# Upgrading to an Unlimited DPO **URL:** \ **Category:** Offshore\ **Created:** [April 1, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/upgrading-to-an-unlimited-dpo/7251 "2012-04-01T04:27:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![crabboyjimmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5fc32e/32.png) [@crabboyjimmy](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/crabboyjimmy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/upgrading-to-an-unlimited-dpo/7251/1 "2012-04-01T04:27:44Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![water](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/water/32/131_2.png) [@water](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/water)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/upgrading-to-an-unlimited-dpo/7251/2 "2012-04-01T17:30:28Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![capo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@capo](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/capo)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/upgrading-to-an-unlimited-dpo/7251/3 "2012-04-01T21:05:23Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![ryanwood86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@ryanwood86](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ryanwood86)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/upgrading-to-an-unlimited-dpo/7251/4 "2012-04-01T22:03:24Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![capo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@capo](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/capo)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/upgrading-to-an-unlimited-dpo/7251/5 "2012-04-01T22:18:44Z")
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, ---
**Author:** ![ryanwood86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@ryanwood86](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ryanwood86)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/upgrading-to-an-unlimited-dpo/7251/6 "2012-04-01T23:45:11Z")
Oh OK. I just went online and read it for myself. I see what you’re saying. ---
**Author:** ![crabboyjimmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5fc32e/32.png) [@crabboyjimmy](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/crabboyjimmy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/upgrading-to-an-unlimited-dpo/7251/7 "2012-04-02T04:07:30Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![capo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@capo](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/capo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/upgrading-to-an-unlimited-dpo/7251/8 "2012-04-02T04:24:01Z")
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