Elements and Performance Criteria

General context
Work must be carried out in compliance with the relevant sections of the AMSA Marine Orders and IMO STCW Conventions and Codes.

Work is performed relatively independently within broad operational requirements, with limited accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the prescribed outcomes.

Work involves the application of vessel construction principles and stability and stress techniques to the management of the seaworthiness of a vessel across a wide and often unpredictable variety of operational contexts. Monitoring and supervising the implementation of a broad plan or strategy for the maintenance of the seaworthiness of a vessel is required. Defined accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the outcomes is involved.

Work requires limited responsibility in the management of the maintenance of the seaworthiness of a vessel.

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

Seaworthiness of a vessel must be maintained:
by day or night in both normal and emergency situations
under any possible conditions of sea, weather and loading
while underway
during berthing and unberthing operations
while anchoring or mooring
when bunkering
when loading/unloading cargo.

Action taken to check the seaworthiness of a vessel may include:
routine inspections
checks prior to departure
checks on completion of a voyage
checks on completion of maintenance activities
checks in anticipation of a change in sea and weather conditions
checks during an emergency which may have caused damage or changes to the stability and stresses of the vessel.

Means of maintaining the security and stability of a vessel include:
closing openings
taking precautions when using lifting equipment and associated equipment
position, stowage and lashing of cargo, stores and equipment
action to avoid or minimise cargo shift during a voyage
distribution of load on vessel
ballast management
measures to avoid corrosion and metal fatigue on the hull
damage control measures to maintain, stabilise or restore the watertight integrity of the hull.

Maintenance may include:
repairs to equipment, components and vessel's structure and appliances
surface preparation and painting
antifouling
lubrication
replacement of faulty equipment or components.

Stability and stress parameters may include:
transverse stability - both dynamic and static
longitudinal stability
free surface effect
torsion
bending moments
shear forces
abnormal stability and stresses experienced in emergency and damage situations.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
ISM Code safety management system plans, procedures, checklists and instructions
operational orders
IMO Conventions and Class Rules
AMSA Marine Orders
'Trim and Stability Booklet'
company procedures
maintenance schedules and records
vessel and equipment manufacturer's instructions, specifications and recommended procedures
instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities related to the seaworthiness of vessels
relevant Australian and international standards.

Applicable International, Australian and State/Territory regulations and legislation
Applicable procedures and codes may include:
IMO Conventions related to the seaworthiness of vessels
ISM Code
relevant sections of AMSA Marine Orders related to the seaworthiness of vessels
relevant international, Australian and State/Territory OH&S legislation.

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:
Monitor and evaluate the seaworthiness of the vessel under normal and emergency situations
Take appropriate action to maintain trim, stability and stresses of the vessel within safe limits
Take appropriate preventative and remedial action to maintain the security and watertight integrity of the vessel's hull
Initiate and coordinate maintenance, repair or replacement of faulty or damaged equipment or vessel's structure in accordance with company procedures and manufacturer's instructions
Identify typical problems related to trim stability and stress of a vessel and the watertight integrity of the hull and take appropriate action in conjunction with other officers and crew
Exercise all required safety, environmental and hazard control precautions and procedures during inspection and maintenance operations
Communicate effectively with others when taking action to maintain the seaworthiness of the vessel.

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 an officer in charge of a navigational watch on a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more, or officer in charge of an engineering watch on a vessel of 3,000kW propulsion power or more.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of sections of the IMO STCW 95 Code and AMSA Marine Orders dealing with the seaworthiness of vessels
ISM Code and associated ship's Safety Management System and procedures
Relevant OH&S and pollution control legislation and policies
Procedures for the checking and inspecting a vessel's seaworthiness to ensure compliance with the company procedures and established safety rules and regulations
Principles and procedures to ensure the watertight integrity of a vessel's hull in both normal and emergency situations
Damage control measures that may be required to maintain the integrity of the hull in a range of typical emergency situations that could occur on a vessel
Procedures for the initiation and coordination of repair and/or replacement procedures
Corrosion control measures including surface preparation and painting and antifouling
Safety, environmental and hazard control precautions and procedures relevant to inspection and maintenance operations
Theory and calculations of vessel stability and dynamics including:
computation of hydrostatic stability data of a vessel
calculation of a vessel's metacentre
calculation of the transverse and longitudinal stability using hydrostatic data
calculation of the moment of statical stability at small angles of heel
determination of the centre of gravity of a vessel using an inclining experiment
determining the required correction for the height of centre of gravity for the free surface effect
determination of the values of the righting lever and construction of righting lever curves
calculations for change of draught and trim when entering different water densities
Principle features of the structure of a vessel
A basic understanding of the properties and application of materials used in vessel construction
Construction, layout and subdivision requirements of a typical vessel, including and understanding of freeboard and bulkhead deck, watertight compartments, weather tight compartments, the bulkhead of the vessel and collision bulkhead
Typical construction features and stress characteristics for vessels of 500 gross tonnage or more or 3,000 kW propulsion power or more
The principal stresses which act on the structure of a vessel
Effects of density of sea water on the draught and freeboard of a vessel
Features of the load-line and draught marks of a vessel and methods for performing related calculations
Maritime communication techniques needed
Problems related to the control of trim, stability and stresses of vessels and appropriate action and solutions
Records that must be maintained on the seaworthiness of a vessel.

Resource implications
Access is required to opportunities to either:
participate in a range of exercises, case studies and other simulated practical and knowledge assessments that demonstrate the skills and knowledge to maintain the seaworthiness of a vessel in a range of operational situations, and/or
assist in maintaining the seaworthiness of a vessel in a range of operational situations either:
using a simulator, meeting the requirements of Section A I/12 of the IMO STCW 95 Code, over an appropriate range of simulated loading and operational situations
in appropriate practical situations on an operational commercial or training vessel possible operation of a vessel during seatime training.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
carrying out routine and emergency checks and inspections of a vessel's seaworthiness
identifying and evaluating problems concerning the trim, heel, stability and stresses on a vessel and the integrity of its hull and determining an appropriate courses of action
initiating and coordinating maintenance activities required to ensure the seaworthiness of a vessel
applying safety precautions relevant to maintenance operations
identifying and implementing improvements to procedures for maintaining the seaworthiness of a vessel.

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including:
relevant sections of IMO Conventions and AMSA Marine Orders
OHS regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
job procedures and work instructions
relevant vessel manufacturer's guidelines relating to the trim, stability and stress limits of the vessel
procedures to protect the integrity and security of the vessel's hull
environmental protection procedures when pumping ballast water.

Action taken promptly to report and/or rectify out-of-limit trim, stability and stresses of the vessel or problems with the integrity of the vessel's hull in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, statutory requirements and company 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.