Elements and Performance Criteria

General context
Work must be carried out in compliance with mandatory rules and regulations and IMO Conventions and Codes including the relevant sections of the AMSA Marine Orders and ensuring that applicable codes, guidelines and standards recommended by IMO, the classification societies and maritime industry organisations are taken into account.

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 a significant range of fundamental engineering principles and equipment control techniques across a wide and often unpredictable variety of operational contexts. Contribution to the development of a broad plan or strategy for shipboard engineering operations 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 equipment control operations 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.

Remote control of engineering systems may be carried out:
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.

Engineering plant and systems that may be remotely controlled or monitored include:
propulsion systems and controls
electrical systems and controls
engineering plant performance indicators
indicators of speed and fuel consumption
steering gear
hydraulic systems and controls
pumps and pumping systems
bridge controls and UMS (Unattended Machinery Spaces) systems
auxiliary systems and controls.

Propulsion plant configurations may include:
CPP
direct drive shaft
electric diesel
steam
reduction gear.

Auxiliary systems and controls may include:
cooling water
fuel
air starting
lubrication
ballast water
bilge
waste management and pollution control systems as per the MARPOL Convention.

Emergencies may include:
loss of propulsion
loss of electrical power
loss of steerage
flooding of engine room
fire or explosion in engine room.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
ISM Code safety management system plans, procedures, checklists and instructions
operational orders
MO STCW Convention and Code
AMSA Marine Orders
vessel's log
company procedures for the remote control of propulsion plant and other engineering systems
plant and equipment manufacturer's 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 Code and Convention related to vessels of 500 gross tonnage or more
relevant sections of AMSA Marine Orders
relevant international, Australian and State/Territory OH&S legislation
MARPOL Convention on waste management and control systems.

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:
Operate the remote controls of a vessel
safely in both normal and emergency situations
in normal and adverse weather conditions
when underway
in berthing and unberthing operations
when anchoring or mooring
Monitor and evaluate the performance of vessel's propulsion plant, other engineering systems and auxiliary machinery and equipment using remote performance indicators
Exercise all required safety and hazard control procedures when operating the remote controls of the vessel
Identify typical problems when remotely controlling shipboard plant and equipment and take appropriate action in conjunction with the Chief Engineer
Communicate effectively with engineering personnel others when remotely controlling shipboard plant and equipment.

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 vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of IMO STCW Convention and Codes and AMSA Marine Orders applicable for vessels of 500 gross tonnage and over
Relevant OH&S legislation, codes of practice, policies and procedures
Methods for remotely controlling the operation of shipboard propulsion plant and other engineering systems including auxiliary machinery and equipment
Typical characteristics of propulsion machinery and control systems for vessels of 500 gross tonnage or more, including operational limits, fuel consumption-speed relationships, stopping distances and turning circles at various draughts, speeds and loading
Relationship between a vessel's speed and fuel consumption including the meaning of economical RPM and its application
Procedures for the monitoring and evaluation the performance of propulsion plant, other engineering systems and auxiliary machinery and equipment
Procedures and precautions for bunkering operations
Dangers associated with shipboard electrical plants and related hazard prevention strategies
Sequence of required action when electrical system becomes overloaded
Basic principles of operation and functions of various systems and controls including:
pumps and pumping systems
various shipboard emergency systems
hydraulic systems and controls
bridge located engine controls
various auxiliary systems and controls such as cooling water, fuels system, air starting and lubrication system, an ballast water and bilge system
Requirements for waste management and control systems under the MARPOL Convention
Procedures for the coordination of deck and engineering resources
Bridge communication techniques, including issuing of engine room orders
Typical problems with the remote control of propulsion plant, other engineering systems and auxiliary machinery and equipment, for vessels of 500 gross tonnage or more and appropriate preventative and remedial action and solutions.

Resource implications
Access is required to opportunities to either:
remotely control the propulsion plant and auxiliary equipment of a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more in an appropriate range of situations, weather and loading conditions; and/or
operate an integrated vessel simulator, meeting the requirements of Section A I/12 of the IMO STCW 95 Code, over an appropriate range of simulated normal and emergency propulsion and engineering control situations.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
completing propulsion and engineering control operations
identifying and evaluating engineering control problems and determining an appropriate courses of action
identifying and implementing improvements to engineering control procedures
applying safety precautions relevant to engineering control operations
assessing operational capability and performance of propulsion and other engineering plant and auxiliary equipment.

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including:
Relevant sections of IMO STCW 95 Convention and Code 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 manufacturer's guidelines relating to the use of machinery, including instructions on equipment performance, capability and limitations
quality procedures (where existing)
security procedures
following on-board housekeeping processes
waste, pollution and recycling management processes and systems.

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