If it weren’t for the name calling and mud slinging this would be a good topic of discussion.
Does using DP always mean that someone doesn’t know how to operate the vessel? I’ve had the paint scratched on my drillship a lot more by non-DP boats than by DP boats. Having (and using DP) doesn’t mean you can’t shiphandle. A trained mariner (regardless of academy or hawsepipe) knows how to best utilize all of the tools available. If you’re backing into any dock… regardless of the current… and you can use DP then why not? That doesn’t exclude you from the obligation to intervene if the system isn’t working right. Do you only use celestial navigation instead of GPS just because you think it makes you a better sailor than the next guy? It doesn’t make any sense to ignore the technology for the sake of pride. Additionally I think you’ll see companies requiring the use of the technology provided more and more. They have millions, if not hundreds of millions, of dollars invested in these modern vessels and don’t want them spending time in the yard getting holes patched because you came alongside a little too fast.