Australian Maritime College Adds More DP Training

The Australian Maritime College (AMC) is establishing a second AMC DP Unit following the successful first year of operation of Australia’s first accredited DP training facility at AMC’s Launceston, Tasmania, campus.  The new AMC DP Unit will be located in Northbridge, Perth, and the inaugural course is scheduled for 15-19 November, 2010.

AMC hopes that a Perth based DP facility will be a more convenient location than Tasmania for many potential trainees who work in the burgeoning offshore oil and gas industry in Western Australia.

Also, AMC has a strategy to build a stronger presence in Western Australia generally, and the new DP Unit is likely to be just the first of similar moves by AMC over the next couple of years.

The Perth course content, Kongsberg KPOS simulation equipment, exercises, assessment process, and course fees will be identical in both the Perth and Launceston Units.

Importantly, the same pool of practicing DP Operators will provide the instruction.

The AMC DP Unit in Launceston has established an excellent reputation for the quality and high standard of instruction, which is largely attributed to the fact that all of the Instructors are also currently practising DP Operators.  They are all fully familiar with current, everyday operational issues that DP Operators face in the workplace, and can bring their contemporary experience and knowledge to the classroom.  AMC believes that having practicing DP Operators delivering the training enhances the realism and relevancy of the learning experience for trainees.

The AMC DP Unit 4.5 day courses are accredited with the Nautical Institute (UK), and both DP Basic (Induction) and Advanced (Simulation) courses are available in Launceston and, from November, in Perth.

The AMC DP unit is also considering developing a series of non-traditional DP courses, including introductory and technical courses.