Dynamic Positioning (DP)

Dynamic positioning is computer-controlled station-keeping that holds a vessel’s position and heading using its own thrusters and propellers against wind, current, and waves, without anchors. A DP system fuses position references (DGNSS, taut-wire, acoustic, laser) with wind and motion sensors and runs a control model that commands the thrusters. It is essential to drillships, dive-support and construction vessels, shuttle tankers, and cable-lay ships, and is graded by redundancy class DP1 to DP3.