Upgrading to an Unlimited DPO

Offshore
1

Getting ready to upgrade from a limited to an Unlimited DPO. Going to do it on line per the nautical institutes request. Has anyone had any problems with this process lately. I’ve talked to a couple people who have been waiting 6 months, and I was wondering if anyone knows what pitfalls to avoid with the application process.

Jimmy

2

Be sure that the DP2 vessel you are upgrading on is class certified as a DP2 vessel, or NI won’t accept it.

Check to see if the vessel is already listed in the NI vessel database.

3

I did it the same way, online, 2 day air mailed it over there, waited 2 weeks, received a email that it was approved, and never heard another word, I sent them a email about how long it takes after I was approved to receive it, the next day fed ex dropped it at my house, took about 3 weeks for me, not to bad being across the Atlantic

4

I heard someone say that scanning it and emailing it will be required here soon if not already. I don’t know because I’m not ready to send mine off, but if its true, it will save time and money

5

You still have to send your book in, dp time sea time letter, and a good idea to send in stcw documentation,
Would be nice to be able to scan, but they sign your book and put a sticker in it,

6

Oh OK. I just went online and read it for myself. I see what you’re saying.

7

Thanks for all the feedback. I’ll check out the site to make sure the vessel is classed properly. Do I have to document hours for this, or just days?

8

Get with your company and have them draft you a dp sea time letter, there is a example on NI web site, takes some looking, ECO has the dp sea time letter, mine said vessel info-days on vessel-days on dp in a format,
The NI says 1 hour on dp can be counted as a day, make sure you can prove that with dp logs if they audit your. Company for info on you
That NI web site is not easy to navigate-they have stuff all over the place,
I had No problems at all, just takes longer now that you have to have 180 days on DP(at least 1hr), but that is
Ok, that way the new DPO has a little more experience before being cut loose