DPO DPO Alarms, Fault Diagnosis & System Troubleshooting

Question 1

When a DP operator receives a 'position deviation' alarm, what is the immediate priority?

Accepted Answer

Assess the cause, check reference systems, and determine whether to intervene or disconnect the operation

Answer

Shut down all thrusters

Answer

Increase thruster output to maximum

Answer

Sound the general alarm immediately

Question 2

A 'drive-off' in DP terminology refers to:

Accepted Answer

An uncontrolled vessel movement away from the set point caused by a DP system malfunction

Answer

Intentionally moving the vessel away from the set point

Answer

Maneuvering off station at end of operations

Answer

Thruster-assisted anchoring

Question 3

What distinguishes a 'drift-off' from a 'drive-off' in DP incident classification?

Accepted Answer

A drift-off is a passive positional loss due to thruster/power failure; a drive-off is an active powered excursion due to control failure

Answer

Drift-off involves higher vessel speed

Answer

Both terms describe the same event

Answer

Drive-off only occurs in manual mode

Question 4

During a blackout on a DP vessel, the first action the DPO should take is:

Accepted Answer

Initiate ASAP disconnect if over a subsea structure and alert the DP watchkeeping engineer

Answer

Re-start all thrusters manually

Answer

Switch all navigation lights to battery backup

Answer

Lock the propulsion shafts

Question 5

Which thruster fault type is most likely to cause a sudden unplanned vessel rotation in DP?

Accepted Answer

A thruster delivering full thrust in the wrong direction (runaway/hardover)

Answer

A thruster running at reduced RPM

Answer

A fixed-pitch thruster stuck at full ahead

Answer

A thruster that fails to start

Question 6

What is the purpose of the 'yellow' exclusion zone alert on the DP operator display?

Accepted Answer

To warn the operator that the vessel is approaching a predefined safety boundary before reaching the red alert limit

Answer

To indicate shallow water ahead

Answer

To indicate a thruster has tripped

Answer

To signal that the gyrocompass is offline