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Home/Services/Dynamic Positioning Assurance/DP Acceptance Test
Dynamic Positioning Assurance

DP Acceptance Test

DP acceptance testing for newbuildings and system upgrades
Normative anchor
IMCA M 166 Rev 3 · IMO MSC/Circ. 645 · the build or upgrade specification
Answers to
Owner · Newbuild project manager · Company DP Authority
Charging unit
Project
Primary output
Acceptance test report and outstanding items list

The one moment when the yard still has an open obligation and the owner still has leverage. This scope verifies that what was delivered matches what was specified — and gets the gap written down while somebody else is still contractually required to close it.

In scope

  • Review of the DP specification before steel is cut, against IMO MSC/Circ. 645 and the intended class notation.
  • Verification that the declared Worst Case Failure Design Intent is achievable by the design as drawn, not only as described.
  • Witnessing of harbour and sea acceptance tests for the DP system, its power plant, thrusters, references and controls.
  • Verification of the vendor FMEA and its proving trials against IMCA M 166 Rev 3, before acceptance rather than after.
  • Outstanding items list, categorised and written while the builder's obligation is still open.
  • Verification of close-out for each item before final acceptance.

Not in scope

  • Design of the DP system or of any remedy for a non-conformity. We verify; the design belongs to the yard, the OEM or the owner's engineering.
  • Class approval or the issue of any statutory certificate. That is the classification society's, and we are not one.
  • Commercial negotiation with the yard over the consequences of a finding.
  • Commissioning or setting to work of equipment.

Declared so the conversation happens before the campaign, not in the middle of it.

Deliverables

What you receive

  1. Specification review report, issued before construction where the scope starts early enough to matter.
  2. Acceptance test report, each test carrying its criterion and the observed result.
  3. Outstanding items list with category, owner and period.
  4. Close-out verification record.
  5. Statement of whether the system as delivered meets its declared design intent.
Scoping

What drives the effort

These move the size of the campaign. None of them moves the standard it is measured against.

These drive effort, not price. Pricing is quoted after the specification call, together with the documents we will need from you.

Engaged before steel is cut, this scope changes the specification. Engaged at sea trials, it can only record what is already built. The two are priced similarly and are worth very different amounts.

Related scopes

What usually goes with it

DP FMEA

Which single failures the vessel tolerates in its declared DP class.

DP Gap Analysis

Whether the DP documentation you hold is fit to rely on, and what it does not cover.

DP Annual Trials

Whether the vessel still holds the capability it demonstrated.

Next step

DP Acceptance Test — let's scope it against your vessel.

Contact us Or email the technical team
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