Why do you think it takes 8-10 weeks?
How long ago was it that they changed it to 6 months of days in DP, from 6 months on a DP classed ship?
8-10 weeks is what people on our boat have been experiencing for a wait time lately.
They can request extra documentation on any app if they want, even if things match up. They were getting guys using dock time and anonymous tips is basically what brought all this about…
Sounds like someone is nervous…
[QUOTE=rigdvr;106671]8-10 weeks is what people on our boat have been experiencing for a wait time lately.
They can request extra documentation on any app if they want, even if things match up. They were getting guys using dock time and anonymous tips is basically what brought all this about…
Sounds like someone is nervous…[/QUOTE]
Your application is currently in the queue to be processed. This usually takes nine to twelve weeks from the date the documents are received. The DP department are currently processing applications received on the 5th*February 2013.
Just got this update this morning. Even though it is 3 months to wait, I am still glad it ain’t the NMC.
if they start checking you they will also check that the vessel was under a DP contract at the time you have claimed.
Unfortunately that’s something you usually don’t know when on board.
All these requirements have been introduced by the IMO, in other words for the NI to be recognised they must follow the IMO procedures as from Jan 1 2012.
None of that is any excuse for the long delays. The NI needs to hire a lot more staff, and they need to open and staff a US office in the Gulf. The NI needs to learn how to provide prompt and efficient customer service without losing everyones paperwork and then saying, “sorry, but that’s your problem.” Before the NI gets its act together, it will have been replaced in the US by some other organization for DP certification.
The USCG looks like a model of efficiency compared to the NI.
The notion that Americans should have to tolerate waiting for a bumbling foreign private bureaucracy to give them permission to work in the UNITED STATES is beyond ridiculous.
there’s no requirement to have a DP license its only your employer or the client that is demanding it.
There are no IMO manning requirements for a DP classed vessel ( yet )
Letter to Congress. American workers and the American economy need a new federal statute banning any employer operating in the US from requiring any employee to obtain any foreign issued credential as a condition of employment in the US. I think that would solve the problem.
[QUOTE=tugsailor;107178]Letter to Congress. American workers and the American economy need a new federal statute banning any employer operating in the US from requiring any employee to obtain any foreign issued credential as a condition of employment in the US. I think that would solve the problem.[/QUOTE]
Agreed. When can we sign the petition?
[QUOTE=PaddyWest2012;107179]Agreed. When can we sign the petition?[/QUOTE]
Actually come to think of it, not that it would actually accomplish anything, but that might be a good topic for a gCaptain-sponsored White House petition, now that they have that fancy-shmancy online petition website thing. What do you say, John, Mikey? Draft up a little do-dad for us, submit it to the White House website and tell us all when we can go sign it? This seems fairly common-sensical and I think would benefit many different industries, not just our own.
I think that online petition thing needs something like 25,000 signatures to begin to be noticed. I don’t see it happening.
OMSA will have their own DP certification before long.
[QUOTE=Flyer69;107249]I think that online petition thing needs something like 25,000 signatures to begin to be noticed. I don’t see it happening.[/QUOTE]
I don’t think anything about jobs is even on the Whitehouse radar. A petition would be more effective going to the Tea Party and America First types of Congressmen.
The unions don’t care because they know they’ll never get any offshore jobs. They’d rather see the jobs go to foreigners than to American “scabs.”
[QUOTE=dredgeboater;107254]OMSA will have their own DP certification before long.[/QUOTE]
Given the growing use and importance of DP, there will eventually be a serious DP incident. Then the USCG will have to regulate it.
Be careful what you wish for. The CG has a way of “bending” to industry needs. DPO’s are rewarded monetarily only because of the time and difficulty in getting the cert. if OMSA and USCG take jurisdiction of minting DPO’s and water down the requirements your value takes a dive as well…just look at AB - OSV endorsements.
Also don’t think they wouldn’t find a way for these cadets to graduate fully licensed DPO’s somehow…
It’s definitely not something I wish for. I believe it is more of an inevitability than anything. Carl Annessa was quoted in Workboat magazine about six months back talking about how boat companies have the opportunity to “invent the wheel” regarding a OMSA DP OSV certification. I am sure it is something all the large boat companies would love to do so long as their customers accept it. Just look at the 6000 ITC endorsement. Boat company created, USCG approved, industry accepted.
The oil companies will accept any DP certification that is USCG or ABA approved.
As I understand it, a couple of the academies are in the process of getting NI DP Training Centre approval. Why wouldn’t they? Its a cash cow. Once one academy has it up and running they will all have to have it in order to compete.
IMHO it will soon become standard for the kids to take DP Induction in school, and accumulate the 30 days of DP seatime that NI allows before graduation, and then take DP Advanced the week after they receive their USCG licenses. Basically, the kids will be coming out of school with DP advanced. Why wouldn’t the OSMA want this? Hell, they’ll want to have their own OMSA school cranking out DP-OSV’s that cannot be upgraded to drilling. And yes, by the time the next bust comes along there will be plenty of DPOs and wages will get cut by 50%. This will happen regardless of who is certifying the DPO’s.
Unless the NI suddenly starts providing prompt, friendly service (without losing so much paperwork), I say let the USCG or ABS take over. DP certification could be quite a cash cow for ABS. Why send our money to London and settle for poor service.
The NI must be smarting from the DNV offering a competing DP certification system. The more talk they hear about a competing American DP certification, the faster the NI is apt to improve its service. If not, they will be replaced.
One thing that does help is not waiting for an email from the NI and calling them every Tuesday and Thursday during business hours in the UK and asking about your application status.
FNNN A man, how did we let that one slip by!
Well said! Amen.
[QUOTE=tugsailor;107301][U]As I understand it, a couple of the academies are in the process of getting NI DP Training Centre approval.[/U] Why wouldn’t they? Its a cash cow. Once one academy has it up and running they will all have to have it in order to compete.
IMHO it will soon become standard for the kids to take DP Induction in school, and accumulate the 30 days of DP seatime that NI allows before graduation, and then take DP Advanced the week after they receive their USCG licenses. Basically, the kids will be coming out of school with DP advanced. Why wouldn’t the OSMA want this? Hell, they’ll want to have their own OMSA school cranking out DP-OSV’s that cannot be upgraded to drilling. And yes, by the time the next bust comes along there will be plenty of DPOs and wages will get cut by 50%. This will happen regardless of who is certifying the DPO’s.
Unless the NI suddenly starts providing prompt, friendly service (without losing so much paperwork), [U]I say let the USCG or ABS take over.[/U] DP certification could be quite a cash cow for ABS. Why send our money to London and settle for poor service.[/QUOTE]
Maine has been pushing DP education but we’ve hit a bit of a snag. As I understand it, after spending millions of dollars on a new simulator (done by Transas), the NI informed us that while it is a fully DP-capable system it is not up to their lofty standard (it uses Kongsberg, they only accept the other kind, something like that, I don’t know) and as such they refuse to approve at basic DP course on this simulator system. As of right now the whole thing is dead in the water because we’re not going to spend millions more on a newer new simulator and they steadfastly refuse to accept the DP that we already have available.
I agree with letting American agencies take over the DP scheme, even if only for a domestic certification. I strongly dislike having to pander to overseas interests for a credential that I would need to work on certain jobs here in the United States. I think in the long run DP should be worked into the STCW master plan so that there is an international standard that everyone has to follow, but that is probably still a long way off. We don’t go to London to get a pat on the back for our GMDSS certifications, why should DP be any different? International standardization is the only way to go, but in the mean time the USCG and ABS should placeholders for an international system, NOT the Nautical Institute.