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 a significant range of fundamental navigational principles and procedures across a wide variety of navigational contexts, including navigation at high latitudes. Contribution to the development of a plan for a voyage is required with appropriate allowance for possible contingencies. Accountability and responsibility for self and others in planning a voyage and conducting navigation is involved.

Work requires significant judgement in planning, technical and leadership functions related to planning and conducting a voyage for a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more.

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

Voyages to be planned and conducted may include:
any voyage navigable by the size and type of vessel concerned
voyages in high latitudes
passages through:
traffic separation schemes
tidal restricted areas
VTS controlled areas
pilotage water under conditions of restricted visibility.

Navigation may occur in conditions of:
clear visibility using visual navigational techniques
restricted visibility using parallel indexing and/or electronic chart systems
clear visibility using a combination of visual and electronic techniques.

Position fixing techniques may include:
visual
RADAR
continuous position monitoring.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
ISM Code safety management system plans, procedures, checklists and instructions
operational orders
navigational charts
Nautical Institute publications
'Nautical Almanac'
'General Principles on Ships' Routeing'
'Guidelines and Criteria for Ship Reporting Systems'.
publications from the Australian Hydrographer or British Admiralty including radio signals, light lists, sailing directions, tide tables and chart catalogues
navigational warning records
IMO STCW Convention and Code
AMSA Marine Orders
annual and weekly notices to mariners
vessel's log
company procedures
vessel manufacturer's instructions and recommended procedures
instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities
pilot instructions where relevant
relevant Australian and international standards.

Applicable International, Australian and State/Territory regulations and legislation
Applicable procedures and codes may include:
IMO STCW Code and Convention related to vessels of 500 gross tonnage or more
relevant sections of AMSA Marine Orders
International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
relevant international, Australian and State/Territory OH&S legislation
Guidelines and Criteria for Ship Reporting Systems.

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:
Plan a voyage for a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more taking into account all relevant navigational hazards, including voyages in high latitudes
Fix the position of a vessel using all acceptable methods
Identify typical navigational hazards and make due allowance for them when planning a voyage
Access, use and maintain navigational charts, nautical publications and related documentation
Communicate effectively with others planning a voyage and conducting navigation
Follow reporting procedures in accordance with the Guidelines and Criteria for Ship Reporting Systems.

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
Common methods of time measurement
Methods used to approximate to the shape of the earth
Procedures for fixing a celestial object's position with reference to a horizon-based system of coordinates
Procedures for converting on set of coordinates to another
Common astronomic phenomena as described in the Nautical Almanac including: the phases of the moon, twilight, solar eclipses, lunar eclipses, visible sunrise/set, tabulated times for sunrise/set, theoretical sunrise/set
Procedures for the calculation of the height of tide for a given time at any place listed using tide tables
Procedures for the use of Nautical Almanac data and information when planning and conducting a voyage, including calculation of errors due to common navigational approximations
Equilibrium theory of tides for the major tide raising constituents
Typical errors in common position fixing systems and their effect on observed positions
Requirements for effective passage planning including contingency planning
Information required for a typical effective passage plan
Ordering procedures for navigational charts, nautical publications and related documentation
Procedures for filing and maintaining navigational charts, nautical publications and related documentation in serviceable condition
Vessel reporting systems and their use in planning and conducting a voyage
Special techniques required for navigation in high latitudes
Maritime communication techniques, including issuing of helm and engine orders and tug communications.

Resource implications
Access is required to opportunities to either:
plan a simulated voyage and conduct navigation using a marine simulator meeting the requirements of Section A I/12 of the IMO STCW 95 Code, over an appropriate range of latitudes and navigational hazards; and/or
assist in the planning of an actual voyage and conducting navigation for a commercial vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more involving an appropriate range of latitudes and navigational hazards.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
planning a voyage and conducting navigation
identifying and evaluating navigation problems and determining appropriate navigational solutions
identifying and implementing improvements to voyage planning and navigation procedures
applying required precautions relevant to voyage planning and navigation
fixing the position of the vessel.

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace and regulatory 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
navigational regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
reporting of vessel's position, route and navigational contingencies
job procedures and navigational instructions
use of relevant nautical publications and charts
procedures for the storage and maintenance of nautical publications and charts.

Action is taken promptly to report and/or rectify navigational errors and contingencies 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.