Kongsberg DP emergency scenario course

The training course took place at a Helix Energy Solutions training centre in Aberdeen for 11 of its employees.

The course offered practical emergency response training using Helix company procedures, as well as focusing on operations carried out by Helix’s vessel, Well Enhancer.

It demonstrated a number of scenarios and stress testing Critical Activity Mode of Operation (CAMO) along with the Task Appropriate Mode (TAM). The crew were also trained in learning how the DP system responds to specific failures.

The first day of the course involved a familiarisation to the Kongsberg K-Pos DP system, followed by three days of practical scenario training. This included a review of significant industry DP related incidents, which resulted in the Dynamic Positioning Officer (DPO) taking manual control of the vessel.

An emphasis was put on the importance of human factors which can often influence a person’s decision-making abilities during an incident.

After significant support and learning, delegates were placed into KONGSBERG’s training simulator, K-Sim, which provides a realistic on-shore training environment. The simulator has been designed to replicate the bridge of a ship, with large computer screens projecting 3D imagery of the marine environment, complete with production platforms and support vessels.

By placing delegates in specific environmental conditions and creating realistic DP scenarios, including close proximity emergency station keeping and emergency manoeuvring, the training instructor is able to assess participant responses.

The aim of this part of the training was to encompass human factors in a way which cannot be taught in a classroom-based environment alone. The K-Sim is designed to support operations, test procedures, increase competence and minimise errors.

Course participants included the DP operational crew from Helix’s vessel, Seawell, which is engaged in diving operations in the North Sea.

The complex and dangerous operation a Diving Support Vessel (DSV) can undertake is working within an anchor pattern of a Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO), therefore a sound understanding of DP and related operational factors is crucial, to mitigate potential incidents.

Kongsberg’s aim was to leave delegates with an appreciation of how their individual responses can impact on others and operations in times of serious emergency.

The course also included a talk from a leading industry expert from DNV GL who outlined the major changes that are currently underway in the DP community.

By Alice Mason