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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Forecast area weather
  2. Use information to predict oceanographic conditions
  3. Maintain records of weather and oceanographic information and forecasts

Range Statement

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

Weather conditions include one or more of the following:

air masses and fronts

cloud classifications

cyclones, storms and gales

heat exchange process

ocean currents

pressure systems and cold fronts

sea state

synoptic chart analysis

tide prediction

tropical revolving storms

use of tide tables

vertical division of the atmosphere

weather data provided by shipboard instruments

Dangerous oceanographic conditions include one or more of the following:

excessively high sea state and swells

ice formations

tornados, tropical revolving storms, hurricanes and gales

Appropriate action includes one or more of the following:

avoiding storm centres and dangerous quadrants by adjusting course and speed

ensuring all crew and passengers are informed

ensuring all vessel equipment is properly secured

securing cargo and stores

taking action to avoid extreme adverse weather conditions


Performance Evidence

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

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

calculating tidal conditions

ensuring currency of relevant reference material

observing, interpreting and forecasting weather and oceanographic conditions

reading, interpreting and applying weather and oceanographic information

selecting and using shipboard instruments to assist in forecasting weather and oceanographic conditions

supporting reasons for intended action with statistical data and observations of actual conditions

using appropriate nautical publications on tides and currents

using tide tables to calculate height of tide.


Knowledge Evidence

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

air masses and fronts

basic principles for making meteorological and oceanographic measurements

characteristics of various weather systems including tropical revolving storms, and avoidance of storm centres and dangerous quadrants

cloud classifications

cyclones, storms and gales

effects on navigation and vessel handling of wind, currents and bottom topography

heat exchange process

ocean currents

pressure systems and cold fronts

principles and procedures of weather forecasting using information obtained from observations, charts, satellite images, reports and instruments

procedures for filing and maintaining weather and oceanographic information

procedures to be followed during gale conditions and tropical revolving storms

sea state

sources of weather and oceanographic information, and methods for their interpretation

synoptic chart analysis

tide prediction

tropical revolving storms

typical problems in forecasting weather and oceanographic conditions

use of tide tables

vertical division of the atmosphere

weather data provided by shipboard instruments

WHS/OHS requirements and work practices.