Elements and Performance Criteria

General context
a. Work must be carried out in accordance with the relevant maritime regulations.
b. Work is performed within a defined range of operations and routine procedures, with responsibility for own outputs in relation to specified quality standards. It involves the interpretation of meteorological, observations, reports and instrument measurements to the forecasting of weather and ocean conditions and the application of those forecasts to safe passage planning and navigation.
c. Some discretion and judgement is required in interpreting meteorological data and forecasts, related navigational hazards and contingencies and the actions to be taken in these eventualities.

Worksite environment
a. Vessel may include any commercial vessel less than 12 metres in length engaged on an inshore passage.
b. Voyages to be planned and conducted may include:
b.1. any inshore voyage navigable by the size and type of small vessel concerned
b.2. passages through
b.2.1. traffic separation schemes in inshore areas
b.2.2. tidal restricted areas
b.2.3. VTS controlled areas
c. Navigation may occur in conditions of:
c.1. clear visibility using visual navigational techniques
c.2. restricted visibility using parallel indexing and/or electronic chart systems
c.3. clear visibility using a combination of visual and electronic techniques
d. Instrumentation and equipment used for navigation and fixing a small vessel's position may include:
d.1. RADAR
d.2. GPS satellite navigation systems
d.3. integrated navigation systems
d.4. magnetic compasses
d.5. gyro compasses and repeaters
d.6. chronometers and sextants
d.7. azimuth mirrors and vanes
d.8. pelarus
d.9. doppler and electromagnetic logs
d.10. depth sounders
e. The use of navigational aids to assist safe navigation may include:
e.1. avoidance of collision with another vessel
e.2. fixing the position of the small vessel
e.3. tracking of other ships
e.4. assistance in making of command navigational decisions
e.5. navigating during search and rescue operations
f. Position fixing techniques may include:
f.1. visual
f.1.1. landmarks
f.1.2. aids to navigation such as lighthouses, beacons and bouys
f.2. dead reckoning, taking into account winds tides currents and estimated speed
f.3. RADAR
f.4. continuous position monitoring

Sources of information/documents
a. Sources of information and documentation may include:
a.1. operational orders
a.2. navigational charts of near coastal waters
a.3. meteorological and oceanographic publications
a.4. coastal weather reports, charts and satellite images
a.5. annual and weekly notices to mariners
a.6. publications from the Australian Hydrographer including radio signals, light lists, sailing directions, tide tables and chart catalogues
a.7. navigational warning records
a.8. NSCV/Australian USL Code
a.9. vessel's log
a.10. company procedures
a.11. vessel manufacturer's instructions and recommended procedures
a.12. instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities

Applicable International, Australian and State/Territory regulations and legislation
a. Applicable procedures and codes may include
a.1. relevant sections of the NSCV/Australian USL Code
a.2. regulations for preventing collisions at sea
a.3. SOLAS Convention
a.4. relevant international, Australian and State/Territory OH&S legislation
a.5. Guidelines and Criteria for Ship Reporting Systems

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
a. Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:
a.1. Plan the inshore passage of a small vessel less than 12 metres in length
a.2. Fix the position of a small vessel within inshore waters using all acceptable methods
a.3. Identify typical navigational hazards and make due allowance for them when planning an inshore voyage
a.4. Conduct the passage of a small vessel less than 12 metres in length on an inshore voyage, taking into account all relevant navigational hazards
a.5. Access, use and maintain coastal navigational charts, nautical publications and related documentation
a.6. Communicate effectively with others planning an inshore voyage and conducting navigation
a.7. Follow reporting procedures in accordance with the relevant maritime regulations
a.8. Understand the operational and navigational safety consequences of estimating bearing and courses without compass error information

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

Required knowledge and skills
a. Knowledge of relevant maritime regulations
b. Principles and procedures of navigation and inshore passage planning including contingency planning
c. Information required to develop a typical effective inshore passage plan
d. Procedures for filing and handling navigational charts, nautical publications and related documentation in serviceable condition
e. Principles and procedures for fixing a small vessel's position
f. Procedures for converting one set of coordinates to another
g. Procedures for the calculation of the height of tide for a given time at any place listed using tide tables
h. Procedures for the use of Nautical Almanac data and information when planning and conducting an inshore voyage, including calculation of errors due to common navigational approximations
i. Errors in common position fixing systems and their effect on observed positions
j. Methods for controlling small vessel speed and direction
k. Typical manoeuvring and engine characteristics for small vessels less than 12 metres in length on inshore voyages, including stopping distances and turning circles at various draughts, speeds and loading
l. Effects on shiphandling of wind, currents and bottom topography
m. Voyage planning and position fixing problems that may be experienced for small vessels on inshore voyages and appropriate action and solutions
n. Manoeuvring procedures in and near 'traffic separation schemes' and 'vessel traffic service areas'
o. Small vessel reporting systems
p. Basic understanding to correct a magnetic compass direction/reading for variation and deviation

Resource implications
a. Access is required to opportunities to either:
a.1. plan a simulated inshore passage and conduct navigation using an appropriate marine simulator in simulated coastal areas and across an appropriate range of navigational hazards; and/or
a.2. assist in the planning and conduct of an actual passage for a for a small commercial vessel less than 12 metres in length engaged in an inshore voyage

Consistency in performance
a. Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
a.1. observing weather and ocean conditions
a.2. using shipboard instruments to collect basic meteorological and oceanographic data
a.3. obtaining and deciphering weather and oceanographic data collected from observations, charts, reports, satellite images and instruments
a.4. forecasting weather and ocean conditions and applying the forecasts to the planning and conduct of a near coastal passage
a.5. identifying and evaluating weather forecasting problems and determining appropriate solutions
b. Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace and regulatory procedures including:
b.1. relevant regulations
b.2. established procedures for the forecasting local weather and ocean conditions in near coastal waters
b.3. navigational regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
b.4. reporting of vessel's position, route and navigational contingencies
b.5. job procedures and instructions on the use of meteorological instruments, reports and observations
b.6. use of relevant meteorological publications, charts and satellite images
b.7. procedures for the storage and maintenance of meteorological publications and charts
c. Action is taken promptly to report and take account of adverse weather forecasts in accordance with established procedures
d. Work is completed systematically with required attention to detail

Context for assessment
a. Assessment of competence must comply with the assessment requirements of the relevant maritime regulations
b. Assessment of this unit must be undertaken within relevant marine authority approved and audited arrangements by a registered training organisation:
b.1. As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral examinations
b.2. Appropriate practical assessment must occur:
b.2.1. at the registered training organisation, and/or
b.2.2. on an appropriate working or training vessel