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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Calculate stability
  2. Manage weight distribution
  3. Maintain records of stability management

Range Statement

Specifies different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.

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

Stability calculations must include:

calculation of areas under the curve

changes in draft and trim due to differing water densities

correction for free surface effect

draft and trim

metacentric height

moment of statical stability at small angles of heel

transverse and longitudinal stability

values for righting levers and construction of the curve of stability

Appropriate action includes one or more of the following:

amending the vessel loading plan

ballast management

reduction of free surface

Data and information related to stability management includes one or more of the following:

cargo stowage and loading plan

records of stability calculations

safety management system

stability and trim booklet


Performance Evidence

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:

applying knowledge of stability, trim and stress tables, diagrams and stress calculating equipment

carrying out calculations required when determining vessel stability and trim

managing the loading and weight distribution of a vessel to ensure assigned load line conditions are not exceeded

managing vessel stability in a range of conditions

reading and interpreting vessel specifications and design drawings

recognising problems affecting vessel stability and trim.


Knowledge Evidence

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:

calculation of vessels stability using the inclining experiment

effects of angle of loll

effects of beam and form coefficient on the stability of a vessel

effects of density of sea water on the draught and freeboard of a vessel

effects of free surface on the stability of a vessel

features of the load-line and draught marks of a vessel and methods for performing related calculations

fundamental actions to be taken in the event of partial loss of intact buoyancy

fundamentals of watertight integrity

principal stresses that act on the structure of a vessel

principal structural members of a vessel and the proper names for various parts

problems related to the control of trim, stability and stresses of vessels and appropriate action and solutions

sections of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping (STCW) and Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Marine Orders related to intact stability criteria

stability, trim and stress tables, diagrams and stress calculating equipment

theory and calculations of vessel stability and dynamics

use of computer programs in calculating stability

work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements and work practices.