Elements and Performance Criteria

General context
Work must be carried out in compliance with mandatory rules and regulations and IMO Conventions and Codes including the relevant sections of the AMSA Marine Orders and ensuring that applicable codes, guidelines and standards recommended by IMO, the classification societies and maritime industry organisations are taken into account.

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

Work involves the application of the principles and procedures of electronic navigation systems to assist the safe navigation of a vessel across a wide and often unpredictable variety of navigational situations. Contribution to the development of plans and procedures for the use of electronic navigational aids to maintain the safe navigation of the vessel is required. Accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the outcomes is involved.

Work requires significant judgement in planning, technical and leadership functions related to the use of electronic navigational aids to maintain the safe navigation of commercial vessels of 500 gross tonnage or more.

Worksite environment
Vessel may include any Australian or international commercial vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more.

Electronic navigational aids may be operated to support command navigational decisions:
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.

Electronic navigational aids may include:
radar
automatic radar plotting aid (ARPA)
hyperbolic navigation systems
Loran C navigation system
ECS and ECDIS systems
integrated navigation systems.

The use of electronic navigational aids to assist safe navigation may include:
avoidance of collision with another vessel
fixing the position of the vessel
tracking of other vessels
assistance in making of command navigational decisions
navigating during search and rescue operations.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
ISM Code safety management system plans, procedures, checklists and instructions
SOLAS requirements
operational orders
navigational charts
radar plotting charts
International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
IMO STCW Convention and Code
AMSA Marine Orders
vessel's log
company procedures for the use of navigational aids
navigation systems manufacturers' instructions and recommended procedures
instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities
relevant Australian and international standards.

Applicable International, Australian and State/Territory regulations and legislation
Applicable procedures and codes may include:
IMO STCW 95 Code and Convention related to vessels of 500 gross tonnage or more
ISM Code
relevant sections of AMSA Marine Orders
SOLAS Convention
International Regulations for the Prevention of 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:
Initialise and operate electronic navigation systems typically used in commercial vessels of 500 gross tonnage or more
Interpret and analyse data generated by electronic navigation systems and use it to inform navigational command decisions
Use data generated by electronic navigation systems to fix the position of the vessel
Use data generated by electronic navigation systems to plot the tracks of other vessels
Identify problems in the use of electronic navigation systems and take appropriate action
Communicate effectively with others when using electronic navigational aids to assist in the safe navigation of the vessel.

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 of a commercial vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of IMO STCW 95 Code and Convention and AMSA Marine Orders applicable for vessels of 500 gross tonnage and over
SOLAS requirements
OHS regulations related to the safe use of electronic navigational aids
ISM Code Safety Management System Procedures related to the use of electronic navigational aids
The different types of electronic navigational aids including their features, key applications and operational characteristics
Procedures for the initialisation and operation of radar, ARPA and various other types of electronic navigational aids
The limitations and potential errors associated with each type of electronic navigational aid
Methods for the interpretation and analysis of navigational data produced by radar, ARPA and various other types of electronic navigational aids including due allowance for the limitations and potential errors associated with each type of electronic navigational aid
Procedures for the use of data generated by radar, ARPA and various other types of electronic navigational aids to assist in the safe navigation of the vessel
Action required to avoid a close quarters situation based on the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea
Maritime communication techniques when using electronic navigation aids to assist in the safe navigation of a vessel
Problems in the use of electronic navigation systems to aid the navigation and appropriate courses of action and solutions.

Resource implications
Access is required to opportunities to either:
carry out electronic navigation assignments or exercises using an appropriate electronic navigation simulator meeting the requirements of Section A I/12 of the IMO STCW 95 Code, over a representative range of navigational incidents; and/or
assist in the use of electronic navigational aids to maintain safe navigation during sea time on the voyage of a commercial or training vessel.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
using electronic navigational aids to assist in the safe navigation of the vessel
identifying and evaluating problems in the use of electronic navigational aids and the navigational data they produce and determining an appropriate courses of action
identifying and implementing improvements to procedures for the use of electronic aids for the safe navigation of the vessel
assessing and maintaining the operational capability of various types of electronic navigational aids.

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including:
relevant sections of IMO STCW 95 Convention and Code 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 manufacturer's guidelines relating to the use of electronic navigational aids
security procedures when using electronic navigational aids.

Action taken promptly to report and/or rectify problems in the use of electronic navigational aids 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.