Who should attend
The course is designed for Deck Officers, Engineer Officers and personnel working toward an STCW Certificate of Competency (COC) who wish to start The Nautical Institute’s DP Operator Training Scheme.
Course highlights
This course is the entry level Dynamic Positioning course and is required by all navigation officers engaged on DP operated vessels. It involves both theory and practice on a simulated DP system and covers the following topics:
- Principles of DP
- Elements of the DP system
- Practical operation of the DP system
- Position reference systems
- Environment sensors and ancillary equipment
- Power generation and supply and propulsion
- DP operations.
This course has Nautical Institute accreditation and the successful applicant will be able to obtain a NI – DP logbook (purchased separately at NZMS) and work towards the DPO status.
Key facts
Start Date(s)
Monday 4 August 2025 – Friday 8 August 2025
Monday 17 November 2025 – Friday 21 November 2025
Minimum numbers apply to run this course and may be cancelled closer to the time.
Duration
Five days
Time
8am - 4pm
Study location(s)
Study method
In-class
Domestic fees
$4,007 (approx.) plus $250 for logbook
International fees (NZD)
NZD4,007 (approx.) plus $250 for logbook
Course code
942.629
Offered by
School of NZ Maritime
Entry requirements
The minimum entry qualifications are set at STCW Regulation II/1 – II/2 – II/3 for deck officers; Regulation III/1 – III /2 – III/3 – III/6 for engine officers; and Regulation III/6 for ETOs, or be studying towards one of these certificates:
| STCW | Definition |
| II/1 | Officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500gt or more |
| II/2 | Master or chief mate on ships of 500gt or more |
| II/3 | Officers in charge of a navigational watch and Masters on ships of less than 500gt |
| III/1 | Officers in charge of an engineering watch in a manned engine room or designated duty engineers in a periodically unmanned engine room |
| III/2 | Chief engineer officers and second engineer officers on ships powered by main
propulsion machinery of 3,000kW propulsion power or more |
| III/3 | Chief engineer officers and second engineer officers on ships powered by main
propulsion machinery of between 750kW and 3,000kW propulsion power |
| III/6 | Electro-technical officer |
Naval officers with appropriate watchkeeping qualifications may be accepted into the training scheme
NB: Students are required to bring their STCW certificate for verification of eligibility (a copy will be taken)
The DP logbook can be purchased from the School for $250 (please supply 1 passport sized photograph
