How do you handle DP alarm conflicts or discrepancies between different DP systems or sensors?

2 Assess the impact and severity

The next step is to assess the impact and severity of the conflict or discrepancy. How does it affect the vessel's position and heading? How does it affect the DP system's performance and reliability? How does it affect the vessel's safety and operational objectives? You can use the DP system's performance indicators, such as position error, heading error, power usage, and redundancy level, to evaluate the situation. You can also use the DP system's alarm classification, such as yellow, red, or black, to determine the urgency and priority of the action.

3 Take appropriate action

The final step is to take appropriate action to resolve the conflict or discrepancy. Depending on the source, impact, and severity, you may need to acknowledge and clear an alarm, switch to a different sensor or input, reset or restart the DP system or component, adjust settings or parameters, reduce the DP system's demand or load, activate the backup or alternative DP system, or abort the operation and move to a safe location. These actions are necessary to ensure the DP system's accuracy, performance, control, and functionality are not affected by false alarms, faulty sensors, software errors, human errors, power issues, or emergency situations.

4 Follow the procedures and protocols

Regardless of the action you take, you should always follow the procedures and protocols established by the DP system's manufacturer, the vessel's operator, and the relevant authorities. You should document and report the alarm conflict or discrepancy, the action taken, and the outcome. You should also communicate and coordinate with the bridge team, the DP operator, and the client or supervisor. You should also review and update the DP system's configuration, calibration, and maintenance to prevent or minimize future alarm conflicts or discrepancies.

5 Learn from the experience

The last tip is to learn from the experience and use it to improve your DP skills and knowledge. You should analyze and understand the root cause and the contributing factors of the alarm conflict or discrepancy. You should also identify and implement the lessons learned and the best practices for DP alarm management. You should also seek feedback and guidance from your peers and mentors, and participate in training and simulation exercises to enhance your DP competence and confidence.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?