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Vision Marine Training

Nautical Institute DP Revalidation & Refresher

Revalidate your DPO certificate before the 5-year expiry and stay sailing with a course approved by the Nautical Institute.

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About DP Revalidation & Refresher

Vision Marine Training’s DP Revalidation & Refresher is the official route for Dynamic Positioning Operators to keep their Nautical Institute certificate active — a credential valid for 5 years. Without a current certificate, the DPO cannot take operational positions on DP-2 or DP-3 vessels and units, which can mean immediate loss of assignment, rotation and contract. The course combines the DP Revalidation (mandatory when the NI sea-time requirement is not met) with DP Refresher modules to update technical knowledge before returning to sea. Content covers DP principles review, recent incident analysis published by the NI, regulatory updates, DP-2/DP-3 failure procedures, FMEA, capability plots and intensive practice in our full mission DP simulator. As an NI accredited training centre, Vision Marine issues the internationally recognised documentation for revalidation through the alexis.nautinst.org portal.

Who Is This Course For

This course is aimed at Dynamic Positioning Operators (DPOs) certified by the Nautical Institute who are approaching the 5-year expiry of their certificate, or whose document has already lapsed and need to reactivate their operational status. It supports professionals working on AHTS, PSV, FPSO, OSV, drilling rigs and other DP-2 or DP-3 vessels — Merchant Marine Officers, Chief Officers, Masters and dedicated DPOs. It is also recommended for professionals returning to sea after time ashore who need a technical update before resuming duty, ensuring operational safety and contractual compliance with operators and owners that require a current NI certification.

Why Train with Vision Marine

Nautical Institute Approved

Course approved by the NI and recognised globally by offshore operators, securing the validity of your renewed DPO certificate.

Frequent classes in Rio de Janeiro

Recurring Revalidation and Refresher calendar so you can renew before expiry without missing your next assignment window.

Full Mission DP Simulator

High-class DP simulator practice replicating DP-2/DP-3 scenarios on AHTS, PSV and platform operations.

Senior active DPO instructors

Team made up of DPOs with recent operational experience, aligned with the latest NI technical notes.

STCW & CPD compliance

Structured content to count toward the Continuous Professional Development hours required for revalidation.

Full revalidation support

Guidance on logbook, sea time, NI documentation and submission of the revalidation on the alexis.nautinst.org portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I need to renew my DPO certificate?

The DPO certificate issued by the Nautical Institute is valid for 5 years. Revalidation must be completed before the expiry date to avoid losing certified DPO status and being barred from DP-2 and DP-3 vessels.

What is the difference between DP Revalidation and DP Refresher?

DP Revalidation is the official NI course required when you have not met the minimum sea time during the period. DP Refresher is a technical update recommended before returning to sea after time ashore, reinforcing procedures and failure scenarios.

What happens if my DPO certificate expires?

With an expired certificate, the professional loses active DPO status in the Nautical Institute register and cannot take DP operator roles on classed vessels. Reactivation requires a revalidation course and, in some cases, additional sea time.

Do I need to evidence sea time to renew?

Yes. The NI requires a minimum sea time on a DP vessel within the 5-year window. Those who do not meet the required hours must take the DP Revalidation. We support logbook review before enrolment.

Is the course internationally recognised?

Yes. Vision Marine Training is a Nautical Institute approved centre, and the certification issued is valid worldwide, accepted by operators such as Petrobras, Equinor, Shell, TotalEnergies and offshore service contractors.

What is the course duration and workload?

DP Revalidation follows the workload defined by the Nautical Institute, split between theory and full mission DP simulator practice. Contact our team for the next confirmed class schedule.

How do I secure my seat?

Just request a proposal through the form or speak to our specialists. Classes are frequent but seats are limited by simulator capacity — we recommend booking at least 60 days before your certificate expires.

Ready to revalidate your DPO certificate?

Talk to our team and secure your seat on the next Revalidation/Refresher class. Full support from logbook review to submission on the Nautical Institute portal.

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