Elements and Performance Criteria

General context
Work must be carried out in compliance with relevant maritime regulations.

Work is performed as a member of a bridge team under broad operational requirements, with limited accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the prescribed outcomes.

Work involves the application of a significant range of fundamental nautical principles and watchkeeping techniques across a wide and often unpredictable variety of operational contexts. Implementation of the vessel's watchkeeping plan is required. Limited accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the required watchkeeping functions is involved.

Work requires s judgement and teamwork in carrying out watchkeeping duties and procedures for vessels of 500 gross tonnage or more.

Worksite environment
Vessel may include any Australian or international commercial vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more.

Watchkeeping arrangements and procedures may be implemented:
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
while in port
while moored or at anchor.

Watchkeeping principles (as described in the AMSA Marine Orders) include:
proper lookout must be maintained at all times
duties of look out and helmsman must be kept separate
look-out must give full attention to keeping a proper look out and must not be given other duties which could interfere with the task
all necessary precautions must be taken to avoid pollution of the marine environment
appropriate assistance must be available to be summoned to the bridge if required by a change in the vessel's situation.

Fatigue management strategies may include:
recognition of symptoms of fatigue
arranging to take a break when symptoms of fatigue are identified
maintenance of personal fitness and health
appropriate dietary habits
avoidance of excessive consumption of alcohol prior to watchkeeping duties.

Emergencies and potentially dangerous navigational situations may include:
fire
stranding
possible collision
heavy weather
synchronous rolling
distress signal
failure of bridge equipment, steering equipment, navigational lights
loss of main engines
man overboard
fog and restricted visibility
cargo shift
ice formation on hull and superstructure
floating ice
retrieval of survivors from the water
loss of watertight integrity
intoxicated persons on board a vessel
dragging anchor
fouled hawse
loss of mooring lines or winches when berthing
entry into confined spaces
personnel working aloft or overside
sudden list or loll.

Available navigational aids may include:
radar
electronic position-indicating devices
other equipment affecting the safe navigation of the vessel.

Factors to be taken into account when carrying out watchkeeping duties include:
bridge must never be left unattended
weather and sea conditions, visibility and whether there is daylight or darkness
proximity of navigational hazards
use and operational condition of navigational aids
the operational status of bridge instrumentation, controls and alarms
provision on the bridge of unmanned machinery space (UMS) controls, alarms and indicators
unusual demands on the navigational watch arising from operational conditions
traffic density and other activities occurring in the area in which the vessel is navigating
the size of the vessel and the field of vision available from the conning position
the attention necessary when navigating in or near traffic separation schemes or other routeing measures
rudder and propeller control and vessel manoeuvring characteristics.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
ISM Code safety management system plans, procedures, checklists and instructions
operational orders
navigational charts
IMO STCW 95 Code and Convention
AMSA Marine Orders as they relate to watchkeeping functions and operations
vessel's log
company 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
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:
Implement watch keeping arrangements and procedures
Fulfil watchkeeping responsibilities
Take appropriate action in the event of a potential collision or other emergency situation arising during a watch
Communicate effectively with others in the course of watchkeeping duties.

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 in charge of a navigational watch on a commercial vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of sections of IMO STCW 95 Code and Convention and AMSA Marine Orders dealing with bridge watchkeeping principles, arrangements, procedures, roles and responsibilities
Relevant OH&S legislation and policies
Bridge resource management systems
Implications of a range of factors that can affect watchkeeping functions
Causes of groundings, collisions and casualties
Navigational hazards and implications for watchkeeping
Operating procedures for typical navigational aids and skills and the knowledge needed to use them effectively
Watch handover procedures
Watchkeeping problems and emergency situations for commercial vessels of 500 gross tonnage or more and appropriate action and solutions
Principles and use of navigational recording devices for keeping records of the operation, behaviour and performance of the ship and navigation equipment
Procedures for the use of ship routeing and reporting systems for safe navigation
Manual and electronic navigational aids available to the bridge team and the procedures for their operation and use during a watch
Typical bridge instrumentation, controls and alarms and their functions
Functions of unmanned machinery space (UMS) controls, alarms and indicators
Rudder and propeller control and vessel manoeuvring characteristics
Precautions necessary when navigating in or near traffic separation schemes or other routeing measures
Signs of fatigue
Fatigue management principles and techniques
Maritime communication techniques.

Resource implications
Access is required to opportunities to either:
demonstrate the ability to maintain a safe watch in range of suitably-simulated watchkeeping situations, case studies and exercises for a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more; and/or
maintain a safe watch on a commercial vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more in an appropriate range of situations and weather and sea conditions.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
maintaining a safe watch
identifying and evaluating watchkeeping problems and determining an appropriate courses of action
identifying and implementing improvements to bridge management procedures
applying safety precautions relevant to watchkeeping operations
dealing with potential collisions and other potentially dangerous situations arising during a watch.

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including:
relevant sections of IMO STCW 95 Code and Convention and AMSA Marine Orders
ISM Code and associated vessel's Safety Management System and procedures
OHS regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
job procedures and work instructions
relevant guidelines relating to bridge management and watchkeeping arrangements on board a vessel
security procedures
following bridge housekeeping processes
waste, pollution and recycling management processes.

Action taken promptly to report and/or rectify watchkeeping incidents 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.