Elements and Performance Criteria

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

Work requires judgement and teamwork in planning, technical and operational functions related to devising and conducting the coastal passage of a vessel up to 80m in length, or 100m in length where gross tonnage does not exceed 3000 gross tonnage.

Work is performed as a member of a bridge team under broad operational requirements, with limited accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the prescribed outcomes. It involves the application of navigational principles and procedures across a range of coastal navigational contexts. Contribution to the development of a plan for a coastal voyage is required as a member of a bridge team with appropriate allowance for possible contingencies. Limited accountability and responsibility for self and others in planning a coastal voyage and conducting navigation is involved.

Worksite environment
Vessel may include any commercial vessel up to 80m in length on coastal voyages, or 100m in length where gross tonnage does not exceed 3,000 gross tonnage.

Voyages to be planned and conducted may include:
any coastal voyage navigable by the size and type of vessel concerned
passages through
traffic separation schemes in coastal areas
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.

Instrumentation and equipment used for navigation and fixing a vessel's position may include:
radar
automatic radar plotting aid (ARPA)
GPS and DGPS satellite navigation systems
ECS and ECDIS systems (Note: ECDIS systems are considered to be included under the term 'charts' under the IMO STCW Convention and Code)
integrated navigation systems
magnetic compasses
gyro compasses
gyro repeaters
chronometers
sextants
azimuth mirrors
azimuth vanes
pelarus
doppler and electromagnetic logs
echo sounders.

The use of navigational aids to assist safe navigation may include:
avoidance of collision with another vessel
fixing the position of the vessel
tracking of other vessels
assistance in making of command navigational decisions
navigating during search and rescue operations.

Position fixing techniques may include:
visual
landmarks
aids to navigation such as lighthouses, beacons and buoys
dead reckoning, taking into account winds tides currents and estimated speed
electronic aids including RADAR
continuous position monitoring.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
operational orders
navigational charts of coastal waters
relevant maritime publications
navigational warning records
relevant maritime regulations
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:
Australian USL Code
relevant sections of IMO STCW 95 Code and Convention (where applicable)
relevant sections of AMSA Marine Orders (where applicable)
International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
relevant international, Australian and State/Territory OH&S legislation.

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:
Plan the passage of a vessel up to 80m in length or 100m in length where gross tonnage does not exceed 3,000 gross tonnage, on a coastal voyage, taking into account all relevant navigational hazards
Fix the position of a vessel within coastal waters using all acceptable methods
Identify typical navigational hazards and make due allowance for them when planning a coastal voyage
Conduct the passage of a vessel up to 80m in length on coastal voyages, or 100m in length where gross tonnage does not exceed 3000 gross tonnage, taking into account all relevant navigational hazards
Access, use and maintain navigational charts, nautical publications and related documentation
Communicate effectively with others planning a coastal 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 a master on a commercial vessel up to 80m in length on coastal voyages, or 100m in length where gross tonnage does not exceed 3000 gross tonnage.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of relevant maritime regulations
Principles and procedures of navigation and coastal passage planning including contingency planning
Information required to develop a typical effective coastal passage plan
Procedures for filing and handling navigational charts, nautical publications and related documentation in serviceable condition
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 calculating DR and EP due to current, tides and wind and course to steer
Principles and procedures for fixing a vessel's position
Procedures for converting one 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
Errors in common position fixing systems and their effect on observed positions
Methods for controlling vessel speed and direction
Constant rate of turn techniques
Manoeuvring and engine characteristics for vessels up to 80m in length on coastal voyages, or 100m in length where gross tonnage does not exceed 3000 gross tonnage, taking into account all relevant navigational hazards, including stopping distances and turning circles at various draughts, speeds and loading
Effects on vessel handling of wind, currents and bottom topography
Typical manoeuvring problems for vessels up to 80m in length on coastal voyages, or 100m in length where gross tonnage does not exceed 3000 gross tonnage, taking into account all relevant navigational hazards and appropriate action and solutions
Manoeuvring procedures in and near 'traffic separation schemes' and 'vessel traffic service areas'
Vessel reporting systems and their use in planning and conducting a voyage
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 coastal passage and conduct navigation using an appropriate marine simulator covering simulated coastal areas and across an appropriate range of navigational hazards; and/or
assist in the planning and conduct of an actual passage for a for a commercial vessel up to 80m in length, or 100m in length where gross tonnage does not exceed 3000 gross tonnage, in coastal areas and across an appropriate range of navigational hazards.

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

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace and regulatory procedures including:
relevant maritime regulations
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.