Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Factorsaffecting the boarding operation may include:
intelligence on the vessel, offenders or circumstances
location of the target vessel
type of vessel
weather conditions.
Type of vessel may include:
small commercial and recreational, such as marine scale trailer vessels and abalone dive vessels
medium commercial and recreational, such as rock lobster, blue swimmer crab and small shark vessels, and non-trailer able recreational vessels
large commercial, such as tuna tow and catch vessels, pilchard vessels and prawn vessels (with enclosed rear deck style)
merchant vessels used for fishing, and as directed by other agencies, such as customs and police environment agencies, state or territory occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental protection authorities.
Boarding plan may include:
boarding equipment to be used
contingency plans
estimated time tender is likely to be in transit
evacuation point
number of people in the boarding party
potential boarding points on vessel
roles and responsibilities of boarding party
safe work methods to be applied
type of boarding anticipated.
Type of boarding may be:
compliant, where master of vessel assists with the boarding and vessel inspection
non-compliant, where there is no assistance afforded to the boarding party
opposed, where the boarding is physically opposed.
Boarding points may be:
a cutaway
aft quarter
stern.
Boarding equipment may include:
agency approved clothing and footwear
camera and video for digital record of evidence
communication equipment (e.g. such radio)
helmet, goggles, gloves and boarding jacket with PFD
PDE (e.g. handcuffs and Oleo-Capsicum (OC) spray)
personal equipment (e.g. notebooks, hat and sunscreen, and food and water)
sounder, GPS, vernier, rule and other devices as may be required for inspections
spotlight and batteries for night boarding.
Visual inspection of vessel may include:
estimating speed of target vessel
estimating the length and height of target vessel
number of crew on board
observing gear, such as deployed nets and pots that may be obstacles
selecting the most suitable location for boarding.
Tender preparations and checks may include:
pontoons filled with air and no leaks
sufficient fuel in tank and reserve.
Responsibilitiesrelevant to role may include:
boarding team role:
board and secure vessel
carry out inspection following agency guidelines and procedures
maintain situational awareness at all times
bowman role:
positions self in bow and helps maintain balance during boarding and loading equipment
assists others with vessel boarding and disembarking
monitors vessel for danger
monitors ocean swell
may be part of the boarding party
coxswain role:
leads boarding party
in charge of tender:
launch from master vessel
approach of vessel to be boarded
positioning for boarding
signify when safe for boarding party members to board given swell.
Commands and signals may include:
'climb' (start climbing to board or disembark)
'hold' (do not start, or hold position)
'landslide' (emergency evacuation)
'muster' (return to assembly/disembark point as soon as possible)
'no duff' (cease exercise - listen up).
Personal fitness includes:
coordination for tasks, such as
climbing ladders
videoing from tender or ladder
deploying OC spray
strength to:
hold or lift body weight
deploy ladders
climb with equipment
assist other crew when acting as bowman
a sense of timing and quick reaction time to:
climb a ladder or transfer to a vessel with swell and tender movement
avoid falling objects
spatial orientation to be aware of crew, dangers and gear flailing about in the swell and wind
maintaining balance on:
rolling decks of vessel to be boarded
rolling tender on its approach to vessel
ladder moving side to side of the vessel
Onboard inspection includes:
attending the wheelhouse and explaining inspection process to skipper
mustering vessel crew to determine crew numbers, fisheries officer safety and to protect evidence
following boarding and inspection guidelines and procedures used for vessel berthed at wharf.
Disembarking actions may include:
accounting for boarding team members and all equipment
securing equipment in tender
retrieving ladder if deployed
watching for obstructions and keeping clear of the vessel as the tender moves off.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment evidence must confirm ability to:
develop a boarding plan using risk assessment process and agency guidelines and procedures
board a vessel safely in a range of weather conditions
apply water safety techniques in an emergency.
Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
risk assessment and planning processes
vessel types and implications when boarding
water safety techniques.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment is to be conducted initially in a simulated environment and then in an on-the-job situation.

Resources should include:
a tender, boarding vessel and agency guidelines and procedures
realistic scenarios for simulation exercises.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
simulation exercises
demonstration of water safety skills
questions on water safety, agency guidelines and procedures.
Guidance information for assessment
This unit may be assessed holistically with other units within a qualification.