DP Annual Trials

Our expert practitioners conduct DP trials for the following vessel types:

• Supply
• Dive support
• ROV support
• Survey
• Crane
• Cabling laying
• Drilling
• Battery hybrid vessels

After we write the tests, a qualified and experienced surveyor attends the vessel to conduct and witness them, and any findings are discussed with the onboard team before the surveyor leaves the vessel. All our trials comply with the requirements of IMCA and the classification society.

Battery Hybrid Vessels

We have substantial experience of writing trials for battery hybrid vessels, including the original proving trials, and subsequent annual and five-year periodic

DP Annual Trials

Every year, for 4 years, an annual trials programme is carried out within 3 months before or after the proving trials. This is a shorter survey, to ensure the DP system is in good working order and the redundancy concept remains intact. All the main items are tested, some of them simultaneously. The vessel’s ability to remain in position and manoeuvrable in DP control after the worst-case single failure is tested.

Five Year Periodic Trials

At intervals not exceeding 5 years (and multiples) from the proving trials, a periodic DP trial is carried out. This repeats most tests in the proving trials, though there may be a few omissions, for example, exploratory tests to confirm an item of equipment belongs to a particular redundant group do not have to be repeated, as this relationship does not change with time unless modifications have been made.

On year 6, the annual trials resume.

DP Proving Trials

DP FMEA proving trials prove the failure modes and dependencies between equipment described in the FMEA are still accurate.

Whilst We Are Onboard

We can provide a service where the FMEA and DP Operations Manual are reviewed and compared to the trial results, to ensure they are still up to date. Or we can do this after the surveyor has left the vessel.

Related Services

DP Operations Manual

All DP vessels that need an FMEA also require a DP Operations Manual. Vassallo Associates can write and supply this document either at the same time as an FMEA, or independently. We are experienced in all Dynamic Positioning test and inspection services.

Activity Specific Operating Guidelines

All DP vessels require Activity Specific Operating Guidelines, consisting of a Critical Activity Mode (CAM) and Activity Specific Operating Guidelines (ASOG), which we provide in an editable format to enable modification as the vessel changes jobs, clients and area of operation. The document also gives advice on Task Appropriate Mode (TAM) setup.

FMEA (Failure Mode Effect and Analysis)

A DP FMEA study is available from Vassallo Associates for the following:

• New Vessels
• Conversions
• Upgrades from DP class 1 to DP class 2
• Re-write for existing vessels to reflect its current equipment or to upgrade an old FMEA

We are experienced in FEMA’s writing for battery hybrid offshore vessels and associated trials.

We operate from offices based in London and Malta, however, we can travel nationally and internationally to provide client support.