Elements and Performance Criteria

General context
a. Work must be carried out in accordance with the relevant maritime regulations
b. Work is performed within a defined range of operations and routine procedures, with responsibility for own outputs in relation to specified quality standards. It involves the interpretation of meteorological, observations, reports and instrument measurements to the forecasting of weather and ocean conditions and the application of those forecasts to safe navigation
c. Some discretion and judgement is required in interpreting meteorological data and forecasts, related navigational hazards and contingencies and the actions to be taken in these eventualities

Worksite environment
a. Vessel may include any commercial vessel engaged on near coastal voyages
b. Voyages being planned and conducted may include:
b.1. any near coastal voyage navigable by the size and type of vessel concerned
b.2. passages through
b.2.1. traffic separation schemes in near coastal areas
b.2.2. tidal restricted areas
b.2.3. VTS controlled areas
b.2.4. pilotage water under conditions of restricted visibility
c. Navigation may occur in conditions of:
c.1. clear visibility using visual navigational techniques
c.2. restricted visibility using parallel indexing and/or electronic chart systems
c.3. clear visibility using a combination of visual and electronic techniques
d. Instruments may include:
d.1. air and sea thermometers
d.2. barometers
d.3. hydrometers
d.4. anemometers
d.5. wind strength and direction instruments
d.6. instruments for measuring sea swell height, direction and period
e. Meteorological and oceanographic parameters may include:
e.1. atmospheric pressure
e.2. pressure gradient
e.3. air temperature
e.4. relative humidity
e.5. wind strength
e.6. wind direction
e.7. swell height, direction and period
e.8. visibility
e.9. cloud cover

Sources of information/documents
a. Sources of information and documentation may include:
a.1. operational orders
a.2. navigational charts of near coastal waters
a.3. meteorological and oceanographic publications
a.4. coastal weather reports, charts and satellite images
a.5. annual and weekly notices to mariners
a.6. publications from the Australian Hydrographer including radio signals, light lists, sailing directions, tide tables and chart catalogues
a.7. navigational warning records
a.8. NSCV/Australian USL Code
a.9. vessel's log
a.10. company procedures
a.11. vessel manufacturer's instructions and recommended procedures
a.12. instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities

Applicable International, Australian and State/Territory regulations and legislation
a. Applicable regulations and legislation may include:
a.1. Sections of the NSCV/Australian USL Code related to weather forecasting and navigation
a.2. AMSA Marine Orders related to weather forecasting and navigation (where applicable)
a.3. International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
a.4. relevant Guidelines and Criteria for Ship Reporting Systems

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
a. Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:
a.1. Obtain and decipher weather and oceanographic data collected from observations, reports, charts, satellite images and instruments
a.2. Identify and evaluate weather forecasting problems and determine appropriate solutions
a.3. Access, use and maintain meteorological charts, meteorological publications and related weather and oceanographical documentation
a.4. Use weather forecasts to ensure safe navigation

Interdependent assessment of units
a. This unit of competency must be assessed in conjunction with other mandatory units that form part of a job role of a master of a small commercial vessel.

Required knowledge and skills
a. Knowledge of relevant regulations dealing with weather forecasting and navigation applicable for vessels on near coastal voyages
b. Principles and procedures of weather forecasting using information obtained from observations, reports and instruments including:
b.1. vertical division of the atmosphere
b.2. air masses and fronts
b.3. cloud classifications
b.4. heat exchange process
b.5. synoptic chart analysis
b.6. pressure systems, cold and warm fronts
b.7. cyclones, storms and gales
b.8. tropical meteorology
b.9. ocean currents
b.10. weather data provided by shipboard instruments
b.11. sea state
b.12. tide prediction
b.13. use of tide tables
c. Basic principles and procedures for making meteorological and oceanographic measurements using appropriate instruments and interpreting and deciphering the results
d. Sources of weather and oceanographic reports and methods for their interpretation
e. Procedures for the application of forecast of likely weather and oceanic conditions to the development of a typical coastal passage plan
f. Procedures for the calculation of height and time of low and high water at locations listed in the tide tables
g. Effects on navigation and shiphandling of wind, currents and bottom topography
h. Problems in the forecasting of weather and oceanographic information to navigation of a vessel and appropriate action and solutions
i. Procedures to be followed during gale conditions and cyclones including the means of securing a vessel in a cyclone mooring
j. Maritime communication techniques

Resource implications
a. Access is required to opportunities to either:
a.1. participate in a range of suitably simulated practical and knowledge assignments and exercises that demonstrate the ability to collect appropriate weather and oceanographic data from observations, reports and basic measurements using shipboard instruments and apply them to the safe navigation of a vessel, and/or
a.2. collect weather and oceanographic data from observations, reports and basic measurements and apply them to the safe navigation of an operational commercial or training vessel on a near coastal voyage

Consistency in performance
a. Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
a.1. observing weather and ocean conditions
a.2. using shipboard instruments to collect basic meteorological and oceanographic data
a.3. obtaining and deciphering weather and oceanographic data collected from observations, charts, reports, satellite images and instruments
a.4. applying the forecasts to the planning and conduct of a near coastal passage
a.5. identifying and evaluating weather forecasting problems and determining appropriate solutions
b. Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace and regulatory procedures including:
b.1. relevant regulations
b.2. established procedures for the forecasting local weather and ocean conditions in near coastal waters
b.3. navigational regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
b.4. reporting of vessel's position, route and navigational contingencies
b.5. job procedures and instructions on the use of meteorological instruments, reports and observations
b.6. use of relevant meteorological publications, charts and satellite images
b.7. procedures for the storage and maintenance of meteorological publications and charts
c. Action is taken promptly to report and take account of adverse weather forecasts in accordance with established procedures
d. Work is completed systematically with required attention to detail

Context for assessment
a. Assessment of competence must comply with the assessment requirements of the relevant maritime regulations
b. Assessment of this unit must be undertaken within relevant marine authority approved and audited arrangements by a registered training organisation:
b.1. As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral examinations
b.2. Appropriate practical assessment must occur:
b.2.1. at the registered training organisation, and/or
b.2.2. on an appropriate working or training vessel