This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to plan and conduct a passage, determine position on a vessel using a range of bridge equipment, and evaluate meteorological information for passage planning.

This unit applies to people working in the maritime industry in the capacity of:

Master of a commercial vessel less than 80 metres in length within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ)

Master of a commercial vessel less than 500 gross tonnage (GT)

Watchkeeper Deck.

Licensing/Regulatory Information

Legislative and regulatory requirements are applicable to this unit.

Regulatory requirements include STCW International Maritime Organization (IMO) model course competencies and areas of knowledge, understanding and proficiency, together with the estimated total hours required for lectures and practical exercises. Teaching staff should note that timings are suggestions only and should be adapted to suit individual groups of trainees depending on their experience, ability, equipment and staff available for training

Near Coastal Qualifications:

This unit is one of the requirements to obtain Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) certification as a Master less than 80 metres Near Coastal as defined in the Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency-National Law) 2013.

Blue Waters Qualifications:

This unit is one of the requirements to obtain AMSA certification as a Master of a commercial vessel less than 500 gross tonnage (GT) or Watchkeeper Deck and to meet regulatory requirements this unit must be delivered consistent with Marine Orders and with the relevant sections of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Plan passage

1.1

Navigational charts, nautical publications and related documentation are selected for the area of navigation and corrected according to the latest information available

1.2

Information from charts and publications is interpreted and applied to accurately identify potential navigational hazards relevant to the proposed voyage

1.3

State of the tide at specified locations is determined and findings are applied to the passage plan

1.4

Route for voyage is determined and critical points along the proposed route of voyage are identified and plotted

1.5

Accurate calculations and measurements of navigational information are made

1.6

Meteorological information is obtained and interpreted, and weather and sea condition hazards relevant to the proposed voyage are identified prior to departure

1.7

Route is modified, as required, to take into account weather and sea condition hazards

1.8

Planned route for voyage is recorded according to organisational and regulatory requirements

2

Conduct passage

2.1

Mode of steering is selected appropriate for the prevailing weather, sea and traffic conditions and intended manoeuvres

2.2

Measurements and observations of sea and weather conditions are used to determine vessel speed and direction

2.3

Information from bridge equipment is interpreted to identify navigational hazards and fix vessel position

2.4

Alterations to vessel course or speed are made to meet prevailing circumstances and changing conditions

2.5

Navigational manoeuvres are conducted within safe operational limits of vessel

2.6

Details of passage are recorded in vessel log according to regulations

2.7

Variations to planned route are documented prior to archiving on completion of the voyage

3

Fix vessel position

3.1

Primary position fixing method is selected according to prevailing circumstances and conditions

3.2

Position is fixed using selected method and information derived from relevant wheelhouse equipment

3.3

Position is determined within limits of acceptable instrument/system errors

3.4

Position is recorded on a navigational chart according to regulatory requirements

3.5

Fixes are taken at time intervals appropriate for prevailing navigational conditions

3.6

Reliability of information obtained from primary method of position fixing is checked at appropriate intervals

3.7

Performance checks of position fixing instruments and wheelhouse equipment are carried out according to organisational procedures and manufacturer instructions

4

Determine appropriate action to take with respect to plotted position

4.1

Assessment of the set, drift and leeway being experienced by the vessel is made

4.2

Course is adjusted to maintain or resume planned route where the position indicates a deviation has occurred

4.3

Dead reckoning (DR) and/or estimated position (EP) is projected along planned route according to the course made good between previously observed positions

5

Analyse navigational system performance

5.1

Theoretical performance of navigational system is determined

5.2

Measurement equipment is selected, and checks and tests are conducted

5.3

Data is analysed and theoretical performance is checked with actual performance

5.4

Significance of variation between theoretical and actual performance is determined

5.5

Appropriate action is taken to bring performance to acceptable instrument/system errors

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:

accurately measuring and observing weather conditions

accurately preparing calculations and measurements of navigational information

adjusting steering controls for optimum performance

calculating courses using plane, Mercator and great circle sailing (GCS) methods

changing over from manual to automatic control and vice versa

checking reliability of information obtained from primary method of position fixing at appropriate intervals

correctly interpreting and applying meteorological information

determining errors in magnetic and gyrocompasses, and correctly applying to courses and bearings

determining errors of magnetic and gyrocompasses using celestial and terrestrial means, and allowing for such errors

determining vessel position by use of:

aids to navigation, including lighthouses, beacons and buoys

dead reckoning (DR), taking into account winds, tides, currents and estimated speed

electronic navigational aids

landmarks

rising and dipping distances of lights and the use of horizontal angles

determining vessel position within the limits of acceptable instrument/system errors

estimating position using DR

interpreting nautical charts and publications, including symbols and other chart information

maintaining charts and publications by applying up-to-date corrections to both paper and electronic charts and publications

operating echo-sounders and applying the information correctly

producing accurate and reliable information

reading the aneroid barometer and interpreting the information obtained

selecting and applying primary position fixing method, including:

celestial observations

radar ranges or bearings

radio navigation aids

running fix

simultaneous bearings or transits of coastal features

soundings to determine position

terrestrial observations

selecting mode of steering most suitable for prevailing weather, sea and traffic conditions and intended manoeuvres, including:

automatic pilot

electric systems

hydraulic systems

using and interpreting information obtained from shipborne meteorological instruments

using celestial bodies to determine vessel position

using navigational charts, nautical publications and related documentation, including:

Nautical Almanac

nautical tables

Notices to Mariners

paper charts

radio navigational warnings

sailing directions

temporary warning notices

tide tables

vessel routeing information

weather reports and warnings.

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:

celestial observations and calculations, including:

celestial sphere and equinoctial system of co-ordinates

compass error using azimuth and amplitude

daily motion and horizontal system of co-ordinates

hour angle

latitude by meridian altitude

pole star observations

sextant and altitude corrections

solar system

time and equation of time

characteristics of the various weather systems, reporting procedures and recording systems

charted information, including that in the title block, zones of confidence diagrams and datums

compass error from transit bearings or by bearings taken from a known position

times and heights of high and low water from Australian or local tide tables for primary and secondary ports and the relevance of chart datum

effects of current and leeway on the course and speed of the vessel (without calculations)

finding the variation from the chart

fixing vessel position by:

radar ranges and bearings

simultaneous bearings, transits of coastal features, and running fix

hazards, including:

restricted visibility

shallow water

traffic

unlit beacons

interpreting the set and drift of the current from information available on the chart

maintaining information in a navigational log and voyage records

measuring distance on a chart

meteorological instruments and their use

meteorological terms

nautical charts and publications

navigation systems, performance checks and tests to comply with manufacturers’ recommendations and good navigation practice

plane, Mercator and GCS concepts and calculations

principles of magnetic and gyrocompasses and fluxgate compass

relationship between compass, magnetic, true and gyro-courses and bearings

relative bearings

selection of suitable points for bearings

sources of weather forecasts and the interpretation of that information

steering control systems, including operating procedures

theory of tides

use and limitations on the use of electronic position fixing equipment, including:

augmented satellite systems

enhance loran-C system

global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and Galileo

global navigation system (GNS) and global positioning system (GPS)

loran-C system

use of a deviation card

using a single position line to assist in clearing dangers

using modern electronic navigational aids to determine vessel position

using meteorological information available, including:

atmospheric pressure

cloud precipitation

recording and reporting weather observations

structure of depressions

tropical revolving storms and other pressure systems

visibility

weather services for shipping

wind and other pressure systems over the ocean

using soundings in determining position

using terrestrial observations to determine vessel position individually or in combination with other methods

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

Assessors must hold credentials specified within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence and all regulatory requirements included within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

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.

Practical assessment must occur in a workplace, or realistic simulated workplace, under the normal range of workplace conditions.

Simulations, an Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)-approved simulator or scenarios may be used where situations cannot be provided in the workplace or may occur only rarely, in particular for situations relating to emergency procedures and adverse weather conditions where assessment would be unsafe, impractical or may lead to environmental damage.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

applicable documentation, such as legislation, regulations, codes of practice, workplace procedures and operational manuals

tools, equipment, machinery, materials and relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) currently used in industry.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

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

Not applicable.

H – Navigation