Elements and Performance Criteria

General context
Work must be carried out in compliance with the relevant maritime regulations, tanker safety guides and port regulations related to chemical tanker safety and operations.

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 special safety precautions, operational procedures and hazard minimisation strategies to the management of the operations, maintenance and emergency situations on a chemical tanker. Contribution to the development of integrated safety management plan for a chemical tanker is required and accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the outcomes is involved.

Work requires significant judgement in planning, technical and leadership functions related to the development and implementation of an ISM management plan for operations, maintenance activities and emergencies on a chemical tanker.

Worksite environment
Vessel may include any Australian or international commercial chemical tanker.

Operational, maintenance and emergency procedures may be carried out:
by day or night in both normal and emergency situations
under any possible operational conditions
during loading and discharging of cargo
during ballasting and de-ballasting
during chemical cargo condition monitoring and maintenance
during chemical cargo sampling.

Operational cargo handling cycle of a chemical tanker may include:
chemical cargo loading preparation and operations
cargo monitoring and maintenance operations during a loaded voyage
chemical cargo discharging preparation and operations
tank-stripping and cleaning operations
ballasting operations
maintenance operations during a ballast voyage
de-ballasting operations.

Chemical cargo handling systems and related equipment may include:
chemical cargo pumps and pumping arrangements and venting and vapour return systems, piping systems and valves
tank temperature control systems and alarms
filters and strainers
gas freeing systems
storage, generation and distribution systems
temperature and pressure monitoring systems
cargo vent systems
cargo vapour return systems
tank cleaning systems
liquid re-circulation and re-liquefaction systems
cargo gauging, instrumentation systems and alarms.

Personal protection clothing and equipment may include:
masks and goggles
protective clothing, including headgear, gloves and footwear
breathing apparatus
resuscitation equipment
escape and rescue equipment.

Hazards associated with chemical cargoes may include:
reactivity hazards including effects of self-reaction, temperature and effects of air, water, impurities and other chemicals and reagents
environmental hazards to air and water
spills or release of toxic fluids, vapours and gases, involving skin contact, inhalation and ingestion
corrosion hazards to personnel, vessel structures and equipment
working in confined spaces.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
ISM Code safety management system plans, procedures, checklists and instructions
vessel's safety, maintenance and emergency procedures
established tanker and company chemical cargo operations procedures
sections of the AMSA Marine Orders and the IMO STCW Code and Convention related to chemical tankers
'Safety in Chemical Tankers' ICS
'Tanker Safety Guide (Chemical Tankers) ICS
'International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals' ICS/OCIMF
'Ship to Shore Safety Checklist' ICS/OCIMF
'Ship to Ship Transfer Guide (Petroleum) ICS/OCIMF
material safety data sheets
tanker manufacturer's instructions and recommended procedures
OHS and pollution prevention procedures relevant to the handling of chemical cargoes
instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities concerning chemical cargo operations
relevant Australian and international standards.

Applicable International, Australian and State/Territory regulations and legislation
Applicable procedures and codes may include:
sections of the IMO STCW 95 Code and Convention related to chemical tankers
relevant sections of AMSA Marine Orders
instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities concerning chemical cargo operations
relevant international, Australian and State/Territory OH&S and pollution control legislation.

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:
Plan and implement special safety, maintenance and emergency procedures on a chemical tanker
Identify typical safety, maintenance and emergency problems and hazards on a chemical tanker and take appropriate action
Apply relevant international conventions, IMO and national codes, tanker safety guides and port regulations related to chemical tanker cargo operations
Communicate effectively with others when carrying out special safety, maintenance and emergency procedures on a chemical tanker.

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit of competency must be assessed in conjunction with other units that form part of a job role of a deck or engineering officer on a chemical tanker.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of IMO STCW 95 Code and AMSA Marine Orders applicable for chemical tankers
Relevant OH&S and pollution control legislation, codes of practice, policies and procedures
Safety procedures and regulatory requirements for loading, discharge, handling and condition monitoring of chemical cargo including:
typical calculations required when coordinating the handling of chemical cargo
procedures for the preparation of loading and discharge plans for multiple grade tanker cargoes with due regard to cargo segregation and cargo care on passage.
cargo loading and discharging preparations and procedures
the purpose and use of check lists, including the Vessel/Shore checklist
the importance of correct supervision and the use of monitoring equipment when handling chemical cargoes
cargo condition monitoring and maintenance on passage and in harbour
principles and procedures for the segregation of cargoes
procedures for cargo transfer and changing cargoes
the use and maintenance of inert atmospheres during cargo operations
procedures for controlling entry into pumprooms and confined spaces
the principle of operation of gas detection and safety equipment
gas detection and safety equipment requirements for various shipboard scenarios on a chemical tanker
procedures to prevent air and water pollution including disposal of wastes and washings
the procedure for tank cleaning and gas freeing operations, including the use of absorption, wetting agents and detergents
cargo gauging, sampling and testing
ballasting and de-ballasting
emergency procedures, i.e. pre-planned action in the event of spillages, leaks, fire, collision, stranding, emergency cargo discharge and personnel casualty
Special safety precautions with respect to repair and maintenance work on a chemical tanker, particularly maintenance activities that affect pumping, piping, electrical and control system, which may be contaminated with toxic vapours or liquid
The hazards associated with chemical cargoes, including:
an understanding of the types of hazards and their causes
safety and hazard minimisation procedures used on chemical tankers
the design features of the vessels which minimise or eliminate the major hazards on a chemical tanker
potential health hazards of various chemical cargoes and the means to prevent related safety incidents
basic toxicological terminology
routes of entry of toxins to the human body
special first aid measures which may be required on a chemical tanker, including administering antidotes when dealing with a safety incident involving chemicals
Maritime communication techniques as they are applied in the loading, discharge, handling and condition monitoring of chemical cargo
Principles and procedures for emergency operations on a chemical tanker, including:
the importance of developing vessel emergency plans
techniques for emergency shutdown of cargo operations on a chemical tanker
actions to be taken in the event of failure of services essential to chemical cargo
actions to be taken on a chemical tanker following a collision, grounding or spillage
the correct procedures for the use of breathing apparatus, escape equipment, resuscitation equipment, protective clothing and decontamination equipment
procedures for entry into and effecting a rescue from enclosed spaces on a chemical tanker
Principles of chemical cargo containment, including:
containment systems
rules
surveys
tank construction
materials
coatings
temperature control
insulation
compatibility
medical first aid and administering of antidotes
The properties and characteristics of chemicals and their vapours, including:
the characteristics of chemicals typically carried
toxicity of various chemical cargoes
critical temperatures of typical chemical cargoes
hazards of typical chemical cargoes and measures for hazard control
safety guides applicable for typical chemical cargoes carried
Basic principles of toxicity of chemicals, including:
the modes by which chemicals and their vapours may be toxic
the toxic properties of inhibitors and of products of combustion of both materials of construction and of chemicals carried
acute and chronic effects of toxicity,
systemic poisons and irritants
the Threshold Limit Value (TLV)
hazards of skin contact, inhalation and ingestion.

Resource implications
Access is required to opportunities to either:
participate in a range of practical exercises, case studies and/or other exercises that demonstrate the skills and knowledge to plan and implement special safety, maintenance and emergency procedures for chemical tankers, and/or
plan and implement special safety, maintenance and emergency procedures on board an operational chemical tanker.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
planning and implementing special safety, maintenance and emergency procedures for chemical tankers
identifying and evaluating chemical cargo safety, maintenance and emergency problems and determining appropriate courses of action
identifying and implementing improvements to chemical cargo safety, maintenance and emergency procedures.

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including:
relevant sections of IMO STCW Convention and Code and AMSA Marine Orders
OHS and pollution control regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
ISM Code safety management system procedures and work instructions on the checking and repair of shipboard machinery, including machinery specifications and directions on equipment capability and limitations
ISM Code safety management system and quality procedures (where existing)
following on-board housekeeping processes
pollution management processes.

Action taken promptly to report and/or rectify operational accidents and 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.