Elements and Performance Criteria

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

Work is performed as a member of a bridge team within defined operational requirements and with limited accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the prescribed outcomes. It involves the application of nautical principles and watchkeeping techniques during the execution of watchkeeping arrangements on a vessel up to 80 metres in length engaged on a coastal voyage.

Some discretion and judgement may be required in anticipating and dealing with possible watchkeeping problems, navigation and safety hazards and contingencies that may arise and initiating appropriate action.

Worksite environment
Vessel may include any commercial vessel up to 80 metres in length engaged on a coastal voyage.

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.

Watchkeeping principles (as laid out in the relevant regulations) 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
appropriate 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.

Emergencies and potentially dangerous navigational situations may include:
fire
beaching
stranding
possible collision
heavy weather
synchronous rolling
distress signal
failure of bridge equipment, steering equipment, navigational lights
loss of main engines
man overboard
fog and restricted visibility
cargo shift
retrieval of survivors from the water
loss of watertight integrity
intoxicated persons on board vessel
dragging anchor
fouled hawse
loss of mooring lines or winches when berthing
entry into confined spaces
personnel working aloft or overside
sudden list or loll.

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

Factors to be taken into account when executing watchkeeping duties 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
provision on the bridge of unmanned machinery space (UMS) controls, alarms and indicators
unusual demands on the navigational 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
rudder and propeller control and vessel manoeuvring characteristics.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
operational orders
coastal navigation charts
Australian USL as it relates to watchkeeping functions and operations on small vessels
vessel's log
company procedures
instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities.

Applicable International, Australian and State/Territory regulations and legislation
Applicable procedures and codes may include:
relevant sections of Australian USL Code related to vessels up to 80 metres in length engaged on coastal voyages
regulations for preventing collisions at sea
relevant Australian and State/Territory OH&S legislation.

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:
Implement watch keeping arrangements and procedures on a vessel up to 80 metres in length engaged on a coastal voyage
Fulfil watchkeeping responsibilities and apply watchkeeping principles
Take appropriate action in the event of a potential collision or other emergency situation arising during a watch
Communicate effectively with others in the course of watchkeeping duties.

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 a master of a vessel up to 80 metres in length engaged on a coastal voyage.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of sections of relevant maritime regulations
Relevant OH&S legislation and policies
Procedures for the use of the IALA Buoyage System
Implications of a range of factors that can affect watchkeeping functions on a vessel up to 80 metres in length engaged on a coastal voyage
Causes of groundings, collisions and casualties when on board vessel
Typical navigational hazards and implications for watchkeeping on a vessel up to 80 metres in length engaged on a coastal voyage
Operating procedures for typical navigational aids and skills and knowledge needed to use them effectively
Watch handover procedures
Watchkeeping problems and emergency situations for commercial vessels up to 80 metres in length engaged on a coastal voyages and appropriate action and solutions
Manual and electronic navigational aids available to the bridge team and the procedures for their operation and use during a watch
Instrumentation, controls and alarms on a vessel up to 80 metres in length engaged on a coastal voyage
Rudder and propeller control and vessel manoeuvring characteristics
Precautions necessary when navigating in or near traffic separation schemes or other routeing measures
Fatigue management principles and techniques including:
signs of fatigue
ways of controlling fatigue
action to be taken when fatigued
Maritime communication techniques require during watchkeeping functions.

Resource implications
Access is required to opportunities to either:
demonstrate the ability to maintain a safe watch through a range of suitably-simulated watchkeeping situations, exercises and case studies and/or
maintain a safe watch on a commercial vessel up to 80 metres in length engaged on a coastal voyage over an appropriate range of situations and weather and sea conditions.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
executing watchkeeping arrangements on a vessel up to 80 metres in length engaged on a coastal voyage
identifying and evaluating watchkeeping problems and determining an appropriate courses of action
identifying and implementing improvements to bridge management procedures
applying safety precautions relevant to watchkeeping operations
dealing with potential collisions and other potentially dangerous situations arising during a watch.

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including:
relevant maritime regulations
OHS regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
job procedures and work instructions
relevant guidelines relating to bridge management and watchkeeping arrangements on board vessel
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.