Elements and Performance Criteria

General context
Work must be carried out in compliance with relevant maritime regulations

Work is performed independently under broad operational requirements, with accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the prescribed outcomes.

Work involves the application of a significant range of fundamental nautical principles and complex manoeuvring techniques across a wide and often unpredictable variety of operational contexts. Planning, establishment and maintenance of watchkeeping arrangements is required. Accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the required watchkeeping functions is involved.

Work requires significant judgement in planning, organisational and leadership functions related to the establishment of watchkeeping arrangements and procedures for commercial vessels.

Worksite environment
Vessel may include any Australian or international commercial vessel of unlimited tonnage or propulsion power.

Watchkeeping arrangements and procedures may be implemented:
by day or night in both normal and emergency situations
under any possible conditions of weather and loading
while underway
during berthing and unberthing operations
while anchoring or mooring
while in port
while moored or at anchor
when bunkering
during cargo operations.

Watchkeeping includes both navigational and engine room watchkeeping duties.

Watchkeeping principles (as described in the AMSA Marine Orders Section 28, Appendix 3, Sections 3.3.4 and 3.4) include:
proper lookout must be maintained at all times
duties of look out and helmsman must be kept separate
look-out must give full attention to keeping a proper look out and must not be given other duties which could interfere with the task
all necessary precautions must be taken to avoid pollution of the marine environment
assistance must be available to be summoned to the bridge if required by a change in the vessel's situation.

Fatigue management strategies may include:
recognition of symptoms of fatigue
arranging to take a break when symptoms of fatigue are identified
maintenance of personal fitness and health
appropriate dietary habits
avoidance of excessive consumption of alcohol prior to watchkeeping duties.

Factors to be taken into account when establishing watchkeeping arrangements include:
bridge must never be left unattended
weather and sea conditions, visibility and whether there is daylight or darkness
proximity of navigational hazards
use and operational condition of navigational aids
the operational status of bridge instrumentation, controls and alarms
whether the vessel is fitted with an automatic steering system
whether there are radio duties to be performed
provision of unmanned machinery space (UMS) controls, alarms and indicators
unusual demands on the watch arising from operational conditions
traffic density and other activities occurring in the area in which the vessel is navigating
the size of the vessel and the field of vision available from the conning position
the attention necessary when navigating in or near traffic separation schemes or other routeing measures
the professional competence and experience of the vessel's officers and crew and their familiarity with the vessel's equipment, procedures, and manoeuvring capability
the fitness for duty of any crew members on call who are assigned as members of the watch
rudder and propeller control and vessel manoeuvring characteristics.
the additional workload caused by the nature of the vessel's functions, immediate operating requirements and anticipated manoeuvres.

Available navigational aids may include:
radar
electronic position-indicating devices
other equipment affecting the safe navigation of the vessel.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
ISM Code safety management system plans, procedures, checklists and instructions
operational orders
navigational charts
IMO STCW 95 Code and Convention
AMSA Marine Orders
ICS Bridge Procedures Guide
vessel's log
company procedures
instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities
pilot instructions where relevant
relevant Australian and international standards

Applicable International, Australian and State/Territory regulations and legislation
Applicable procedures and codes may include
relevant sections of the IMO STCW 95 Code and Convention
relevant sections of AMSA Marine Orders
ISM Code
International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
relevant international, Australian and State/Territory OH&S legislation.

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:
Establish watch keeping arrangements and procedures
Assign watchkeeping responsibilities
Assess current competence of bridge personnel in terms of their watchkeeping roles and responsibilities
Monitor watchkeeping procedures
Communicate effectively with others concerning watchkeeping arrangements.

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit of competency must be assessed in conjunction with other mandatory units that form part of a job role of the master or chief engineer of a commercial vessel.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of sections of IMO STCW Convention and Codes and AMSA Marine Orders dealing with watchkeeping principles, arrangements, procedures, roles and responsibilities
Relevant OH&S legislation and policies
Bridge Resource Management systems
Implications of a range of factors that can affect watchkeeping functions and the composition of the bridge engine room management team
Causes of groundings, collisions and casualties when on board a vessel
Navigational hazards and implications for watchkeeping
Operating procedures for typical navigational aids and skills and knowledge needed to use them effectively
Watch handover procedures
Bridge instrumentation, controls and alarms
Functions of unmanned machinery space (UMS) controls, alarms and indicators
Ways of assessing the current competence of the vessel's officers and crew and their familiarity with the vessel's equipment, procedures, and manoeuvring capability
Rudder and propeller control and vessel manoeuvring characteristics
Precautions necessary when navigating in or near traffic separation schemes or other routeing measures
Signs of fatigue
Fatigue management principles and techniques
Maritime communication techniques

Resource implications
Access is required to opportunities to either:
demonstrate the ability to establish and manage watchkeeping arrangements through a range of case studies, exercises and assignments that suitably-simulate a range of watchkeeping situations for a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more; and/or
establish and manage the watchkeeping arrangements on an operational commercial vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more in an appropriate range of situations, weather and loading conditions.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
establishing and monitoring watchkeeping arrangements
identifying and evaluating bridge management problems and determining an appropriate courses of action
identifying and implementing improvements to bridge management procedures
applying safety precautions relevant to watchkeeping operations
assessing competence and experience of vessel's officers and crew and their suitability for watchkeeping roles.

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including:
relevant sections of IMO STCW 95 Code and Convention and AMSA Marine Orders
ISM Code and associated vessel's Safety Management System and procedures
OHS regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
job procedures and work instructions
relevant guidelines relating to bridge management and watchkeeping arrangements on board a vessel
security procedures
following bridge housekeeping processes.

Action taken promptly to report and/or rectify watchkeeping incidents in accordance with established procedures.

Work is completed systematically with required attention to detail.

Context for assessment
Assessment of competence must comply with the assessment requirements of the relevant maritime regulations.

Assessment of this unit must be undertaken within relevant marine authority approved and audited arrangements by a registered training organisation:
As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral examinations
Appropriate practical assessment must occur:
at the registered training organisation, and/or
on an appropriate working or training vessel.