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 95 Code and Convention, ISM Code, tanker safety guides and port regulations related to oil tanker cargo 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 a significant range of operational and supervisory principles and procedures, safety precautions and hazard minimisation strategies to the management of the loading, discharge, handling and condition maintenance of cargo on a oil tanker. Contribution to the development of a broad plan for oil cargo handling, monitoring and maintenance operations 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 handling, monitoring and maintenance of cargo on a oil tanker.

Worksite environment
Vessel may include any Australian or international oil tanker.

Oil cargo handling operations 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 tank cleaning
during crude oil washing procedures
during oil cargo monitoring and maintenance
during oil cargo sampling.

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

Oil cargo handling systems and equipment may include:
pumps and pumping arrangements and venting and vapour-return systems, piping systems and valves
filters and strainers
expansion devices
flame screens
commonly used inert gases
storage, generation and distribution systems
temperature and pressure monitoring systems
inert gas systems
gas-freeing systems
cargo gauging, instrumentation systems and alarms
gas detection and monitoring systems.

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

Hazards associated with oil cargoes may include:
sources of ignition leasing to explosion and fire
electrostatic generation leading to discharge
environmental hazards to air and water
reactivity hazards including effects of self-reaction, temperature and effects of air, water, impurities and other chemicals and reagents
spills or release of toxic fluids, vapours and gases, involving skin contact and inhalation
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
operational orders
established tanker and company oil cargo operations procedures
sections of the AMSA Marine Orders and the IMO STCW Code and Convention related to oil tankers
'International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals)' ICS/OCIMF
'Ship to Ship Transfer Guide (Petroleum)' ICS/OCIMF
'Clean Seas Guide for Oil Tankers (Retention of Oil Residues on Board)' ICS/OCIMF
material data safety sheets
tanker manufacturer's instructions and recommended procedures
OHS procedures relevant to the handling of oil cargoes
instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities concerning oil 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 oil tankers
relevant sections of AMSA Marine Orders
instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities concerning oil 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:
Manage the safe loading, discharge, handling and condition maintenance of cargo on a oil tanker
Ensure all required safety and hazard control procedures are implemented during loading, discharge, handling and condition maintenance operations
Identify typical problems that may occur during oil cargo loading, discharge, handling and condition maintenance operations and take appropriate action
Identify emergency situations that may arise during oil operations and take appropriate action
Apply relevant international conventions, IMO and national codes, tanker safety guides and port regulations related to oil tanker cargo operations
Communicate effectively with others during oil cargo handling and maintenance operations.

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit of competency must be assessed in conjunction with other units that form part of a job role of the master of a oil tanker.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of IMO STCW 95 Code and AMSA Marine Orders applicable for oil tankers
Relevant OH&S and pollution control legislation, codes of practice, policies and procedures
The basic principles and trends in oil tanker design and the cargo containment and handling systems:
typical piping and pumping arrangements
typical deck arrangements
cargo tank arrangements
types of cargo pumps and their application to various types of oil and petroleum cargo
tank cleaning, gas freeing and inerting systems
the major components of an inert gas plant
cargo tank venting and accommodation ventilation systems and procedures
the requirements of shipboard gauging systems and their associated instrumentation and alarms
the requirements for cargo heating systems on oil tankers
the safety aspects of electrical systems on oil tankers
Procedures and regulatory requirements for loading, discharge, handling and condition monitoring of oil cargo including:
cargo loading and discharging preparations and procedures
loading and discharge plans for multiple grade tanker cargoes with due regard to cargo segregation and cargo care on passage.
loading and discharging procedures including vessel-to-vessel transfers
the use of check lists including the vessel/shore checklist.
the importance of correct supervision and use of monitoring equipment
the procedure for tank cleaning and gas freeing operations
crude oil washing procedures
the use and maintenance of inert gas atmospheres during cargo handling operations and its role in the gas freeing process
regulations and procedures for the control of entry into pumprooms and confined spaces
the principle of operation of gas detection equipment
appropriate gas detection equipment for given shipboard scenarios
the use of load-on-top techniques are explained.
proper ballasting and de-ballasting procedures are described.
procedures to prevent air and water pollution including disposals of wastes and washings
emergency procedures, i.e. pre-planned action in the event of leaks, fire, collision, stranding, emergency cargo discharge and personnel casualty
Oil cargo handling systems and equipment and the procedures for their use
The chemical and physical characteristics of oil cargoes of oil cargoes, including:
the basic chemistry of hydrocarbons and simple chemical reactions
the physical characteristics of various types of oil cargoes
the practical significance of flashpoint, flammable range and auto-ignition temperature
The hazards associated with oil cargoes, including:
an understanding of the types of hazards and their causes
safety and hazard minimisation procedures used on oil tankers
the sources of ignition that may be present on tankers
the principles of electrostatic generation are described, and the possible situations which might lead to a discharge aboard a tanker
the design features of the vessels which minimise or eliminate the major hazards
the health hazards of oil cargoes and the means to prevent safety incidents
Principles and procedures for emergency operations on an oil tanker, including:
the importance of developing tanker emergency plans
techniques for emergency shutdown of cargo operations
actions to be taken in the event of failure of services essential to oil cargo
actions to be taken following a collision, grounding or spillage, including a vapour release from an oil tanker
the correct procedures for the use of breathing apparatus, escape equipment, resuscitation equipment, rescue equipment, decontamination equipment and protective clothing and equipment
the procedures for entry into and effecting a rescue from enclosed spaces
Maritime communication techniques as they are applied in the loading, discharge, handling and condition monitoring of oil cargo.

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 manage the safe loading, discharge, handling and condition maintenance of cargo on a oil tanker, and/or
manage the safe loading, discharge, handling and condition maintenance of cargo on a on board an operational oil tanker.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
managing the safe loading, discharge, handling and condition maintenance of cargo on a oil tanker
identifying and evaluating oil cargo handling problems and determining an appropriate courses of action
identifying and implementing improvements to oil cargo handling procedures
applying safety and hazard control precautions relevant to oil cargo handling operations.

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including:
relevant sections of IMO STCW Convention and Code and AMSA Marine Orders
OHS regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
ISM Code safety management system procedures and work instructions on the conduct of maintenance on liquefied gas tankers
relevant manufacturer's guidelines relating to the use of oil cargo handling plant and equipment, including instructions on equipment capability and limitations
following on-board housekeeping processes
pollution management processes.

Action taken promptly to report and/or rectify operational accidents and incidents in accordance with 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.