A&M Galveston first to get accredited courses for system used in drillships

A supply vessel is shown next to the Discoverer Inspiration, an ultra-deepwater drillship, on Tuesday, March 30, 2010. ( Melissa Phillip / Chronicle ) A supply vessel is shown next to the Discoverer Inspiration, an ultra-deepwater drillship, on Tuesday, March 30, 2010. ( Melissa Phillip / Chronicle ) Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff / Houston Chronicle Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close A&M Galveston first to get accredited courses for system used in drillships 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Texas A&M Maritime Academy is becoming the first school to provide accredited coursework for operating a system commonly used aboard drillships and offshore supply vessels.

Dynamic positioning is a computer-controlled system that automatically keeps a vessel floating in one spot. It takes a host of information from the ship's propellers and thrusters, as well as data from sensors for wind and motion, to calculate what's required to match ocean conditions and maintain the ship's position and heading.

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Students previously earned the dynamic positioning operator certification after graduating from the Maritime Academy at Texas A&M University at Galveston. Now, they can take two classroom courses -- one covering the theoretical knowledge and the other providing hands-on practice through a simulator -- followed by a series of assessments to earn the certificate.

"As an alumna of Texas A&M who sailed as a DPO (dynamic positioning operator), I know what having that certificate does to a cadet's job prospects," Chief Mate Kate Fossati, the instructor approved to teach the courses, said in a news release. "I am very proud that our cadets will be able to start the certification process while they are here."

The coursework is accredited through the Offshore Service Vessel Dynamic Positioning Authority, a dynamic positioning operator certification body based in New Orleans.

Dynamic positioning is also used aboard cruise ships, dredges, military vessels, wind farm servicing ships, and others.