Objective
I prefer to work on board DP vessels as Master or SDPO or on board Drillships/semi submersibles as DPO or SDPO on a permanent basis.
Experience
After Graduation, I was selected through competitive exams to join the Navy as a Commissioned Officer in the Executive Branch (Deck Officer). Almost 4 1/2 years out of a total Naval Service of 22 years were spent for training in various disciplines such as Marine Mech & Electrical Engineering, Seamanship, Navigation, Hydrographic Survey, Communication, Ship-handling, Diving, Helo Control, Meteorology, Personnel/Financial/Material Management, Administration, Law, Damage Control & Firefighting, Computers and other Navy-related subjects such as Gunnery, Anti-submarine warfare, Submarines and Aviation. Immense experience was gathered during the various appointments held, maximum period ashore being spent in Computer centers, particularly Naval Dockyard, Material Organisation and other training Establishments. I was formally trained in System Analysis, COBOL, UNIX & C and DOS. As a Hydrographer, I got the chance to work on various Survey equipments such as Theodolite, Distomat, Tellurometer, Hifix, Trisponder, Survey Tracking System, Automatic Data Logging System, Sidescan Sonar, Salinometer, Bathythermograph, Sound Velocity Probe, Current Meters, variety of Echo Sounders and Navigational Equipments. Also, I got ample chance to handle survey-ships & crafts in different sea states at near perfect precision.
I sought pre-mature retirement from Navy and worked for Reliance Industries, as Master of one of their Ocean-going Tugs. This was a 5500 h.p. 42 b.p. tug with Z-peller steering-cum-propulsion system (Azimuth Stern Drive - without rudder), employed for berthing/securing of large tankers alongside/to SPM’s. I was on board Tidewater vessels for over an year, on board their seismic survey vessels, cable ship as well as Recording vessels. These vessels are fitted with Dynamic Positioning equipments. Subsequently I did a short trip on board an AHTS/DP vessel carrying out ROV work for cable burial, survey and maintenance. The tenures on board ONGC vessels were as Addl Ch Officer/DPO. These vessels are employed as Dive Support vessels (DP2), Air Diving as well as Saturation Diving, apart from providing Crane support, Fi-Fi and Helicopter landing facilities. I had been DPO/Mate on board four other DP2/DSV's. My tenure with Adamac Marine as Master included a 8-Pt mooring Work Barge, a 4-Pt mooring DSV carrying out SPM maintenance and a DP/Construction support vessel. This tenure in Nigeria also gave me a chance to work as a Mooring Master and also to carry out Anchor handling. I was privileged to take over as Master of Persian Pioneer, a DP/ROV vessel on behalf of IOEC, responsible for Sea Acceptance Trials and DP Trials. I was employed as Master of a self-propelled, self-elevated Jack-up Barge (SEWOP) in Persian Gulf for almost 18 months. This Barge was used for Dive support, Seismic Drilling, Coring, Vibrocoring, Underwater Cable repair, Cable Laying etc. I also did a short trip as Master/SDPO on board a DP/ROV/Hydrographic Survey Vessel in the Mediterranean. Last trip was as DP Captain on board a Chinese vessel with triple redundant DP system carrying out Cable Laying, Pipe and Cable Trenching, apart from ROV support operations. Here I was also responsible for DP Training of the Chinese Mates. I have worked on Kongsberg SDP 521, SDP 21, SDP 600, ADP 703, ADP 503, ADP 311, ALSTOM JSDP80, Nautronix ASK 4000JS, Nautronix ASK 5000JSDP, Nautronix NMS 6000 DP systems using DGPS, HPR, Artemis, Fanbeam and Light Weight Tautwire as Position Reference Systems. In Nov 2005, I was assigned the responsibilty of imparting DP training to a few Naval Officers on board DSV Nireekshak, fitted with SDP 521 System using Horizontal Tautwire along with other Position Reference systems. I have working experience with CNOOC, PGS, ADMA/OPCO, Global Marine, Fugro, CGG, Vanoord, JDN, Ballast HAM, Jay Mcdermott, Dubal, BAPCO, QP, Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron Texaco, Petronas, Statoil, Impre Sub and other owner companies and international crew. I was holding Pilotage Exemption Certificate for Ras Laffan Port for vessels upto 75 mts length. I was also responsible for implementation of ISM/ISPS code on board the vessels I was employed. I am holding current HUET and Offshore Survival Courses.
Total Marine related service: 29 years
Total Sea Service: 15 years.
Total DP Hours : 11100 hrs (925 days X 12 hrs per day)
Education
EDUCATION STATUS/Professional Courses
EDUCATION / YEAR OF PASSING OUT: BSc – First Class/Kerala University/1976
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING / FROM - TO: Naval Academy / July 1977 to December 1979
Intensive EDP Course/YEAR: Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi/1982
Hydrographic Course/FROM - TO: Hydrographic School, Goa/April 1981 to August 1981
DP Induction Course/YEAR: Lowestoft College, UK/2000
DP Simulator Course/YEAR: Lowestoft College, UK/2000
Certification
Certificate of Competency:(a) Certificate of Competence as Master/Unlimited Oceans(3000 GRT)/Panama/STCW 95
(b) Certificate of Service as Master/India / Near Coastal/Unlimited Tonnage
(c) GMDSS/GOC : GOC/6782 valid till 24 Apr 2011
(d)DP Certificate : 1776 /Unlimited/ Issued by Nautical Institute, London
STCW 95 Courses
Advanced Firefighting
Proficiency in Survival Craft
Personal Survival & Social Responsibilities
Captain’s Medicare
Radar Operator’s Course
Automatic Radar Plotting Aids
Radar, ARPA & Navigation Simulator Course
Ship Security Officers Course
Marine Communication Course
GMDSS/GOC
Master’s Refresher and Updating Course
Skils
DP Operator
Hydrographic Surveyor
Master Mariner
Formally trained in Computers, COBOL, UNIX & C. Familiar with Windows and other packages.