The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment evidence must confirm ability to:

develop a boarding plan using risk assessment process and agency guidelines and procedures

board a vessel safely in a range of weather conditions

apply water safety techniques in an emergency.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:

risk assessment and planning processes

vessel types and implications when boarding

water safety techniques.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment is to be conducted initially in a simulated environment and then in an on-the-job situation.

Resources should include:

a tender, boarding vessel and agency guidelines and procedures

realistic scenarios for simulation exercises.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

simulation exercises

demonstration of water safety skills

questions on water safety, agency guidelines and procedures.

Guidance information for assessment

This unit may be assessed holistically with other units within a qualification.

Required skills

applying water safety skills for survival and attracting help

communicating in briefing and debriefing meetings

communicating with boarding party using command and signal techniques

communicating with team members during planning briefing and debriefing meetings

conveying information and instructions to skipper and crew of boarded vessel

deploying a ladder from tender to boarding vessel

employing climbing techniques to boarding a vessel

taking a risk assessment approach to planning boarding operation

using commands and signals during boarding, disembarking and onboard inspection

observation skills to carry out onboard inspections and to maintain situational safety.

Literacy skills used for:

taking notes as evidence.

Numeracy skills used for:

counting number of crew on vessel to be boarded

estimating size of vessel (e.g. length, height and speed)

estimating catch

calculating the amount of fuel required for a boarding operation.

Required knowledge

agency guidelines and procedures relevant to boarding and disembarking a vessel at sea and conducting an onboard inspection

climbing techniques for ladders and boarding vessels at sea

communication techniques for:

command and signal during the onboard operation

instructing crew and skipper of boarded vessel

risk assessment as part of planning process

roles and responsibility of boarding party members

types of vessels and their implications when boarding

water safety techniques, such as:

water entry

deployment of personal flotation device (PFD)

individual and group survival techniques

drown proofing.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Factorsaffecting the boarding operation may include:

intelligence on the vessel, offenders or circumstances

location of the target vessel

type of vessel

weather conditions.

Type of vessel may include:

small commercial and recreational, such as marine scale trailer vessels and abalone dive vessels

medium commercial and recreational, such as rock lobster, blue swimmer crab and small shark vessels, and non-trailer able recreational vessels

large commercial, such as tuna tow and catch vessels, pilchard vessels and prawn vessels (with enclosed rear deck style)

merchant vessels used for fishing, and as directed by other agencies, such as customs and police environment agencies, state or territory occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental protection authorities.

Boarding plan may include:

boarding equipment to be used

contingency plans

estimated time tender is likely to be in transit

evacuation point

number of people in the boarding party

potential boarding points on vessel

roles and responsibilities of boarding party

safe work methods to be applied

type of boarding anticipated.

Type of boarding may be:

compliant, where master of vessel assists with the boarding and vessel inspection

non-compliant, where there is no assistance afforded to the boarding party

opposed, where the boarding is physically opposed.

Boarding points may be:

a cutaway

aft quarter

stern.

Boarding equipment may include:

agency approved clothing and footwear

camera and video for digital record of evidence

communication equipment (e.g. such radio)

helmet, goggles, gloves and boarding jacket with PFD

PDE (e.g. handcuffs and Oleo-Capsicum (OC) spray)

personal equipment (e.g. notebooks, hat and sunscreen, and food and water)

sounder, GPS, vernier, rule and other devices as may be required for inspections

spotlight and batteries for night boarding.

Visual inspection of vessel may include:

estimating speed of target vessel

estimating the length and height of target vessel

number of crew on board

observing gear, such as deployed nets and pots that may be obstacles

selecting the most suitable location for boarding.

Tender preparations and checks may include:

pontoons filled with air and no leaks

sufficient fuel in tank and reserve.

Responsibilitiesrelevant to role may include:

boarding team role:

board and secure vessel

carry out inspection following agency guidelines and procedures

maintain situational awareness at all times

bowman role:

positions self in bow and helps maintain balance during boarding and loading equipment

assists others with vessel boarding and disembarking

monitors vessel for danger

monitors ocean swell

may be part of the boarding party

coxswain role:

leads boarding party

in charge of tender:

launch from master vessel

approach of vessel to be boarded

positioning for boarding

signify when safe for boarding party members to board given swell.

Commands and signals may include:

'climb' (start climbing to board or disembark)

'hold' (do not start, or hold position)

'landslide' (emergency evacuation)

'muster' (return to assembly/disembark point as soon as possible)

'no duff' (cease exercise - listen up).

Personal fitness includes:

coordination for tasks, such as

climbing ladders

videoing from tender or ladder

deploying OC spray

strength to:

hold or lift body weight

deploy ladders

climb with equipment

assist other crew when acting as bowman

a sense of timing and quick reaction time to:

climb a ladder or transfer to a vessel with swell and tender movement

avoid falling objects

spatial orientation to be aware of crew, dangers and gear flailing about in the swell and wind

maintaining balance on:

rolling decks of vessel to be boarded

rolling tender on its approach to vessel

ladder moving side to side of the vessel

Onboard inspection includes:

attending the wheelhouse and explaining inspection process to skipper

mustering vessel crew to determine crew numbers, fisheries officer safety and to protect evidence

following boarding and inspection guidelines and procedures used for vessel berthed at wharf.

Disembarking actions may include:

accounting for boarding team members and all equipment

securing equipment in tender

retrieving ladder if deployed

watching for obstructions and keeping clear of the vessel as the tender moves off.