Application
This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to survive at sea using survival craft.
This unit applies to deck and engine workers working in the maritime industry on vessels up to 80 metres. They could be working independently or as part of a vessel crew.
This unit has links to legislative and certification requirements.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Prepare to abandon vessel | 1.1 | Nature of emergency is determined to minimise potential dangers and threats |
1.2 | Muster and abandon vessel signals are responded to according to vessel safety procedures | ||
1.3 | Survival equipment is organised to maximise chances of survival | ||
1.4 | Emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) is operated to transmit distress signal | ||
1.5 | Distress calls are made using radio equipment | ||
1.6 | Others are assisted to maximise their chances of survival | ||
1.7 | Prevailing circumstances and emergency conditions are used as the basis for timing and sequencing individual survival actions, and potential dangers and threats to other survivors are minimised | ||
2 | Operate lifesaving and survival equipment | 2.1 | Location and accessibility of lifesaving and survival equipment is established |
2.2 | Survival craft is launched in a timely and effective manner | ||
2.3 | Survival equipment is operated according to instructions and accepted survival practice | ||
2.4 | Survival radio equipment is operated according to manufacturer instructions and regulatory protocols | ||
2.5 | Lifejacket and other lifesaving clothing are correctly used according to instructions | ||
3 | Abandon vessel safely | 3.1 | Need to abandon vessel is established according to safety management system (SMS) or plan |
3.2 | Survival craft is launched according to instructions | ||
3.3 | Survival craft is checked to ensure it is safe to board | ||
3.4 | Survival craft is boarded observing safety of other survivors | ||
3.5 | Survival craft is released from abandoned vessel | ||
3.6 | Exposure cover is deployed on survival craft according to accepted survival practice and manufacturer instructions | ||
4 | Apply survival techniques | 4.1 | Survival craft is checked for seaworthiness |
4.2 | Sea anchors and drogues are deployed according to accepted nautical practice | ||
4.3 | Occupants are checked for signs of hypothermia or other injuries and first aid is applied as required | ||
4.4 | Water and food is rationed | ||
4.5 | Lookout for vessels and aircraft in vicinity is maintained and distress signals are released on sighting | ||
4.6 | Instructions given by rescue personnel are followed to safely access rescue craft | ||
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency. |
Range Statement
Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment. | |
Survival equipment includes one or more of the following: | EPIRBs flares immersion suit life jackets person overboard combination light and smoke float search and rescue transponders (SARTs) survival craft |
Radio equipment includes one of the following: | HF VHF |
Survival craft includes one or more of the following: | inflatable life raft life boat life buoy |
Rescue craft includes one of the following: | another vessel helicopter |
Sectors
Not applicable.
Competency Field
F – Operational Quality and Safety