Assessor Resource

MARC059
Transmit and receive information by marine VHF radio within Australian Territorial Waters

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to transmit and receive information by marine very high frequency (VHF) radio on a vessel according to regulations and includes operating an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB).

Licensing/Regulatory Information

Legislative and regulatory requirements are applicable to this unit.

This unit is one of the requirements to obtain Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) certification as defined in the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) Part D.

This unit applies to all boaters using marine VHF radio equipment to transmit and receive information to and from shore and vessel-based operators within Australian Territorial Waters – defined as all waters within 12 nautical miles from the coastal baseline.

This unit is consistent with the requirements of the Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station – 27 MHz and VHF) Class Licence 2001.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least one occasion and include:

accurately and consistently using very high frequency (VHF) equipment to send and receive messages and signals under normal and emergency situations according to international and national VHF radio regulations/standards

applying the principles of marine radio and digital selective calling (DSC) to accurately transmit and receive messages, including distress calls

cancelling an inadvertent distress alert or call

carrying out radio communications in compliance with the relevant sections of the maritime provisions of the Radio Regulations adopted by the World Radiocommunication Conference (as amended), including Chapters VII and IX

communicating effectively with other stations by using standard voice procedures, the phonetic alphabet, push to talk (PTT) switch and common radio terminology

deploying an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB)

documenting communication problems

proper housing, securing and automatic release of float-free EPIRB

reading and interpreting regulations and procedures

sending and receiving distress alerts, and urgency and safety announcements by DSC

sending, acknowledging and relaying distress, urgency and safety communications by voice using recognised format

setting up VHF equipment for use, including selecting the channel, adjusting transmitter power level, adjusting squelch and using dual watch facility

using correct procedures for transmitting and receiving signals using VHF equipment.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

Australian maritime search and rescue (SAR) system, including satellite distress beacons

available radio services, including:

automated weather stations

DSC

public communications

scheduled broadcasts (skeds)

SAR

EPIRB frequencies:

406 MHz

121.5/MHz (homing)

marine VHF repeater stations

methods of communicating vessel position

organisations with which radio communication may be conducted, including:

coast stations

fishing organisations and co-operatives

limited coast stations

private shore stations, including boating clubs

state/territory police forces

principles of, and procedures for, marine VHF radio communications

procedures for transmitting and decoding the phonetic alphabet

purpose of monitoring the VHF Channel 70 used for DSC, including an awareness of the procedures used in making a DSC distress alert, urgency and safety announcement

radio communication, including:

distress, urgency and safety communications

normal vessel-to-shore service (ship-to-shore)

normal vessel-to-vessel service (ship-to-ship)

sections of relevant regulations related to marine VHF radio communications

VHF radio calling, replying and relaying procedures.

Assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Practical assessment must occur in a workplace, or assessment must occur via an online radio simulator or simulated VHF radio communications activities and exercises covering a range of normal and emergency communication situations that are typically experienced on a vessel.

Simulations and scenarios may be used where situations cannot be provided in the workplace or may occur only rarely, in particular for situations relating to emergency procedures and adverse weather conditions where assessment would be unsafe, impractical or may lead to environmental damage.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations

documentation, such as legislation, regulations, codes of practice, workplace procedures and operational manuals, including:

Marine Radio Operators VHF Handbook

Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station – 27 MHz and VHF) Class Licence 2001

Radiocommunications Act 1992

relevant state/territory legislation – for carriage requirements

VHF transceiver equipment – either fixed or handheld, or approved personal computer (PC)-based simulator, which includes a DSC facility.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least one occasion and include:

accurately and consistently using very high frequency (VHF) equipment to send and receive messages and signals under normal and emergency situations according to international and national VHF radio regulations/standards

applying the principles of marine radio and digital selective calling (DSC) to accurately transmit and receive messages, including distress calls

cancelling an inadvertent distress alert or call

carrying out radio communications in compliance with the relevant sections of the maritime provisions of the Radio Regulations adopted by the World Radiocommunication Conference (as amended), including Chapters VII and IX

communicating effectively with other stations by using standard voice procedures, the phonetic alphabet, push to talk (PTT) switch and common radio terminology

deploying an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB)

documenting communication problems

proper housing, securing and automatic release of float-free EPIRB

reading and interpreting regulations and procedures

sending and receiving distress alerts, and urgency and safety announcements by DSC

sending, acknowledging and relaying distress, urgency and safety communications by voice using recognised format

setting up VHF equipment for use, including selecting the channel, adjusting transmitter power level, adjusting squelch and using dual watch facility

using correct procedures for transmitting and receiving signals using VHF equipment.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

Australian maritime search and rescue (SAR) system, including satellite distress beacons

available radio services, including:

automated weather stations

DSC

public communications

scheduled broadcasts (skeds)

SAR

EPIRB frequencies:

406 MHz

121.5/MHz (homing)

marine VHF repeater stations

methods of communicating vessel position

organisations with which radio communication may be conducted, including:

coast stations

fishing organisations and co-operatives

limited coast stations

private shore stations, including boating clubs

state/territory police forces

principles of, and procedures for, marine VHF radio communications

procedures for transmitting and decoding the phonetic alphabet

purpose of monitoring the VHF Channel 70 used for DSC, including an awareness of the procedures used in making a DSC distress alert, urgency and safety announcement

radio communication, including:

distress, urgency and safety communications

normal vessel-to-shore service (ship-to-shore)

normal vessel-to-vessel service (ship-to-ship)

sections of relevant regulations related to marine VHF radio communications

VHF radio calling, replying and relaying procedures.

Assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Practical assessment must occur in a workplace, or assessment must occur via an online radio simulator or simulated VHF radio communications activities and exercises covering a range of normal and emergency communication situations that are typically experienced on a vessel.

Simulations and scenarios may be used where situations cannot be provided in the workplace or may occur only rarely, in particular for situations relating to emergency procedures and adverse weather conditions where assessment would be unsafe, impractical or may lead to environmental damage.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations

documentation, such as legislation, regulations, codes of practice, workplace procedures and operational manuals, including:

Marine Radio Operators VHF Handbook

Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station – 27 MHz and VHF) Class Licence 2001

Radiocommunications Act 1992

relevant state/territory legislation – for carriage requirements

VHF transceiver equipment – either fixed or handheld, or approved personal computer (PC)-based simulator, which includes a DSC facility.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
VHF radio equipment is selected for operation within limits of specifications 
 
 
 
Information that may be required is identified and documented 
 
 
Routine checks and maintenance are carried out on EPIRBs, including float free EPIRBs, to confirm their operational capability according to manufacturer instructions and specifications 
 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

MARC059 - Transmit and receive information by marine VHF radio within Australian Territorial Waters
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

MARC059 - Transmit and receive information by marine VHF radio within Australian Territorial Waters

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: