DP Centre Celebrates 10 Years

THE Dynamic Positioning Center, part of the C-MAR Group, is celebrating 10 years as the world’s leading Dynamic Positioning (DP) training provider.

In the last decade the organization has built up a strong global presence with five centers of excellence across the globe in London, Singapore, Mumbai, Croatia and Brazil. Recognized as the leading provider of Nautical Institute (NI) accredited courses to the marine community, the DP Centre trains more students to NI standards than any other international DP training provider.

A combination of investment in facilities and a commitment to providing DP courses that fully prepare students for the challenges of being an effective DP Operator means that the organization has maintained its position at the forefront of the international DP marketplace. Offering training well in excess of the accepted minimum industry requirements, the DP Center was also the first NI accredited training facility that made it a pre-requisite for all of its DP Instructors to be fully qualified DP Operators with at least five years of operational experience.

Its training mandate also requires that its instructors have operated across a wide variety of vessels including dive support, anchor handling, platform supply and drilling. This means that students are able to tap into the invaluable experience of instructors and guarantees operational knowledge as opposed to the traditional method of textbook only training.

Founded in London in August 2000, the DP Center was formed in direct response to the need for a top class training provision in DP following the rise in the use of DP vessels in the marine and energy industries. Since then it has expanded into Singapore (2003), Brazil (2007), Croatia (2008) and opened in Mumbai in August 2009.

In addition, all five DP centers provide technical services to the marine industry through consultancy for the design and operation of DP vessels, Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA) and audits to IMCA standards. As part of the C-MAR Group, the DP Center allows clients to access a huge range of additional expertise via its core services that include marine operations, management and consultancy, recruitment services, subsea and electrical engineering.

Appointed in 2009, the DP Center is now headed up by Peter Aylott, one of the industry’s most reputable navigation specialists. As chief operating officer (COO) for training at C-MAR Group, Peter is spearheading the delivery of an increased training portfolio by the Group, reinforcing an already significant service offering in DP training, fluid power hydraulics skills and maintenance tuition.

With a career that spans more than 15 years service in the Royal Navy, he has navigated the navy’s biggest warship, HMS Ocean, and seen active service on this vessel during the invasion of Iraq. His latter role with the Royal Navy was in charge of the navigation school at HMS Collingwood. He went on to join the Nautical Institute in 2007 as director of professional development.

He said: “Our Dynamic Positioning Centers are now globally recognized as the first port of call for DP training and skills. We have created centers of excellence around the globe to provide the energy and maritime industries with a service that is critical to the marine and oil and gas sectors. “In the last 10 years the DP Center has raised the bar in DP training provision by offering tailored DP courses that address specific needs within the industry. We are committed to providing excellence in DP instruction from contemporary facilities around the globe.”