I very much agree with the letter written by member number 179359 regarding the high costs of attaining and revalidating dynamic positioning (DP) certification.
When I qualified for my DP certificate in 1992, after almost five years working as a dynamic positioning operator (DPO), it was valid for life, with no requirement to keep revalidating. In fact, it wasn't a requirement to have a DP certificate at all, and many DPOs of the time did not have one.
The Nautical Institute scheme and the training programme was very good and worked well for around 20 years until revalidation was introduced.
Since then, the goal posts have indeed been moved, several times, with qualified DPOs now having to jump through hoops just to keep their certificates and their jobs.
Are DPOs now any better than they were in the 1990s? I think not. It's all part of the great revalidation rip-off!
Chris Ryan
More letters
In memory of Anthony (Tony) Fell
In memory of Anthony (Tony) Fell, a former Council member and a Union member since 1963 who was dedicated to furthering the development of radio officers.
SED should be extended to all those at sea for over six months a year
Given the changes in the operation of UK-flagged vessels, is it not time for the rules around claiming Seafarers' Earnings Deduction to be reviewed?
Scarlett Barnett-Smith: the maritime woman my mother wanted to be
I was very pleased to read in the last edition of the Telegraph about the success of recently-qualified officer Scarlett Barnett-Smith, whom I first met during her time at the Port of London Authority (PLA)