D10 – Dynamic Positioning
This course covers the architecture, control, measurement, hydrodynamics and redundancy of dynamic positioning systems for offshore vessels, from feedback-control principles and position-reference chains to environmental loads, thruster allocation, equipment classes and operational decision-making.
£299.00
20 hours
Focused, self-paced learning designed to fit around professional schedules.
Online, self-paced
Study online at a pace that fits your schedule.
8 sections
Structured curriculum sections.
English
Language of instruction for this course.
Quiz count: 6 total
Knowledge checks and assessed activities.
37 lessons
Focused lessons organised into a clear learning path.
Course overview
Relevance to CPD: Refreshes the control, measurement, hydrodynamic and redundancy reasoning engineers need when specifying, assessing or operating DP vessels.
1. Explain the functional architecture and operating principles of a dynamic positioning system.
Designed for: engineering graduates looking for refresher courses in niche expert areas.
Entry requirements: an engineering degree or equivalent experience, plus basic feedback control (error, gain and stability ideas) and basic vessel motions (surge, sway and yaw); no prior DP operator certificate is assumed.
What you will learn
Explain the functional architecture and operating principles of a dynamic positioning system.
Analyse feedback-control behaviour, stability, and PID tuning choices in DP applications.
Evaluate position-reference and measurement systems for accuracy, latency, redundancy, and failure modes.
Interpret the hydrodynamic and vessel-dynamics factors that govern DP station-keeping performance.
Compare propulsion, power, and redundancy arrangements against DP operational requirements and equipment classes.
Assess DP system choices for offshore applications, operating modes, and crew decision-making contexts.
Skills and knowledge
Dynamic positioning
Control theory
PID control
Position reference systems
Hydrodynamics
Thruster allocation
Redundancy
Offshore operations
Course curriculum
Introduction
1.1 Welcome
DP Fundamentals
2.1 What DP Is
2.2 Why DP Is Used
2.3 System Layout
2.4 History and Failures
2.5 Quiz 1 (quiz)
Control Theory
3.1 Feedback Loops
3.2 Linear Models and Laplace
3.3 Poles and Stability
3.4 Routh Criterion
3.5 PID for DP
3.6 Quiz 2 (quiz)
Measurement Systems
4.1 What Must Be Measured
4.2 Position References
4.3 Orientation and Environment
4.4 Filtering and Validation
4.5 DP Current and Faults
4.6 Quiz 3 (quiz)
Hydrodynamics
5.1 Environmental Loads
5.2 Hydrodynamic Derivatives
5.3 Ship Stability Modes
5.4 Nonlinear and Wave Effects
5.5 Station-Keeping Dynamics
5.6 Wave Feed-Forward
5.7 Quiz 4 (quiz)
Propulsion and Redundancy
6.1 Thrusters and Propulsion
6.2 Power and Allocation
6.3 Equipment Classes
6.4 FMEA and Consequence
6.5 Redundancy Exercise
6.6 Quiz 5 (quiz)
Offshore Applications
7.1 Operational Uses
7.2 Planning and Watchkeeping
7.3 People and Competence
7.4 Integrated Application Cases
7.5 Quiz 6 (quiz)
Summary
8.1 Key Takeaways
Ready to enrol?
£299.00