Getting into DP

[Rtaylor]

I've been a cadet now since 201 and just passed the midpoint of my third phase. Really enjoying it and looking forward to both sea phase and getting my CoC.

I've heard a lot about how insanely hard to get into the DP industry is and was wondering what the experiences of qualified officers were?

My current plan on qualifying is as follows:

1 Get DP basic ticket (pay for a course somewhere)
2 Apply for all the jobs going, dp and non-dp
3 Accept any dp job I get, failing that a non-dp job and keep applying.

I have a pretty good CV and am a hardworking, honest guy, the only thing I am missing is experience of the offshore/dp industry.

Any thoughts, experiences and advice appreciated.

Robert

[EH75]

I would also be interested in the responses to this as this is something I have been thinking about more and more as I approach the completion of my cadetship. I was thinking the best route would be to try and get a job with a company which operates a variety of boats including DP vessels, start off on the non DP stuff and then move sideways within the company into DP.

In terms of paying for the course yourself, how feasable is this? Because would you not need seatime in order to validate it anyway and therefore it would be useless until a DP company took a chance on you anyway and gave you time as a trainee DP operator? So might be better just doing the whole moving sideways within a company thing and then maybe they'd pay for the whole course etc! Of course putting yourself through the course shows you are keen I guess and would probably help you get your foot in the door in the first place. I duno, just thinking out loud here really.

[Ganner]

You have no idea of the innuendo here right?

[EH75]

Haha yeah, gotta be careful when your searching for "DP" on google.

[pignutpilot]

It's not that hard to get into. Basic entry would probably be on PSV's. There's loads of them in the North Sea and companies operating them are always looking for second mates. It is more difficult to get onto more high tech vessels such as DSVs... it's the classic scenario where you need experience to get a job... but how do you get the experience if you can't get a job... just need to be in the right place at the right time or know someone that can get you into a company.

[Rtaylor]

It did occur just as I was posting, decided to leave it.

[pintero]

Making DP Basic course for your own money without having offshore experience is senseless for me. There are only a five years to complete your whole DP 'education' and with no experience it is very hard to get a job on this kind of vessel, so after the five years DP Basic lost. I was advised to try get on board of any vessel as OOW, meanwhile do basic offshore courses such BOSIET, ITSO, FRCB (although they are valid 3-4 years, companies prefer to hire people ready to go offshore right now). DP has a lower priority because there are practically no vacancies on the pure DP Trainees so next when you will collect some extra money you can do DP induction. My university did the DP Basic for all students but there are no chances to get into DP operated vessels without an experience and now I can frame the certificate and put on my desk . This is my and my DPO friend's opinion.
PS My another friend was lucky and did right - when he was offered a one month contract on DSV as steward but with DPO Trainee signed in his seaman's book, he didn't wait for DP Basic in our university, he payed with his own money and got DP familiarization on the DSV. It makes sense!

[noworries182]

It is true that its going to be hard to get onto a DP vessel without any experience or with basic DP. When i was looking for a job I got offered a job with a British offshore company who were willing to pay for all offshore courses such as HUET & DP as long as you impressed them at the interview. I also did my basic and advanced DP courses with fellas who where paying there own way, they had gotten interview with various small and large offshore companies and found ones willing to employ them with the deal that they paid for their own DP, all of these did have experience as officers though. many charterers only require 2 out of the 4 or 3 navigators on the bridge to hold any kind of DP license so the junior officer doesn't need any kind of training or license because in theory the capo or CO should be on the bridge at the same time and they will hold the license. I know this because this is the exact position I am in now.

Another thing you may want to look into is EERV or stand by vessels for rigs, although most of these don't have DP, iv heard (rumours, rumours, rumours) that its not very hard to get a job on them because its not a very enjoyable job but then some of these companies also have supply of AHTS vessels that you can move towards. Also, companies like Maersk & Vroon have various types of vessels which you can move between if your good enough, there is normally a long a waiting list for offshore.

I was lucky enough to be offered a position within the offshore fleet with my company because i did well in my cadetship. Keep trying but at the same time a jobs a job and there's no substitute for experience. . . . . . . except maybe a DP unlimited ticket =]

[pintero]

Do you know what can be approximate salary for deck cadet on offshore vessel? (per month on board)

[Pilot Chris]

Do you know what can be approximate salary for deck cadet on offshore vessel? (per month on board)

Hi Pintero, I'm taking a guess your are not a UK cadet? but just to let you know that most are paid throughout the year regardless of what ship or at college etc so I'm afraid I don't think anyone here could assist you with this.

[pintero]

That's correct, thanks Chris!

[GuinnessMan]

Without knowing where you're from, it would range from about $200 to $500 USD...

[bobofinga]

DP Industry is such a bottle neck.

The ammount of guys ive sailed with who have self funded the DP Basic then never been taken on is ridiculous.

There needs to be a kind of JDPO trainee system in place which seems very rare ...

I was just wondering if any1 knows ;

I sailed on a DP2 vessel for 6 months of my cadetship . If i was to complete my DP Basic course could i use this DP time in the log book of the operators manuel or not ?
Long shot ... but worth a try

[pintero]

As far as I remember from the course it can't be used because there are various tasks and operations in the log book that You have to fulfil and get it confirmed by SDPO.
But having 6 months of cadetship on DP2 vessel in the seaman's book I wouldn't worry about future offshore career and whole DPO "education" process

[laura]

DP Industry is such a bottle neck.

The ammount of guys ive sailed with who have self funded the DP Basic then never been taken on is ridiculous.

There needs to be a kind of JDPO trainee system in place which seems very rare ...

I was just wondering if any1 knows ;

I sailed on a DP2 vessel for 6 months of my cadetship . If i was to complete my DP Basic course could i use this DP time in the log book of the operators manuel or not ?
Long shot ... but worth a try

I think the Nautical Institute seem to be making it harder for DP tickets these days but actually if you can document your experience- letter/ confirmation/ backdate DP logbook from the ship then it should be possible to count this experience, however after you have taken the advanced course you need at least an additional month's experience... I.e you can have 8 months DP time after your basic course but still need at least 1 month after taking the advanced, though ideally the system is set up that you take the DP basic, get 1 months experience, then take the advanced and then get the rest of your time. I would call up the NI and the lastest requirements and get it straight from them- they're based in London, easy to google their contact details.

I currently work on a construction vessel (offshore subsea work)... I paid for my own DP ticket as back on the day my company was unwilling to pay for any British cadets DP tickets (tonnage tax). I did it because it got me a job but I find DP absolutely soul destroying- it is not some mysterious art- it's basic seamanship using the wind and waves via a very expensive computer based helmsman, not rocket science as many in the industry would have us believe.

If you enjoy hours spent at a computer and being asked to move 29000bhp of ship 50cm at a time (not as big an exaggeration as you'd believe!) while being imprisoned on a bridge for 12 hours a day ( then trying to do all your deck jobs in your off hours) DP is for you! Then there's the commercial pressure, being audited by an oil rep standing 1metre behond you as you're on the sticks berthing her. Meanwhile you're not only supposed to comply with MARPOL, STCW and the rest but whatever regs the oil companies are using too... twice the bull, twice the work. Then there'sthe whining of 70 extra crew who have no seafaring qualifications, barely know port from starboard and are on double your wages with absolutely no responsibility for anyone other than themselves, and when things go wrong, it os the ships' staff who get out the buckets and tidy up the mess.

Saying that I only do it because it pays the bills, I'd happily go work deep sea if I could find the work and a ship where the working language genuinely was english. DP- it's overrated and the sooner the British system realises that the better, more Europeans are losing their jobs to 2nd mates from the Philippines even on PSVs... scary really.

Despite that though I really do think that specialised work and the passenger industry is the last refuge of European mates, maybe I sound bitter but it's from experience, DP pays the bills, seafaring if that's why you got into this game it ain't... sadly....