The online process for New, Upgrade and Conversion applications has now been updated and no longer includes the requirement for the PDF Checklist to be included with the other documents to be uploaded to the online application.
Please note that these changes will apply only to those who have completed the declaration on the checkout page when applying. If you have applied before these changes, you will still need to print and complete the checklist and send with the rest of your documents.
Please note that as of 23rd May 2022, the paper version of the DP certificate will no longer be sent via email once your certificate has been issued. This was a measure put into place because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, as NI staff were processing applications remotely and documents were delayed in being returned. All issued certificates are returned the following week, the only exception being initial applications where documents have not yet been received. If you wish to verify your DP certificate, you can do this by using the ‘Verify DP Certificate’ button at the top of the page.
The Nautical Institute has granted an immediate extension to the validity period of these DP Certificates due to expire during 2022. Please read the circular below for full details.
Due to the current crisis in Ukraine, DHL has suspended all deliveries to both Ukraine and Russia for the foreseeable future. We will be holding documents with a return address in either of these countries until an alternative address is provided. If you wish to update your address, you may do this by signing into your Alexis Platform account and updating your personal details.
Please note that if you wish your documents to be returned to a company address, we will also require the name and job title of the person who is to receive the documents on your behalf.
We have moved to new premises. Our new postal address with immediate effect is 200b Lambeth Road, London, SE1 7JY, UK. All other contact details remain the same.
The 2021 Dynamic Positioning Accreditation and Certification Standard Volumes 1 and 2 have now been published, and are available to view and download here.
This includes the introduction of a brand new training scheme for DP Vessel Maintainers (DPVMs) - key technical DP personnel in a range of non-bridge watchkeeping roles with existing experience, as well as those wishing to train. Details can be found in Annex I of Vol 1, as well as in the upcoming February edition of Seaways.
Due to the new lockdown restrictions in the UK, there will be a further reduction of staff present at the NI offices. This means that there will be a delay in the return of documents and certificates once processed. The Certification Team will still be processing remotely and issuing paper versions of the certificates via email. The card certificates will then be sent as soon as possible and an email from our courier will be sent automatically once they have been collected.. Thank you for your patience.
The DP revalidation process has now been updated to be an online only application. This means that the revalidation of your documents will be based on the uploaded scans and the new DP Card certificate will then be sent out from our office. You will not need to send your documents into our office unless specifically requested to do so.
Please note that these changes will apply only to those who have completed the declaration on the checkout page when applying. If you applied before these changes, you will still need to send your documents into our office for processing.
Offshore New Scheme/Shuttle Tanker Scheme Initial Training
The training time for initial certification for those on the New Offshore Scheme and Shuttle Tanker scheme has increased from four to five years. This is for those who started the scheme after 1 January 2015 and hold a grey A5 offshore logbook or a burgundy/red A5 shuttle tanker logbook. These arrangements provide an enhanced opportunity for DPOs to complete their training when fewer opportunities for on-board experience are available.
Offshore Old Scheme Initial Training
The training time for initial certification for those on the Offshore Old Scheme has been increased from five to six years. This is for those who started the scheme before 1 January 2015 hold a small blue logbook, or an A5 black logbook with a logbook number starting 121. If you are applying online, please contact us to make your application eligible.
Revalidation Applicants
DPO’s whose certificates are due for revalidation from 1 March 2020 and 30 September 2020 are still able to apply for their new certificate in the normal way. Those due for revalidation are being processed online and so applicants should ensure that their scanned documentation is clearly legible to avoid queries and delays.
When a new certificate is issued, this will be issued for 5 years from original expiry date.
All Applicants
The Nautical Institute is still accepting documents into the office and processing applications so if you are ready to apply, please complete your application online and send your documents into our office.
Please note that as of 23rd May 2022, the paper version of the DP certificate will no longer be sent via email once your certificate has been issued. This was a measure put into place because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, as NI staff were processing applications remotely and documents were delayed in being returned. All issued certificates are returned the following week, the only exception being initial applications where documents have not yet been received. If you wish to verify your DP certificate, you can do this by using the ‘Verify DP Certificate’ button at the top of the page.
Visit our coronavirus information page, designed to provide you with practical help and advice in coping with the current health crisis.
In response to the global impact of COVID-19 and in accordance with the advice of the UK authorities, The Nautical Institute is currently running with reduced office staff. Be assured we are making every effort to minimise the impact on the certification processes for DPOs while looking after the well-being of our staff.
This notice gives guidance on the actions being taken and the impact on applications.
Please be guided by the following:
Initial applications
The online application system remains open and applications are still being accepted. Please note that there are likely to be delays in processing applications.
Revalidation Applications
Certificates due to expire between 1 March 2020 and 30 September 2020 will be extended for an additional 6 months (this will show on the certificate look-ups early next week). When revalidation of your current certificate is complete, the new certificate will be valid for no more than five years from the original expiry date.
If revalidation documents have already been sent to NIHQ, a new indemnity letter will be issued shortly. This will extend the indemnity period by six months. This means it will be valid for nine months instead of the normal three.
If you have already applied and completed your application online, but have not sent your documents, we are still accepting these applications. Please note that there are likely to be delays in processing applications.
Ice Navigation Applications
These applications are still being accepted. Please contact icenavigation@nautinst.org.
In all cases:
If you need to contact the certification team, please note that due to the coronavirus outbreak many Nautical Institute staff are working from home. As a result, we are currently unable to take telephone calls. Please instead contact us via the help centre
We thank you for your understanding at this time.
As of 18 March 2020 The Nautical Institute will be working on a reduced capacity due to the recent outbreak of COVID-19.
We are working hard to get as many of the applications in the office processed as we can, but please note that there may be some unavoidable delay.
Lots of information is available on the website so kindly visit the help centre first and if you do not find the answer to your query, please contact us via email. Our response may be delayed due to the high volume of emails and reduced staff so we ask that if you do not get an immediate response, you do not resend the email multiple times as this will cause further delay.
Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.
Guidance for Ship Operators for the Protection of the Health of Seafarers - issued by the International Chamber of Shipping
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance
Please click here to visit our accreditation pages where you can download the new version of our DP Standard for 2020
January 2020
Please click here to visit our accreditation pages where you can download the new version of our DP Standard for 2020
July 2017
On 1st July 2017, The Nautical Institute Launched the new Ice Navigation Scheme. Click here for more information and downloadable documents.
You can also read the Nautical Institute Press Release here.
Please see below information that the NI has received from Swire Pacific Offshore in relation to fraudulent emails being sent in their name:
It has been brought to our attention that several seafarers have recently received emails from purported “representatives” of Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO), offering the recipients various seafaring positions in the Company. Please take notice that this is a fraudulent scam and these purported “representatives” have nothing to do with SPO. The fraudsters operate under various psuedonyms such as ‘Philip Owens’ and ‘Christopher Douglas’.
This appears to be a similar scam to that encountered last year, in respect of which we have lodged advisory warnings on our corporate website as seen in this link, http://www.swire.com.sg/Media/News-Archive/2016/Email-Recruitment-Scam-targeted-at-seafarers.aspx
January 2017
The DP Revalidation Course is now available for those who do not have the required 150 DP sea time days to revalidate their DP Certificate. You can find the list of accredited training centres here. For more information on the course please check our new Accreditation and Certification Standard V1 - Jan 2017, and our Revalidation help pages
January 2017
The Nautical Institute Revalidation Logbook is now available for purchase at a cost of £25.00 (excluding VAT). Please see the logbook order form here. Please note that the name and DP Certificate number will be entered in the logbook when issued.
This new green logbook is A5 sized with 60 pages and a flexible cover designed to be more lightweight that the previous A5 logbooks. This logbook can be used for the revalidation of the Offshore DP Certificate and Shuttle Tanker DP Certificate. It can also be used for the conversion of a DP Certificate.
Please visit our Revalidation and Converting Help Pages for more details.
November 2016
In 2004, the NI made an agreement with the Norwegian Maritime Directorate (NMD) to accept their DP certificates for the award of an equivalent Nautical Institute DP certificate. This position was reaffirmed by DPTEG in November 2014.
The NI offers existing NMD certificate holders the opportunity to convert to a Nautical Institute DP certificate if they meet the criteria for NI revalidation.
Full details of the application can be found on the revalidation page
If training centres or shipping companies are approached by NMD certificate holders, they are advised to refer them to The Nautical Institute in the first instance, to advise them on what steps to take and to ensure that their accounts have been set up to accept their online applications.
November 2015
Please check here if the scenario you are facing is under test or development and get instructions on how to proceed in these scenarios: Advice to DP Applicants - Nov 2015
July 2015
If you have been issued with an Offshore scheme logbook with a number between 15OF0205001 to 15OF0210000, please note the training centre which originally issued that logbook will be contacting you shortly. They will supply additional pages containing the sign-off sheets for tasks that are missing in those numbered logbooks only.
These extra task sheets will need to be filled in by the DPO and Master on board and added to your application when you are ready to apply for your certificate. If you have a logbook with one of the above numbers, these four tasks will be accepted if they are signed off during Phase D DP seatime. All other tasks must be completed during Phase B, as per the scheme standard. The application will be deemed unsuccessful if the tasks in the logbook are not signed off correctly.
Please see below circular for more information and copies of the additional pages.
Circular 007/2015 with additional task sections missing in the Offshore logbook.
