Elements and Performance Criteria

General context
Work must be carried out in compliance with the relevant maritime regulations, tanker safety guides and port regulations related to liquefied gas tanker safety and operations.

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

Work involves the application of special safety precautions, operational procedures and hazard minimisation strategies to the management of the operations, maintenance and emergency situations on a liquefied gas tanker. Contribution to the development of integrated safety management plan for a liquefied gas tanker is required and accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the outcomes is involved.

Work requires significant judgement in planning, technical and leadership functions related to the development and implementation of an ISM management plan for operations, maintenance activities and emergencies on a liquefied gas tanker.

Worksite environment
Vessel may include any Australian or international commercial liquefied gas tanker.

Operational, maintenance and emergency procedures may be carried out:
by day or night in both normal and emergency situations
under any possible operational conditions
during loading and discharging of cargo
during ballasting and de-ballasting
during warm-up and cool-down procedures
during tank cleaning
during liquefied gas cargo condition maintenance
during liquefied gas cargo sampling.

Operations on a liquefied gas tanker may include:
cool-down of a gas free system from ambient temperature
liquefied gas loading preparation and operations
maintenance operations during a loaded voyage
liquefied gas discharging preparation and operations
warm-up and gas-freeing operations
tank-stripping and cleaning operations
ballasting operations and de-ballasting operations
maintenance operations during a ballast voyage.

Liquefied gas cargo handling systems and equipment may include:
pumps and pumping arrangements and vapour-return systems, piping systems and valves
filters and strainers
expansion devices
flame screens
commonly used inert gases
storage, generation and distribution systems
temperature and pressure monitoring systems
cargo vent systems
liquid re-circulation and re-liquefaction systems
cargo gauging, instrumentation systems and alarms
C02 and gas detection and monitoring systems
cargo boil-off systems and auxiliary systems.

Personal protection clothing and equipment may include:
masks, goggles and breathing apparatus
resuscitation equipment
protective clothing, including headgear, gloves and footwear
escape and rescue equipment.

Hazards associated with liquefied gas cargoes may include:
sources of ignition leading to explosion and fire
electrostatic generation leading to discharge
environmental hazards to air and water
reactivity hazards including effects of self-reaction, temperature and effects of air, water, impurities and other chemicals and reagents
release of toxic fluids, vapours and gases, involving skin contact, ingestion and inhalation
corrosion hazards to personnel, vessel structures and equipment
working in confined spaces.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
ISM Code safety management system plans, procedures, checklists and instructions
vessel's safety, maintenance and emergency procedures
sections of the AMSA Marine Orders and the IMO STCW Code and Convention related to liquefied gas tankers
'Liquefied Gas Handling Principles on Ships and in Terminals' SIGTTO
'Tanker Safety Guide (Liquefied Gas)' ICS
'Ship to Ship Transfer Guide (Liquefied Gases)' ICS/OCIMF
material safety data sheets
tanker manufacturer's instructions and recommended procedures
OHS and pollution prevention procedures relevant to the carriage of liquefied gas cargoes
instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities concerning liquefied gas cargo operations and emergencies
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 related to liquefied gas tankers
relevant sections of AMSA Marine Orders
International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
relevant international, Australian and State/Territory OH&S and pollution control legislation.

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:
Plan and implement special safety, maintenance and emergency procedures on a liquefied gas tanker
Identify typical safety, maintenance and emergency problems and hazards on a liquefied gas tanker and take appropriate action
Apply relevant international conventions, IMO and national codes, tanker safety guides and port regulations related to liquefied gas tanker operations
Communicate effectively with others when carrying out special safety, maintenance and emergency procedures on a liquefied gas tanker.

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 deck or engineering officer on a liquefied gas tanker.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of IMO STCW 95 Code and AMSA Marine Orders applicable for liquefied gas tankers, including the IGC
Relevant OH&S and pollution control legislation, codes of practice, policies and procedures
The basic principles and trends in liquefied gas tanker design and the cargo containment and handling systems, including:
types and design of liquefied gas tankers and their equipment
cargo containment systems with special reference to rules, surveys, tank construction, materials, coatings, insulation and compatibility.
cargo handling equipment including pumps and pumping arrangements and vapour return systems, and piping systems and valves
cargo conditioning systems including warm-up and cool-down procedures
tank atmosphere control systems including the use of inert gas and nitrogen
instrumentation of cargo containment and handling systems including that of gauging, sampling and temperature control and pressure monitoring systems
Safety procedures and regulatory requirements for loading, discharge, handling and condition monitoring of liquefied gas cargo including:
cargo loading and discharging preparations and procedures
the purpose and use of check lists, including the Ship/Shore checklist
the importance of correct supervision and the use of monitoring equipment when handling liquefied gas cargoes
cargo condition monitoring and maintenance on passage and in harbour
liquefied gas cargo sampling procedures
ballasting and de-ballasting procedures
the warm up and gas freeing procedures
the procedures for cool-down of a gas-free system from ambient temperature and the safety precautions involved
Special safety precautions with respect to repair and maintenance work on a liquefied gas tanker, including:
an understanding of the types of hazards and their causes
safety and hazard minimisation procedures used on liquefied gas tankers
the design features of the vessels which control the major hazards on a liquefied gas tanker
health hazards of liquefied gas cargoes and the means to prevent related safety incidents
basic toxicological terminology
routes of entry of toxins to the human body
special first aid measures which may be required on a liquefied gas tanker, including administering antidotes when dealing with a safety incident involving liquefied gases.
Principles and procedures for emergency operations on a liquefied gas tanker, including:
the importance of developing vessel emergency plans
techniques for emergency shutdown of cargo operations on a liquefied gas tanker
actions to be taken in the event of failure of services essential to liquefied gas cargo
actions to be taken on a liquefied gas tanker following a collision, stranding, spillage or envelopment of the vessel in toxic or flammable vapour
the correct procedures for the use of breathing apparatus, escape equipment, resuscitation equipment, rescue equipment and protective clothing and equipment
procedures for entry into and effecting a rescue from enclosed spaces on a tanker
importance of supervising personnel during potentially hazardous operations
types and principles of certified safe electrical equipment and sources of ignition
Maritime communication techniques as they are applied in the loading, discharge, handling and condition monitoring of oil cargo.

Resource implications
Access is required to opportunities to either:
participate in a range of practical exercises, case studies and/or other exercises that demonstrate the skills and knowledge to plan and implement special safety, maintenance and emergency procedures for liquefied gas tankers, and/or
plan and implement special safety, maintenance and emergency procedures on board an operational liquefied gas tanker.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
planning and implementing special safety, maintenance and emergency procedures for liquefied gas tankers
identifying and evaluating liquefied gas cargo safety, maintenance and emergency problems and hazards and determining appropriate courses of action
identifying and implementing improvements to liquefied gas cargo safety, maintenance and emergency procedures.

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including:
relevant sections of IMO STCW Convention and Code and AMSA Marine Orders
OHS and pollution control regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
ISM Code safety management system procedures and work instructions on the conduct of maintenance on liquefied gas tankers
pollution management processes.

Action is taken promptly to report and/or rectify operational accidents and 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.