Elements and Performance Criteria

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

Work is performed relatively independently under broad operational requirements, with accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the prescribed outcomes. It involves the application of a significant range of watchkeeping principles across a wide and often unpredictable variety of operational contexts. Establishment and maintenance of engine room watchkeeping arrangements is required. Accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the required watchkeeping functions is involved.

Work requires judgement in planning, organisational and leadership functions related to the establishment of watchkeeping arrangements and procedures for commercial vessels of less than 3,000 kW propulsion power. This includes organisation and supervision of engine room watchkeeping arrangements and staffing, and related decision-making and contingency planning.

Worksite environment
Vessel may include any Australian or international commercial vessel of 3,000 kW propulsion power or less operating within offshore limits.

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 principles include:
watchkkeeping functions must be maintained at all times
all necessary precautions must be taken to avoid pollution of the marine environment
assistance must be available to be summoned to the engine room if required by a change in the vessel's operational 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 engine room watchkeeping arrangements and the composition of the watch in the engine room include:
engine room must never be left unattended unless vessel is UMS
the operational status of engine room instrumentation, controls and alarms
provision on the engine room of unmanned machinery space (UMS) controls, alarms and indicators
unusual demands on the engine room watch arising from operational conditions
the professional competence and experience of the vessel's officers and crew and their familiarity with the vessel's equipment, procedures, and propulsion capability
the fitness for duty of any crew members on call who are assigned as members of the engine room watch
features and characteristics of propulsion and auxiliary machinery and equipment
the additional workload caused by the nature of the vessel's functions, immediate operating requirements and anticipated operations.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
ISM Code safety management system plans, procedures, checklists and instructions (where applicable)
operational orders
relevant maritime regulations
engine room procedures guide
engine room records system
company 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:
the Australian USL Code
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 engine room watch keeping arrangements and procedures
Assign engine room watchkeeping responsibilities
Assess current competence of engine room personnel in terms of their watchkeeping roles and responsibilities
Monitor engine room 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 engineer Grade 3.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of sections USL Code dealing with engine room watchkeeping principles, arrangements, procedures, roles and responsibilities
Relevant OH&S legislation and policies and procedures
Engine room resource management systems
Implications of a range of factors that can affect engine room watchkeeping functions and the composition of the engine room management team
Causes of groundings, collisions and casualties when on board a vessel
Engine room operational hazards and implications for watchkeeping
Watch handover procedures
Engine room instrumentation, controls and alarms
Functions of unmanned machinery space (UMS) controls, alarms and indicators
Ways of assessing the current competence of the vessel's engine room personnel and their familiarity with the vessel's equipment, procedures, and operational capability
Features and characteristics of propulsion and auxiliary machinery, equipment and systems
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 engine room watchkeeping arrangements through a range of case studies, exercises and assignments that suitably-simulate a range of watchkeeping situations for a vessel of less than 3,000 kW propulsion power; and/or
establish and manage the watchkeeping arrangements on an operational vessel of less than 3,000 kW propulsion power in an appropriate range of operational situations.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
establishing and monitoring engine room watchkeeping arrangements
identifying and evaluating engine room management problems and determining an appropriate courses of action
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 maritime regulations
ISM Code and associated vessel's Safety Management System and procedures (where applicable)
OHS regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
job procedures and work instructions
relevant guidelines relating to engine room management and watchkeeping arrangements on board a vessel
following engine room housekeeping processes
waste, pollution and recycling management 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.