Elements and Performance Criteria

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

Work is performed within a defined range of operations and routine procedures, with responsibility for own outputs and some responsibility for others in achieving the specified quality and quantity of outcomes. It involves the management of the stress and dynamic factors affecting a vessel's stability. Some discretion and judgement is required in anticipating and allowing for possible stress and stability problems, hazards and contingencies and the actions to be taken in these eventualities.

Worksite environment
Vessel may include any small commercial vessel engaged on coastal voyages.

Management of the stress and dynamic factors affecting a vessel's stability may be carried out:
by day or night in both normal and emergency situations
under any possible conditions of weather and loading
while loading and unloading
while underway
during berthing and unberthing operations
while anchoring or mooring
prior to departure
in anticipation of adverse sea and weather conditions.

Factors that may have an adverse effect on vessel stability which require special precautions and stability management include:
effects of suspended weights when using cargo or fishing gear to load and discharge heavy weights
dangers on board a fishing vessel when clearing a net which is caught fast on an underwater obstruction
free surface effects
water on the deck
bilging
poor security of cargo stowage
movement of heavy items or stores and equipment on board vessel
flooding in the event of damage to the hull
alterations to the structure/construction of the vessel
use and replenishment of consumables during a voyage such as fuel, food, etc.

Means of managing the stress and dynamic factors affecting the stability of a vessel include:
closing openings
taking precautions during vessel operations that potentially alter the stress and stability conditions of the vessel
taking precautions when using lifting equipment and associated gear
managing the position, stowage and lashing of cargo, stores and equipment
action to avoid or minimise cargo shift during a voyage
managing the distribution of load on vessel
ballast management
damage control measures to maintain, stabilise or restore the watertight integrity of the hull during an emergency.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
operational orders
vessel's basic stability data book
sections of the Australian USL Code dealing with vessel stability
vessel's log
vessel manufacturer's instructions and recommended procedures
instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities.

Applicable International, Australian and State/Territory regulations and legislation
Applicable procedures and codes may include:
related to vessels of 500 gross tonnage or more
relevant sections of Australian USL Code concerning the stability of small commercial vessels
relevant Australian and State/Territory OH&S legislation.

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:
Interpreting information obtain from a vessel's stability data book
Carry out calculations associated with vessel stability using the required stability criteria, including interpreting and correlating the resultant data
Manage the stress and dynamic factors affecting the stability of a small commercial vessel
Communicate effectively with others concerning measures required to control the stability 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 the master of a small commercial vessel engaged on a coastal voyage.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of relevant maritime regulations
Relevant OH&S legislation and policies
The principal stresses which act on the structure of a small vessel
Construction features and stress characteristics for small commercial vessels engaged on coastal voyages
Principles of small vessel stability including appropriate stability criteria required under regulatory requirements for the types of vessel concerned
An understanding of the information contained in the simplified stability data book supplied to each small vessel and how this information is used to maintain the vessel in a stable condition during operations
Procedures for carrying out calculations associated with vessel stability using basic stability criteria calculations, including interpreting and correlating the resultant data
Factors which affect the rolling period of a vessel
Relationship between light displacement, loaded displacement and deadweight tonnage
Conditions of stable, neutral and unstable equilibrium and the effects of disturbing a vessel from the upright
Steps involved in bringing an unstable vessel to a stable condition
Problems and the stress and dynamic factors affecting the stability of small vessels engaged in coastal voyages and appropriate precautionary/remedial action and solutions
Procedures for managing the stress and stability conditions of a vessel in preparation for adverse sea and weather conditions
Procedures for managing the stress and stability conditions of a vessel during emergency situations that may involve flooding and/or damage to the hull and structure of the vessel
Effects of density of sea water on the draught and freeboard of a vessel including the effects on a vessels draught when moving from fresh to salt water and vice versa
Maritime communication techniques.

Resource implications
Access is required to opportunities to either:
participate in a range of exercises, case studies and other simulated practical and knowledge assessments that demonstrate the skills and knowledge to manage the stress and dynamic factors affecting the stability of a small vessel in a range of operational situations, and/or
assist in the management of the stress and dynamic factors affecting the stability of a small vessel engaged on a coastal voyage in a range of operational situations, either:
using a suitable simulator over an appropriate range of simulated loading and operational situations
in appropriate practical situations on an operational commercial or training vessel possible operation of a vessel during seatime training.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
managing of the stress and dynamic factors affecting the stability of a small commercial vessel engaged on a coastal voyage
calculating and interpreting data associated with stability management.

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including:
relevant maritime regulations
OHS regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
job procedures and work instructions
relevant vessel manufacturer's guidelines relating to the trim, stability and stress limits of the vessel
procedures to protect the integrity and security of the vessel's hull
environmental protection procedures when pumping ballast water.

Action taken promptly to report and/or rectify out-of-limit trim, stability and stresses of the vessel.

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.