Elements and Performance Criteria

General context
Work must be carried out in compliance with relevant Australian and/or international regulations to ensure the safety of life at sea.

Work is performed relatively independently under broad operational requirements, with accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the prescribed outcomes. It involves significant judgement in monitoring compliance with legislative requirements and measures to ensure safety of life at sea across a wide and often unpredictable variety of operational contexts.

Worksite environment
Vessel may include any Australian or international commercial vessel.

Monitoring of compliance may be carried out:
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.

Legislative and regulatory requirements may include:
Australian and State/Territory OHS legislation
Port State legislation and regulations related to the safety of life at sea
International Safety Management (ISM) Code (where applicable)
IMO SOLAS Convention.

Measures to maintain the safety of life at sea may include:
training of officers and/or crew
regular conduct of life saving and fire-fighting drills
maintenance of life-saving and fire-fighting equipment and survival craft
on-board hazard management identification and minimisation
establishment and maintenance of effective watchkeeping arrangements
maintenance of the seaworthiness of vessel and the serviceability of shipboard plant and equipment.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
ISM Code safety management system plans, procedures, checklists and instructions (where relevant)
operational orders
relevant regulations, codes and conventions
Australian and international OHS statutory regulations
vessel's log
company procedures
insurance documentation
vessel manufacturer's instructions and recommended procedures
instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities
relevant Australian and/or international standards.

Applicable International, Australian and State/Territory regulations and legislation
Applicable procedures and codes may include:
IMO STCW 95 Code and Convention
relevant sections of AMSA Marine Orders
International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
international conventions and Australian regulations on the protection of life at sea
relevant international, Australian and State/Territory OH&S, environmental and other legislation applicable to international and Australian vessels.

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:
Monitor vessel operations and maintenance procedures in terms of compliance with legislative requirements including measures to ensure safety of life at sea
Identify and rectify non-compliance with legislative requirements and measures
Maintain required certification of shipboard items and equipment
Maintain documentation related to legislative requirements
Identify typical legislative compliance problems and take appropriate action
Communicate effectively with others on matters concerning legislative compliance.

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 chief engineer and master of a vessel.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of relevant regulations, codes and conventions related to the safety of life at sea
Relevant OH&S legislation and policies
International and Australian regulatory requirements and company policies, practices and procedures relating to:
statutory certification
survey
records
Regulations and associated measures to ensure safety of life of shipboard personnel at sea
Problems in maintaining compliance with legislative requirements and measures to ensure safety of life at sea and appropriate action and solutions
Sources of reference and information on detailed survey and certification requirements
Systems and methods used for recording, retrieving and storing information, and their strengths and limitations
Procedures for maintaining the security and confidentiality of information.
Mandatory knowledge and skills in first aid, personal survival techniques, fire fighting and fire prevention required of all seafarers as required under the relevant maritime regulations.

Resource implications
Access is required to opportunities to either:
participate in a range of role plays, case studies and other simulated practical and knowledge assessments that demonstrate the skills and knowledge to ensure compliance with legislative requirements and measures for the safety of life at sea, and/or
where appropriate, assist in maintaining compliance with legislative requirements and measures to ensure safety of life at sea on board an operational vessel.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
monitoring compliance with regulations and measures to ensure the safety of life at sea
identifying and evaluating compliance problems and determining an appropriate courses of action
identifying and implementing improvements to measures to ensure compliance with regulations
assessing operational capability of vessel and manoeuvring plant and equipment.

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
measures to ensure safety of life at sea
following on-board housekeeping processes.

Action taken promptly to report and/or rectify non-compliance with relevant regulations on the safety of life at sea.

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.