Application
This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to survive at sea in the event of vessel abandonment.
This unit applies to people working in the maritime industry requiring a Certificate of Safety Training.
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 | Respond to emergency | 1.1 | Emergency situation is correctly recognised |
1.2 | Muster and abandon vessel signals are activated according to organisational procedures | ||
1.3 | Prompt, accurate and clear information is given on raising alarm | ||
1.4 | Instructions are provided to crew and passengers to maximise chances of survival | ||
1.5 | Emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) is operated to transmit distress signal | ||
1.6 | Distress calls are made using radio equipment on distress call frequency to communicate nature of emergency | ||
2 | Launch survival craft and rescue boats | 2.1 | Preparations for the launch of the survival craft or rescue boat are made according to organisational procedures and manufacturer instructions |
2.2 | Appropriate launch strategy is adopted following an assessment of the weather and sea conditions, and the nature of the emergency | ||
2.3 | Launching equipment is operated according to organisational procedures and manufacturer instructions | ||
2.4 | Survival craft or rescue boat is launched smoothly according to organisational procedures and manufacturer instructions | ||
2.5 | Pre-start checks are conducted on the engine of the survival craft or rescue boat | ||
2.6 | Survival craft or rescue boat engine is started according to organisational procedures and manufacturer instructions | ||
3 | Operate survival craft and rescue boats | 3.1 | Orders are given to survivors to board the survival craft or rescue boat using appropriate means |
3.2 | Survival craft or rescue boat is cleared of the vessel and operated according to organisational procedures and manufacturer instructions | ||
3.3 | Sea anchors and drogues are used to assist in remaining within the vicinity of the abandoned vessel and to minimise the effects of adverse weather and sea conditions | ||
3.4 | Exposure cover is deployed on an open lifeboat according to manufacturer instructions | ||
4 | Operate lifesaving and survival equipment on board survival craft and rescue boats | 4.1 | Location and accessibility of all lifesaving and survival equipment is established |
4.2 | Survival equipment is checked and operated according to manufacturer instructions | ||
4.3 | Lifesaving equipment is correctly donned and used according to manufacturer instructions | ||
5 | Assume responsibility for survival of crew and passengers | 5.1 | Survivors are checked for signs of hypothermia or other injuries and first aid is applied where necessary |
5.2 | Water and food is rationed | ||
5.3 | Lookout for vessels and aircraft in the vicinity is maintained and distress signals are released on sighting | ||
5.4 | Instructions given by rescue personnel are followed to safely access rescue craft | ||
5.5 | Persons are disembarked from survival craft or rescue boat according to organisational procedures | ||
5.6 | Survival craft or rescue boat is recovered and checked for signs of damage |
Evidence of Performance
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:
boarding a survival craft from the ship and water while wearing a life jacket
determining the type and extent of the emergency
donning a life jacket
donning and using an immersion suit
ensuring initial actions after leaving ship, and procedures and actions in the water minimise threats to survival
freeing a survival craft of obstructions
identifying hypothermia and providing appropriate treatment
keeping afloat without a life jacket
launching survival craft
operating location devices, including radio equipment
operating radio equipment
operating survival craft equipment
recognising and interpreting muster signals, and taking action that is appropriate to emergency and complies with established procedures
righting an inverted life raft
righting an inverted life raft while wearing a life jacket
safely jumping from a height into water
streaming a drogue or sea-anchor
swimming while wearing a life jacket
taking initial actions on boarding survival craft to enhance chance of survival
timing and sequencing individual actions so they are appropriate to prevailing circumstance and conditions, and minimise potential dangers and threats to survival
using appropriate method to board survival craft that avoids dangers to other survivors.
Evidence of Knowledge
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:
action to be taken in an emergency
characteristics of survival craft
emergency muster and abandon vessel signals
equipment found in survival craft, its function and the procedures for correct operation
equipment in survival craft
first aid techniques
location of personal life-saving appliances
location of survival equipment on vessel
principles concerning survival including:
value of training and drills
personal protective clothing and equipment
need to be ready for any emergency
actions to be taken when called to survival craft stations
actions to be taken when required to abandon ship
actions to be taken when in the water
actions to be taken when aboard a survival craft
main dangers to survivors
procedures for abandoning vessel
relevant maritime regulations related to required survival equipment on a vessel
relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation and policies
standard safety symbols
steps to be taken after collision, grounding or other marine casualty and resulting hull damage
survival at sea techniques
techniques for using survival equipment
time required to make distress calls safely
types of emergency situations which may occur such as collision, fire, foundering
types of life-saving appliances normally carried on ships
use of distress signals and penalty for misuse.
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must satisfy National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (NVR)/Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) assessor requirements.
Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that reflect workplace conditions.
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.
Resources for assessment must include access to:
tools, equipment, machinery, materials and personal protective equipment currently used in industry
applicable documentation such as legislation, regulations, codes of practice, workplace procedures and operational manuals
range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance. |
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency. |
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. | |
Emergency situations must include: | collision fire foundering |
Radio equipment includes one or more of the following: | EPIRB Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) HF search and rescue transponders (SARTs) VHF |
Survival craft and rescue boats include one or more of the following: | inflatable life raft life boat rescue boat |
Lifesaving and survival equipment includes one or more of the following: | EPIRBs flares life jackets immersion suit person overboard combination light and smoke float SARTs |
Sectors
Not applicable.
Competency Field
F - Operational Quality and Safety