Introduction to Dynamic Positioning
10 - Useful Acronyms & Abbreviations
AORE
Atlantic Ocean Region East
AORW
Atlantic Ocean Region West
AVR
Automatic Voltage Regulator
CEN
Comite Europeen de Normalisation. European Committee for Standardization
COSWP
Code Of Safe Working Practice for seamen
CSWIP
Certification Scheme for Welding & Inspection Personnel
CTDS
Conductivity Temperature Density Sensor? Type of probe to determine change in sound velocity
DC
Daughter Craft
DDA
Defence Diversification Agency - MOD research dept available to commercial users
DESIGN
Diving Equipment System Inspection Guidance Note
DGPS
Differential GPS - improved GPS using fixed points to sidestep degrading by military
DOC
Document of Compliance
DOP
Dilution of Precision - geometric element contribution to the uncertainty of a position fix
DP
Dynamic Positioning
DPO
DP Operator
DQI
Data Quality Indicator
DRMS
Distance Root Mean Square Expression of accuracy of position fix
EGNOS
European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service - Improvement to GPS in European areas
EPIRB
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
ERP
Emergency Response Plan
FM
Frequency Modulation
FMEA
Failure Modes and Effect Analysis
FPSO
Floating Production Storage and Offloading
FRC
Fast Rescue Craft
FSVAD
Flag State Verification Acceptance Document
GLONASS
Global Navigation Satellite System (Russian)
GMDSS
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
GPS
Global Positioning System (satellite-based navigation system)
HDOP
Horizontal Dilution of Precision
HF
High Frequency
HiPAP
High Precision Acoustic Position (Improved USBL)
HLO
Helideck Landing Officer
HPR
Hydro acoustic Position Reference
HRL
Hyperbaric Rescue Lifeboat
HSE
Health and Safety Executive
IADC
International Association of Drilling Contractors
IAGC
International Association of Geophysical contractors
IALA
International Association of Lighthouse Authorities
ICE
Institute of Civil Engineers
ICS
International Chamber of Shipping
IHO
International Hydrographic Office
ILO
International Labour Organisation
IMCA
International Marine Contractors Association
IMDG
International Maritime Dangerous Goods code
IMO
International Maritime organisation
INMARSAT
International Maritime Satellite Organisation
IOPP
International Oil Pollution Prevention certificate
IOR
Indian Ocean Region Inmarsat satellite
ISM
International Safety Management
LBL
Long Base Line Transducer Uses ranges from a spread of transponders
LCD
Liquid Crystal Display
LSA
Life Saving Appliance
MARPOL
Merchant shipping (prevention of oil pollution) regulations
MCA
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
MDE
Marginally Detectable Errors
MF
Medium Frequency
MRU
Motion Reference unit - as VRU. Can also measure heave
MSK
Minimum Shift Keying
MTSAT
Japanese Multifunctional Transport Sat. System
NMD
Norwegian Maritime Directorate
NMEA
National Marine Electronic Association
NPD
Norwegian Petroleum Directorate
OPITO
Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation (now merged into Cogent)
OSD
Offshore Safety Division (UK HSE)
OTF
On The Fly processing allows ambiguities in data to be resolved in a very short time
OWS
Oily Water Separator
PC
Personal Computer
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment
PRC
Pseudo Range Correction
PRS
Position Reference System
PTW
Permit To Work
RCI
Rated Capacity Indicator Used by crane operators to adjust loading factor
RDF
Radio Direction Finding
ROV
Remote Operated Vehicle
RTCM
Radio Technical Commission for Maritime services
SART
Search and Rescue Transponder
SBL
Short Base Line Uses spread of transducers on vessel to single transponder on sea bed
SBV
Stand By Vessel
SL
Source level - quantifies sound radiated in a specific direction
SMS
Safety Management System
SNR
Signal to Noise Ratio
SOLAS
International convention for Safety of Life at Sea
SOPEP
Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency response Plan
SPL
Sound Pressure Level
SPOT
Generic term for high power regional spot beam satellite service
SSBL
Super Short Base Line As USBL
STCW
International Convention on Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping
UDU
Universal Display Unit
UHF
Ultra High Frequency 300mhz-3000mhz
UKOOA
United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association
UMS
Unattended Machinery Space
USBL
Ultrashort Base Line Measures range and angle transducer to transponder
UTM
Universal Transverse Mercator Projection system to transform geodetic co-ordinates to two dimension system for representation on a chart
VAC
Voltage AC
VBS
Virtual Base Station
VDC
Voltage DC
VRU
Vessel? Reference unit - Device measuring pitch and roll. Needed with USBL and SBL
VSD
Variable speed drive speed control electric motors
WAAS
Wide area augmentation system - Improvement to gps in USA Canada Gulf Mexico
WOAD
World offshore accident data bank