificate via EdApp.
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