DP INTERVIEW

01. A single failure includes:

a. Any active component or system (Generators, Thrusters,

Switchboards, remote Control valves etc.).
b. Any normally static component (cables, pipes, manual valves etc.)
which may immediately affect position keeping capabilities upon
failure or is not properly documented with respect to protection and
reliability.
02. What are restrictions on redundancy with DGPS?
Multiple DGPS of the same type shall not be considered as
redundant. Redundancy of
Multiple DGPS systems shall be achieved by diversity (e.g. using
different DGPS Supplies or GPS and GLONASS).
03. How many PRS would be for DP Class 2?
03
04. How many degrees are in a safe sector?

120degree safe sector

OR 5.14.4 Where DP operations take place close to an Offshore
Installation and within the mooring spread of another unit, then the
DPV shall have a minimum 120-degree safe sector clear as an
emergency escape route. If a 120 degree safe sector is not possible
then the specific operation / project risk assessment process should
address this issue such that the safe sector available to the vessel is
deemed to be sufficient to allow safe exit if required.
05. How many PRS in 200m?
Two Position Reference Systems (PRS) to be selected and activated
within 200m of Structure.
06. How many PRS before commencing site operation?
1
 Three position reference systems to be selected and activated before
commencing site operation.
07. WHAT IS THE ALARM LIMITS FOR HEADING AND
POSITION DEVIATION AND WHEN OPERATING ON DP?
Ab. Alarm limits for position and heading to be set to 2m and 2
degree during the operation.

08. WHAT IS A REDUNDANT DP SYSTEM? 6.2.1 Redundancy?

Redundancy involves designing a system with independent
components in parallel, so that the
System can still function if one component fails. The simplest version,
dual redundancy, involves two components in parallel.
The IMO Guidelines define redundancy as “ability of a component or
system to maintain or Restore its function, when a single failure has
occurred”. This appears to equate redundancy to Ability to withstand
any single failure. However, this is impractical because of common
cause Failures (see below) and hence is confusing.
Elsewhere, redundancy is usually defined without reference to failure.
For example, IEC 61511 Defines redundancy as “use of multiple
elements or systems to perform the same function”. This Is slightly
more relevant to DP systems than the definition in IEC 61508.
Are changes needed? It would be preferable if the IMO Guidelines
could be made consistent
With the IEC definition. Meanwhile, this can readily be clarified
through improved guidance.
09. When was the last DP Drill?
One week ago.

10. What is TAGOS?

2
 Thruster and generator operating strategy. Here, we have very simple
strategy: at all time, all the thrusters and generators must be running
with the Bus Tie Open.
11. What is TAM?
Task activity mode. This is risk base DP mode, when DP system
could be set and operated, and DPO accepted and understand, that
due to this mode failure could appear and exceed WCS limit, but risk
caused by Black out or loss of position is low and no dangerous to
the people, environment and equipment. For example: disconnect 1
Z-Drive during ship to ship transfer, outside 500m Zone, in DP, for
reducing the flow from thruster, which effects another Ship.

12. What is ASOG?

Activity specific operational guidelines. The matrix, which gives you
specific actions to be taken during different situations and conditions,
during DP Operation. Divided on GREEN BLUE (Advisory) YELLOW
(Degraded) RED (Emergency) sectors. ASOG is different with CAM
and TAM specifically, to a known specific location and activity. The
Ship’s ASOG should have appropriate TYPE of ACTIVITY and TYPE
of LOCATION for each Vessel (weather condition, drive off and drift
off scenario, minimum thrusters required for activity, communication
etc.)
13. What is CAMO?
Critical activity mode of operations. Tabulated presentation of how to
configure (adjust) DP system, incl. Power Generators, Distribution,
Propulsion and PRS, that DP remains fault resistant. Must be used
when DP activities identified as critical. CAMO ensuring, that a single
failure will not result a condition exceeding the vessel’s identified
worst-case scenario (WCS). (like bus tie should be open, black out
drills conducted, all UPS is working, emergency Stops tested before
arrival, no faults on generators, all PRS active and working, sea water
cooling working properly etc.)

3
14. What kind of DP Drill do you know?
1. DRIVE OFF (Undesired force on Z Drive: deselect and/or
emergency stop).
2.DRIFT OFF (Lost position due to GPS 1 and 2 Failure due to
HDOP Horizontal Dilution of Precision: deselect GPS1 and 2, using of
Radascan and Syscan).
3. UPS FAILURE (Audible and visible 'UPS 1 common alarm', DP
redundancy degraded, but keeping position: pull out for investigation).
4. SWBRD FAILURE (Audible and text alarms 'Thr 2 RIO: Open
loop / Cable break' came up. Afterward alarms 'Thr 2 input error
power' and 'Thr 2 not ready' popped up, consequence analysis drift
off warning' alarm sounded. Pull out for investigation).
5. PRS FAILURE.
6. GYRO FAILURE (Aud/Vis alarm “Heading Dropout”, deselect,
using another 2 GYRO).
7. THRUSTER FAILURE.
8. EMERGENCY ESCAPE MANEUVER (H2S alarm sounded, pull
out by Joystick).
9. WCS (1, 4, 5 Thr out of order, stbd SWBD and thrusters Nos. 2 & 3
online).
10. SHORT CIRCUIT FAILURE (BLACK OUT), simulation. MDG 1
automatically started by PLC after 25s.
11. DP Control transfer. Lost Control on OS1 & OS2. Transfer to
CJoy;
12. Software Glitch. OS1 monitor frozen. Transfer to OS2;
13. Fire in Galley. DP Emergency

15. What is the Capability Plot?

4
 Capability plots show the likely environmental limits within which a DP
vessel will effectively return to the wanted position.
There are 2 Capability Plots showing by the system:
1. Present condition (DP2 mode, all in good working order)
2. Worst Case Scenario.
16. Is a use of Joy Stick Manual mode while maneuvering to
come alongside a platform or well head boat landing allowed?
The use of Joy Stick Manual mode while maneuvering to come
alongside a platform or well head boat landing is strictly prohibited.

17. What kind of DP documentation/manuals must be

presented on board?
FMEA, Annual Sea Trials, 6hr DP Check Lists, Arrival DP CL, 500m
Zone CL, Engine Room CL, DP Operations Manual, DP Drill Matrix,
DP Incident Report, DP Footprints, Capability Plot, DP Operator
Manual, Working Profiles and Capabilities of equipment

18. The worst case scenario indicates by FMEA (200 series)?

1. In benign weather with “two island” operation (SB and CE+PS
section). Any fault in CE+PS section leaves one azimuthing thruster
aft and one tunnel thruster forward for station keeping;
2. In benign weather with “two island” operation (PS and CE+SB
section). Any fault in CE+SB section leaves one azimuthing thruster
aft and one tunnel thruster forward for station keeping
3. Short circuit in any of the 24 V DC distribution board. One
thruster forward, one thruster aft lost.
4. Any fault in the SB or PS switchboard sections, one thruster
forward, and one thruster aft lost.

19. What is 7 main Elements of DP?

5
 1. Operator. 5. PRS.
2. DP Computer (or controller). 6. Power Supply.
3. DP Operator Station. 7. Thruster.
4. Sensors (Wind, MRU, VRS, Gyro heading repeater, bearing
repeater).
DP System by SIMO
DP Consist of Sub System: -
1. Power System
2. Thruster System
3. DP Control System
20. What is Consequence Analysis?
The online Consequence Analysis function continuously performs an
analysis of the Vessel’s ability to maintain its position after predefined
worst case failure, during DP operation. If “Cons. Analysis warning
on” message appeared, that means Vessel will not able to keep
position with present heading and present weather condition during
Worst Case Scenario.

21. What Document regulates work on the weather side of the

installation?
The Risk Assessment

22. What is the Foot Prints? How often have to be performed?

6
 DP Foot prints designed for monitoring the actual Vessel’s
movements from its desired position on a period of time. Usually
using 30 seconds interval to fix position, during 10 minutes. After we
can see deviation sector of movements. Have to be done whenever is
possible, outside 500m Zone.

23. Emergency Alerts:

1- Green (Normal operational status):
Adequate equipment is on line to meet the required performance
within the declared safe
24. Working limits:
2- Yellow (Degraded DP status):
In general it is the condition where one or more items of redundant
DP equipment have failed, safe working limits are being exceeded or
an excursion of heading or position is a Possibility.
3- Red (DP emergency status):
This is where there is a loss of position, or position loss is inevitable

25. What should be a distance from a platform?

No part of vessel to be within 10m of platform or any other surface

structure or subsea structure except for gangway accommodation
vessels.

26. What is the different between DP 1 - DP 2 and DP 3?

7
 Equipment Class 1
Has no redundancy. Loss of position may occur in the event of a
single fault.
Equipment Class 2
Has redundancy so that no single fault in an active system will cause
the system to fail. Loss of position should not occur from a single fault
of an active component or system such as generators, thruster,
switchboards, remote controlled valves etc. But may occur after
failure of a static component such as cables, pipes, manual valves
etc.
Equipment Class 3
Which also has to withstand fire or flood in any one compartment
without the system failing. Loss of position should not occur from any
single failure including a completely burnt fire sub division or flooded
watertight compartment,
Automatic and manual position and heading control under specified
maximum environmental conditions, during and following any single
fault including loss of a compartment due to fire or flood. (At least two
independent computer systems with a separate back-up system
separated by A60 class division).
27. What is the types and differences between satellite
reference systems?

28. What is acoustic reference systems and its limitations?

8
29. How many PRS onboard on your Vessel, explain each
PRS?

30. On Radius & Spot track which reference system you rely
more and explain why?

31. What is the Errors of DGPS and how can you correct the
errors of DGPS?

32. How you position the reflectors during crane operation?

33. What will happen immediately if you lose all PRS?

34. What is your action DGPS not receiving signals?

35. What Is the Kalman filter and how do you remove errors in
Kalman filter?

9
36. Why do you deselect the wind sensor and explain wind
feed forward?

37. How many Total UPS and allocation and Replacement of

UPS batteries?

38. What is your action if you Loss of UPS?

39. What is the situations of bow thrusters will not act

properly?

40. What happens when one thruster is lost?

41. What is your action if you Loss of one Azimuth thruster?

10
42. What is your action if you are under the Rig and one
azimuth struck to 100%?

43. How many Total number of thrusters for your Vessel and
how they are configured?

44. What is your action if CPU failure and DP computer off?

45. Explain last IMCA DP bulletin… Thruster uncontrollable

movement, what is your action?

46. What is Biasing?

47. What is the Real current and DP current?

48. What is DP Storm test?

49. What is MRU and what is the use of MRU?

50. When do you carry out calibration of MRU?

11
51. How often MRU be de-calibrated onboard?

52. How long the UPS must support?

53. What all emergency stops you can access on the Bridge
and DP system?

54. What is your action if entering shallow water for DP

operation?

55. What is the Thruster response in shallow water and deep

water?

56. What is the Emergency Generator consumers?

57. What meant by Auto DP?

58. What about Power Management System of your Vessel?

12
59. Currently which Field are you working explain Vessel
configuration as per ASOG?

60. Your DP screen is frozen how do you know and you are
inside 500m zone do you restart the computer?

 If not what is your action

 If the Rig is still pushing for one lift urgent cargo and with
frozen screen what is your action?

61. What is the Latest IMO flash related to DP and IMO flash
related to FMEA & DP Annual trials

62. What is the Latest IMCA flash related to DP?

63. Explain approach speed inside 500m zone?

13
14
15