DP Mini Guide: Entering & Leaving DP

Crew Connect DP Academy · Mini Guide 27

Entering & Leaving DP

Topic: DP Operations · Sub-topic: Entering/Leaving DP  ·  Level: DPO  ·  Read time: 8 min

1. What / Why / How

Entering DP is a structured sequence, not a single button press: completing pre-DP checks (references, sensors, thrusters, power, alarms all confirmed healthy), acquiring and verifying position on the selected references, confirming the computed position genuinely agrees with reality, and only then transitioning control.

2. Recognition / Risk / But

If two of three selected references disagree by more than expected for a stationary vessel during pre-DP checks, proceeding into Auto DP bakes an unresolved discrepancy into the foundation of the position solution from the first moment. But: before concluding the disagreement is disqualifying, investigate and resolve it — identify which reference is likely correct and understand why, rather than either ignoring it or assuming it's automatically disqualifying.

3. Now / What next / Decision / Why

Correcting a genuine calibration offset and confirming real agreement across all three references buys a trustworthy starting position for the whole operation — the investigation itself confirms which explanation was true, rather than assuming the convenient one.

4. Consequence / Reassess / Escalate

Leaving DP deserves the same deliberateness: confirming the vessel's actual configuration is appropriate for the transition, ensuring the bridge team has full situational awareness before manual control resumes, and completing operation-closing communication. An abrupt, unannounced switch can leave whoever takes manual control without the context Auto DP was quietly managing.

5. Recover / Verify / Human factor

A deliberate handover protects against a gap in situational awareness exactly when control authority changes hands. Trap: treating leaving DP as a formality that needs no verification of its own.

Sources: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1580, IMCA M103 Rev.5.2, IMCA M117 Rev.3.3. This guide is educational content, not a substitute for accredited DP training, vessel-specific FMEA/ASOG, or full-mission simulator assessment. Crew Connect never infers compliance with a specific vessel's applicable requirements — always verify against your own approved documents.