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As the Executive Director for the OSVDPA, you are in charge of day-to-day operations. That said; it’s a new enterprise and there’s got to be more to it especially when kicking off a “start-up.” The most important item on my punch list is develop- ing buy-in from the maritime industry. For OSVDPA to be a viable alternative for prospective Dynamic Positioning Operators (DPOs), we need support from the mariners, the vessel operators, the oil companies, industry associa- tions, and the fl ag states. Lately, much of my time has been spent listening to the wants and needs of each of these seg- ments of the industry. While each has different desires, all agree the OSVDPA system needs to be rigorous in its re- quirements, yet practical in its implementation. To ensure our system meets these requirements, the OSVDPA will be rolling out a way for the industry to provide input on pieces of our certifi cation system before they are fi nalized. By providing an opportunity for this input, the OSVDPA believes our fi nal product will better serve the industry. Today, we have IMCA, OMSA and the Nautical Insti- tute, in addition to BSEE, the US Coast Guard and the BOEM who are all involved to one degree or another in the offshore energy environment. What do you bring to the table that they don’t – or won’t – and why? While there are numerous players offshore, mariners seeking certifi cation as a DPO really have only two current options: the Nautical Institute or the DNV. As with any- thing, there are advantages and drawbacks to each of these systems. What the OSVDPA hopes to do is to combine the best of both worlds and provide a third option that actually works for the offshore service vessel industry. The 600 pound gorilla in the room in today’s offshore environment probably involves operators who are apt to chafe at a new system or increased burdens. What would you say to those skeptical of your intentions? I certainly understand that change is uncomfortable. For this reason, the OSVDPA seeks to change only those parts of the DPO certifi cation process that do not address the uniqueness of our industry, while keeping the structure that is familiar and recognizable to the maritime industry. As such, we believe that the OSVDPA will lessen the bur- dens on mariners and vessel operators. One of the prob- lems the OSVDPA hopes to address is the delay in mari- ners receiving their certifi cate after completion. Simply, it should not take more than three months for a DPO to receive their certifi cate after sending in their log book. An- other problem we hope to address is ensuring all mariners currently operating DP systems are able to be trained in the safe operation of DP. The OSVDPA understands that whether we like it or not, there will be unclassed DP vessels working for years to come. As such, we feel the industry must ensure the DPOs working on these vessels are trained in the safe operation of these vessels. In short, OSVDPA was founded to provide another option for those seeking a DPO certifi cate. If mariners believe another option will be less burdensome or onerous, we will not restrict them from making that choice. What’s the difference between a classed and un- classed DP system? Many times, the difference is only a stamp in the vessel’s book. Some charterers do not require class review of a ves- sel’s DP systems. As such, many vessel owners choose to forgo the expense of having the vessel’s DP system classed, even though most of these vessels meet class requirements or have the functional equivalency of a classed DP system. For this reason, the OSVDPA feels there is no reason to exclude mariners serving aboard vessels with unclassed DP system from earning a DPO certifi cate; provided, the ves- sel is fully vetted and it is proven to be functionally equiva- lent to that of a classed DP system. You are home now in Louisiana, however, during your time as a legislative director / deputy chief of staff at Congressman Jeff Landry’s offi ces in Wash- ington, you were intimately involved with legislation surrounding the Jones Act. Where will the Jones Act come into play with OSVDPA? In other words, do you see this as an international effort or just something impacting U.S. operators? Yes, I am a personal supporter of the Jones Act and was honored to work with one of the most prolifi c Jones Act- supporting Congressmen during my time in Washington. However, the OSVDPA does not view our certifi cation sys- tem as exclusive to U.S. operations. We understand a DPO certifi cation program must be internationally recognized in order to be a viable option. The system must provide DPOs the freedom to switch—for example—from a Gulf project to a North Sea project, or move from a service ves- sel to a MODU. As such, the OSVDPA is taking steps to ensure that our certifi cates will be recognized worldwide. How can you hope to meld both the U.S. regulatory scheme with international efforts when we already INSIGHTS 14 MN May 2014 MN May14 Layout 1-17.indd 14 4/21/2014 10:39:33 AM
