Elements and Performance Criteria

General context
Work must be carried out in compliance with the relevant sections of the Radio Regulations adopted by the World Administrative Radio Conference for the Mobile Service (1987), and maritime regulations.

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

Work involves the application of principles of marine radiotelephony to accurately transmit and receive messages. Use of correct procedures for transmitting and receiving of signals using HF and VHF equipment, as well as deployment and operation of satellite EPIRBs and SARTs is required. Limited accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the outcomes is involved.

Work requires the accurate and consistent use and user maintenance of radio equipment to send and receive messages and signals under normal and emergency situations in accordance with international and national radio regulations.

Worksite environment
Radio and radiotelephony communications may be carried out in both normal and emergency situations using shipboard HF and VHF radio equipment, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) and SARTs.

Radio and radiotelephony communications may be carried out:
by day or night in both normal and emergency situations
under any possible conditions of weather
while underway
while anchored or moored.

Radio equipment may include:
radiotelephony transceiving equipment, including:
medium frequency/high frequency equipment (MF/HF)
very high frequency equipment (VHF)
digital selective calling (DSC) equipment
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
Search and Rescue Transmitter (SART)
batteries
aerials
electrical and radio cable connections
electrical fuses.

Radio communications may include:
normal vessel-to-vessel service
normal vessel-to-shore service
on-demand service
auto seaphone service
auto seaphone 999 service
distress
urgency
safety
navigational
medical advice
emergency position signals.

Organisations with whom radio communications may be conducted may include:
coast stations
limited coast stations
private shore stations
volunteer coast guard stations.
search and rescue coordination centre location and operator
state police forces
company bases
fishing organisations and cooperatives.

Available radio services may include:
medical advice services
search and rescue
AUSREP
public correspondence.

EPIRB frequencies may include:
406 MHz
121.5/243 MHz.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
sections of IMO STCW 95 Code concerning radio communications
sections of AMSA Marine Orders concerning radio communications
radiotelephony regulations
radio communications log
radio equipment manufacturer's specifications and instructions
records of radio communications.

Applicable International, Australian and State/Territory regulations and legislation
Applicable regulations and legislation may include:
relevant sections of maritime regulations
Radio Regulations adopted by the World Administrative Radio Conference for the Mobile Service (1987),
Australian radio communications legislation including:
Australian Communications Authority Act
Radiocommunications Act (1992)
Telecommunications Act
Telecommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act.

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:
Operate VHF and HF radio equipment to transmit and receive messages
Maintain and fault-find radio equipment
Access search and rescue radio facilities
Deploy and operate an EPIRB and a SART
Maintain records of radio communications.

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 person with a responsibility for radio communications onboard a vessel.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of sections of relevant regulations related to marine radio communications
Different types of marine radio equipment, their features, applications, operating characteristics and operating procedures
Basic principles and procedures for marine radio communications
Purpose for and procedures for the monitoring of calling and working frequencies
Radio calling, replying and relaying procedures
Purpose of silence periods when operating radio equipment
Limitations on the performance of different types of marine radio equipment
Methods of communicating vessel position
Hazards associated with radio transmission and the repair and maintenance of radio equipment and related hazard control measures and OHS regulations.
A basic understanding of the Australian marine search and rescue system
Procedures for the transmitting and decoding of the phonetic alphabet excluding the figure code
Operational checks including:
checking of radio performance
testing fuses
measuring capacity of batteries and the specific gravity of the electrolyte
measuring on and off load voltage
Typical radio equipment faults and defects and related fault finding techniques and remedial procedures
Procedures for deploying and operating EPIRBs and SARTs
Typical radio communications problems and appropriate action and solutions
Procedures for keeping records of radio communications.

Resource implications
Access is required to opportunities to either:
demonstrate performance in suitably-simulated radio communications activities and exercises covering a range of normal and emergency radio communication situations that are typically experienced on a vessel; and/or
use radio communications in an appropriate range of operational situations on board an operational commercial or training vessel.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
operating VHF and HF radio equipment to transmit and receive messages
maintaining and fault-finding radio equipment
accessing search and rescue radio facilities
deploying and operating an EPIRB and a SART
identifying and evaluating radio communication problems and determining appropriate courses of action
maintaining records of radio communications.

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including:
relevant sections of IMO STCW 95 Convention and Code and AMSA Marine Orders
OHS procedures and legislation
job procedures and work instructions
guidelines relating to the use of a radio communications equipment on-board the vessel.

Action is taken promptly to report radio communications problems 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.