John Fontenot News

The Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) has approved use of Incumbent Worker Training Program (IWTP) grants to cover the cost of Offshore Service Vessel Dynamic Positioning Authority, Inc. (OSVDPA) Phase 4 Assessments. “It’s great to see the Louisiana Workforce Commission recognize the OSVDPA’s assessments as an important part of the professional development of mariners,” said OSVDPA Executive Director, Aaron Smith. In addition to two classroom courses and two periods of on board experience gathering…

OSVDPA seeks to start training and certifying DPOs by the end of this year. A new organization, the Offshore Service Vessel Dynamic Positioning Authority, Inc. (OSVDPA), held its first board meeting Thursday, March 12, charting the course toward a new dynamic positioning operator (DPO) certificate specially designed for the offshore service vessel industry. Incorporated as a non-profit, the OSVDPA is seeking to improve the safety of the maritime industry by improving the quality and quantity of certified DPOs. The Authority’s training and certification system will seek to emulate the structure of existing DPO certification methods with some enhancements. Specifically, the Authority’s system is unique in its change of emphasis from measuring sea-time to assessing competence.