DYNAMIC POSITIONING OPERATOR’S

LOG BOOK GUIDE

Introduction
The following sample log book is a guideline and designed to help you complete
your log book correctly before sending it to The Nautical Institute for certification.

To prevent delays in processing your application, please make sure you read this
document carefully to fully understand the requirements.

Please also read “The Nautical Institute Dynamic Positioning Operator’s

Certificate” V1.06, which is available to download from our website as this contains
a more comprehensive guide to the DP Operator’s certification programme. Other
useful information is also available on our website at http://www.nautinst.org/dp.

Applying for a Certificate

Online applications
From 1 January 2011 The Nautical Institute introduced an online application system,
which allows DPO’s to register online and enter the data contained in their log books
themselves. The new application method significantly reduces the time it takes The
DP Department to process applications, and also cuts down on the amount of
common queries such as not having enough seatime.

Please note that to apply online it is mandatory for you to have your documents
returned by courier, which is only payable by credit card at the time of you
completing your online DP application.

Once you have applied online and successfully completed the credit card payment,
you will receive an email containing a pdf attachment of your application. Please
print the entire document and sign the declaration at the back.

There is no need for you to complete the application or credit card forms from our
website. These are only intended for manual applications and for ordering
replacement documents.

Wherever you see this symbol in this document, it will provide useful tips
specifically for completing your application online.
Manual Applications
We are currently still accepting applications that have not been pre-registered
online. Please be aware, however, that it will take significantly longer to process
these applications compared to the online ones as the DP Team have to enter all the
data contained in the log book.

Do not apply online if you have already sent your log book to us by the manual
application method as this will delay your application.

Once you believe your log book is correctly completed please print and complete a
copy of the DP certificate application form, from the above section of our website
under “Basic forms”. Send the application form and log book to The Nautical
Institute, together with any supporting evidence (eg. additional DP seatime not
entered in your log book (see DP Familiarisation and Watchkeeping for further
details))

Please send in your log book as early as possible as athough we do endeavour to

process applications within four weeks, sometimes for reasons beyond our control
they may take much longer to process. The sooner you apply for a certificate, the
sooner we can process your application.

Delivery of Documents
Online Applications
Documents are returned to you by our contracted couriers, Spatial. The fees are
paid by you during the online application process.

Manual Applications
The Nautical institute assumes no responsibility for the loss of log books/documents
while in transit. We therefore recommend that you send your log book to us by
courier/special delivery and arrange to have it returned to you by the same method.
All applications received without a courier request, once processed, will be returned
by standard (untracked) post.

If you would like your documents returned to you by courier, please tick the
appropriate box on the DP certificate application form and enclose a completed
credit card form (also available on our website) with your application.

Please note that we solely work with our contracted couriers, Spatial to return
documents.

The following courier fees are applicable to both online and manual applications

Destination: UK £16; Europe £19; Rest of World £25

We also recommend that you make and keep a photocopy of your log book before
sending it to us.

Replacement Documents
Please note that in the event of loss, the issuance of replacement documents incur
the following charges:

! Certificate £55
! Log book £55
! Courier fee UK £16; Europe £19; Rest of World £25

To order replacement documents, please print and complete the application and
credit card forms which are available on our website.
 It is very important that you
write this page clearly and
preferably in BLOCK
CAPITALS as this helps
prevent misspelling of

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names and log books being
sent to incorrect
addresses.

PL
Write your name in the order
shown (Last name followed by
First then Middle name(s).
Your first and last name will
appear on your certificate.

M
BLOGGS JOE ADAM
23 BLOGG STREET
SOUTHAMPTON
HANTS, SO 14 1PJ
SA
Online Application Tip UK Make sure your current home
25 01 1976 address is written clearly here. If
Please ensure you type your name
using correct capitalisation, eg. you have changed address write
your current address in the covering
JOE ADAM BLOGGS letter you send in with your log book.
joe adam bloggs
Joe Adam Bloggs

as this is how it will appear on your

certificate.
All Sections of the log book This page will be completed
must be completed in the by the Centre Instructor once
correct order as stated in you complete your
the . programme, ie. A-F Induction/Basic course.
with the exception of Please check it has been

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Section E. Please see signed, dated and stamped .
Seatime Validity Period for Contact the relevant training
further information. centre if any of the above
mentioned items have not

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been completed.

This course is only valid

within five years of you
applying for your DP
certificate.

The five year restriction does

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not apply when applying for
an upgrade from a Limited
certificate.

Please note: The five year

restriction is based on a calendar
SA
year, not 60 months. (eg. any month
Marine Blue Centre in 2006 will qualify for a 2011
certificate, even if the course was
09 January 2007 taken in January 2006 and the
application is made in December
2011)

MARINE
BLUE
CENTRE
Please try to ensure that This page is completed by
any dates entered on this the Master after you have
page are not repeated in c o m p l e t e d t h e
watchkeeping. Duplicated Induction/Basic course.
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DP1 12.01.07 20.01.07 9

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that you do not have least 30 days.
enough days to qualify for a UK

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certificate and your log Each entry must have both
book will have to be “From” and “To” dates,
returned to you. otherwise it will not be
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All entries must also be
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signed by the Master and

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bear the vessel’s stamp.

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Vessels with no official
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should be and send in
UK
supporting certified evidence
Online Application Tip to verify the dates entered in
the log book.
If you have more than 30 days
recorded in this section of your log This can be in the form of
book, enter the additional ! Seaman’s/Discharge Book
time/entries in the Watchkeeping (original or certified copy)
section. This will allow the !Company letter or sea
program to calculate your total record (original)
qualifying DP time correctly. Please do not sign any of these
documents yourself as they will not
be accepted as evidence.
Important
If you are the Master applying
for your DP certificate then
you should only sign Section
C yourself if no other suitable

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person is available.
However, in this case you will
need to obtain an additional
declaration form and arrange ALL items on this page are

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to have it completed by one of mandatory and must be
the following authorised dated and signed by the
personnel who knows your Master during your 30 days
capabilities: familiarisation period.
! The vessel’s Relief Master
! A certified DPO onboard
! A Operations Manager (or
equivalent) 14.01.07

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(Please note that the Relief Master
and Operations Manager are not
required to hold a DP certificate to be
able to sign the Seagoing
Familiarisation declaration form). 14.01.07
Please include the
SA
declaration form with your log
book when applying to us for 14.01.07
your certificate.

The declaration form can be

14.01.07
downloaded from our website
or obtained from the Institute
on request. 14.01.07
 E
14.01.07 ALL items on this page are

PL
mandatory and must be
dated and signed by the
Master during your 30 days
14.01.07 familiarisation period.

14.01.07

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SA
15.01.07

15.01.07
15.01.07

15.01.07
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PL
01.02.07
01.02.07
01.02.07 The Master must sign and
date ALL of the relevant items
on this page pertaining to the

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23.02.07 equipment on board the
vessel on which you
completed your 30 days
familiarisation.
SA
01.02.07
 E
03.02.07

PL
03.02.07

03.02.07
The Master must sign and
date ALL of the relevant items
on this page pertaining to the

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equipment on board the
03.02.07 vessel on which you
completed your 30 days
familiarisation.
23.02.07
SA
23.02.07
 E
PL
This page must be signed,
dated and stamped by the
Master of one of the vessels

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shown in Section B “DP
Familiarisation (page2) and
preferably not self-signed, if
you are the Master applying
for your DP certificate.
SA

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 MARINE BLUE CENTRE
18 April 2008

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This page will be completed
by the Centre Instructor once

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you complete your
Simulator/Advanced course.
Please check it has been
MARINE signed, dated and stamped.
BLUE Contact the relevant training
CENTRE centre if any of the above
items have not been
completed.

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This course is only valid
within five years of you
applying for your DP
certificate.
SA
The five year restriction does
not apply when applying for
an upgrade from a Limited
certificate.

Please note: The five year restriction

is based on a calendar year, not 60
months. (eg. any month in 2006 will
qualify for a 2011 certificate, even if
the course was taken in January
2006 and the application is made in
December 2011)
 PP

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Nautiwave II
DP2 23.04.08 25.05.08 2/O AH Kongsberg
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DPO Gulf of Mexico SDP21

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UK
SHIPPING
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IMO 1234 5
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Gulf of Mexico SDP21

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DPO
UK
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DP1 7.09.08 09.10.08 2/O
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IMO 1234567 N Sea SDP11
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DP1 3.11.08 15.12.08 2/O

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Please see DP Watchkeeping Experience - Notes on how to complete this page

E. DP Watchkeeping Experience - Notes
Each entry must have both “Joined” and “Left” dates, otherwise it will not be counted
towards your required DP experience.

All entries must also be signed by the Master and bear the vessel’s stamp.

If a vessel does not have an official stamp, then you should write the vessel’s name
where the ships’s stamp should be and either

a) enclose your Seaman’s/Discharge Book (original or certified copy)

b) obtain a letter from your shipping company stating your sea record, including the
vessel names and the start and end dates of each trip.

Please do not sign any of these documents yourself as they will not be
accepted as evidence.

Seatime Reduction
Practical watchkeeping seatime can be reduced by taking intensive simulator
courses, however, they cannot count towards more than 84 days of the required DP
seatime.

Multiple courses can be taken, but you must have at least 30 days DP seatime
between each course. You must also have at least 30 days DP seatime between
taking the Advanced course and an intensive simulator course.

Please also note the following restrictions:

! These courses cannot replace the 30 days DP familiarisation time
! Watchkeeping entries cannot end with an intensive simulator course. There
must be at least 30 days practical DP seatime as the final entry in your log book
before applying for your certificate.
! These courses cannot be used to replace any of the 60 days DP2 or 3 time
required when applying for a Full certificate or upgrading from a Limited to a Full
DP certificate.
!
Intensive simulator courses are run by

Ship Manoeuvring Simulator Mariteem Instituut

Centre AS (SMS) ‘Willem Barentz’
Ladehammerveien 4, Postbus 26
7041 TRONDHEIM, Norway 8800 AA Terschelling West,
Telephone + 47 73 99 18 00 Telephone +31 562 44 66 66
FAX + 47 73 99 18 20 Fax +31 562 44 66 67
E-mail shipsim@smsc.no Email mstc@mi.nhl.nl
Website http://www.smsc.no Website http://www.mi.nhl.nl
Please read the Dynamic Positioning Operator’s Certificate V.106 for further details
on intensive seatime reduction courses and their values.

Calculating Watchkeeping Time

Please use the information below to calculate whether you qualify for a Limited or
Full/Unlimited DP certificate. When you apply online, the built in calculator will tell
you whether or not you have enough DP time to qualify for a certificate and if so, what
type. If you are not yet ready to apply for your certificate, but just want to check if you
have enough DP seatime a DP Certificate Calculator is also available in the DP
section of our website.

(These calculations do not include the 30 days familiarisation time)

DP1 Vessels only

180 days watchkeeping on board DP1 vessels = Limited certificate

DP2 Vessels only

180 days watchkeeping on board DP2 or 3 vessels = Full/Unlimited certificate

Mixed Class vessels

If you have served on board various class vessels and want to obtain a
Full/Unlimited certificate then

Watchkeeping time must include at least 60 days DP2 or 3 time

DP1 vessels are equal to ½ a day

DP2 or 3 vessels are equal to 1 day

eg. If you have 85 DP2 days then you will need 190 days DP1 time to qualify for a
certificate.
190 ÷ 2 = 95
85 = 85
——
180
——

Seatime Validity Period

Past DP sea experience you have gained prior to taking the Basic course can be
counted towards your total watchkeeping time as long as
! You have certified evidence of your DP seatime
! It is within the five year validity period
(Please note that even if you have in excess of 180 days past experience you
will still be required to complete at least 30 days DP sea experience after you
have completed the Advanced course).
SECTION F FORM The Master of the last vessel
The Section F form is very you have sailed on before
important and one of the main you apply for your DP
reasons why applications are Certificate must complete
delayed due to forms being this form. If you are the
GREGORY GRIPEN

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incorrectly filled in or not Master applying for your DP
completed at all. certificate then you cannot
R JOE ADAM BLOGGS
sign this form yourself.
Upgrade Applications Instead you should have it

PL
If you are applying for an countersigned by one of the
upgrade, please ensure you following authorised
enclose a completed Section F personnel who knows your
Upgrade form with your
application and that it bears a
capabilities:
DP2 or 3 vessel stamp. ! The vessel’s Relief Master
Visit our website for full ! A certified DPO onboard
requirements on how to ! An Operations Manager (or
upgrade your Limited equivalent).

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certificate to a Full. (Please note that the Relief Master
and Operations Manager are not
required to hold a DP certificate to be
You should sign this form on able to sign the Section F form).
the “Operator’s Signature” line.
Additional Section F forms are
SA
The form must also bear the available to download from the
10.02.09 Institute’s website.
vessel’s stamp. P
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If you are applying for a For further information, contact:
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NS
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Nautiwave I
Full/Unlimited DP certificate
NY
GRT 3485
IMO 1234567

and have served on board DP Department

UK The Nautical Institute
mixed class vessels; you are 202 Lambeth Road
now permitted to sign off on a LONDON SE1 7LQ, UK
DP1, 2 or 3 vessel, however Tel +44(0)20 7928 1351
this must be the last recorded Fax +44(0)20 7401 2817
Email dp@nautinst.org
entry in Watchkeeping before Website www.nautinst.org/dp
applying for your certificate.
Revised February 2011