Elements and Performance Criteria

General context
Work must be carried out in compliance with relevant 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 use of radar and other electronic aids to assist the safe navigation of a vessel across a wide and often unpredictable variety of navigational situations. Implementation of operational strategies and procedures for the use of radar and other electronic navigational aids to maintain the safe navigation of the vessel is required. Limited accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the outcomes is involved.

Work requires judgement in operational functions related to the use of electronic navigational aids to maintain the safe navigation of a commercial vessel.

Worksite environment
Vessel may include any Australian or international commercial vessel.

Electronic navigational aids may be operated to support command navigational decisions:
by day or night in both normal and emergency situations
under any possible conditions of weather and loading
while underway
during berthing and unberthing operations
while anchoring or mooring.

Electronic navigational aids may include:
radar
automatic radar plotting aid (ARPA)
hyperbolic navigation systems
Loran C navigation system
GPS and DGPS satellite systems as applied to navigation problems
ECS and ECDIS systems
Integrated navigation systems.

The use of electronic 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.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
relevant maritime regulations
operational orders
navigational charts
radar plotting charts
International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
ISM Code safety management system plans, procedures, checklists and instructions (where relevant)
vessel's log
company procedures for the use of navigational aids
navigation systems manufacturers' instructions and recommended procedures
instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities
relevant Australian and international standards.

Applicable International, Australian and State/Territory regulations and legislation
Applicable procedures and codes may include:
IMO STCW 95 Code and Convention
relevant sections of AMSA Marine Orders
Australian USL Code
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:
Initialise and operate electronic navigation aids
Interpret and analyse data generated by electronic navigation systems and use it to inform navigational command decisions
Use data generated by electronic navigation systems to fix the position of the vessel
Use data generated by electronic navigation systems to plot the tracks of other vessels
Identify typical problems in the use of electronic navigation systems and take appropriate action
Communicate effectively with others when using electronic navigational aids to assist in the safe navigation of the vessel.

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 an officer on a commercial vessel.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of relevant maritime regulations
Terminology and principles of operation of electronic navigational aids typically used on vessels
The different types of electronic navigational aids including their features, key applications and operational characteristics
Procedures for the initialisation and operation of radar, ARPA and various other types of electronic navigational aids
Techniques for the use of relevant electronic navigation systems including:
ARPA
Loran C navigation systems
GPS and DGPS satellite systems as applied to navigation problems
ECS and ECDIS systems
Integrated navigation systems
Principles and use of hyperbolic navigation systems
The limitations and potential errors associated with each type of electronic navigational aid
Methods for the interpretation and analysis of navigational data produced by radar, ARPA and various other types of electronic navigational aids including due allowance for the limitations and potential errors associated with each type of electronic navigational aid
Procedures for the use of data generated by radar, ARPA and various other types of electronic navigational aids to assist in the safe navigation of the vessel
Maritime communication techniques when using electronic navigation aids to assist in the safe navigation of a vessel
Typical problems in the use of electronic navigation systems to aid the navigation and appropriate courses of action and solutions.

Resource implications
Access is required to opportunities to either:
carry out electronic navigation assignments or exercises using an appropriate electronic navigation simulator over a representative range of navigational incidents; and/or
use electronic navigational aids to maintain safe navigation during sea time on the voyage of a commercial or training vessel.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
using electronic navigational aids to assist in the safe navigation of the vessel
identifying and evaluating problems in the use of electronic navigational aids and the navigational data they produce and determining an appropriate courses of action
identifying and implementing improvements to procedures for the use of electronic aids for the safe navigation of the vessel
assessing operational capability of various types of electronic navigational aids.

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including:
relevant maritime regulations
ISM Code and associated vessel's Safety Management System and procedures (where applicable)
OHS regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
job procedures and work instructions
relevant manufacturer's guidelines relating to the use of electronic navigational aids
security procedures when using electronic navigational aids.

Action taken promptly to report and/or rectify problems in the use of electronic navigational aids 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.