This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to maintain safe navigation of a vessel through the use of radar, automatic radar plotting aids (ARPAs) and other bridge equipment to determine vessel position.

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)

Master of a commercial vessel Unlimited

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), Master Unlimited 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.

Use radar and ARPA to safely navigate

1.1

Radar is operated according to manufacturer instructions to produce data on position of vessel, other vessels and fixed objects

1.2

Radar plot is constructed on radar plotting sheet and automatic plotting devices are initialised

1.3

Systematic radar and/or ARPA observations of vessels in the vicinity are made and risk of collision is determined

1.4

Radar data is used to obtain a position fix for vessel using electronic bearing lines and variable range markers

1.5

Radar bearings are corrected for vessel heading and compass error, as appropriate

1.6

Adjustments are made to vessel course and speed to maintain safety of navigation

1.7

Manoeuvring signals are made at appropriate time according to regulations

1.8

ARPA information is analysed and interpreted taking into account limitation of equipment and prevailing circumstances and conditions

2

Set up bridge equipment

2.1

Bridge equipment is initialised and displays are set up and maintained

2.2

Operational performance and accuracy of bridge equipment is confirmed, and appropriate action is taken when performance is out of limits

2.3

Bridge navigation watch alarm system (BNWAS) and voyage data recorder are activated according to manufacturer requirements and organisational procedures

2.4

Any false echoes and misrepresentations are detected, identified and rejected

3

Use bridge equipment to safely navigate

3.1

Bridge equipment is safely and efficiently used to conduct navigation of vessel

3.2

Position of vessel is monitored during voyage to ensure planned passage is followed

3.3

Movements of vessels in the vicinity are monitored to ensure collision situations do not occur

3.4

Adjustments are made to vessel course and speed to maintain safety of navigation

3.5

Manoeuvring signals are made at appropriate time according to regulations

3.6

Bridge equipment is used and maintained according to manufacturer requirements and organisational procedures

4

Maintain navigational records

4.1

Navigational data produced by bridge equipment that should be retained to conform with organisational procedures and regulatory requirements is identified

4.2

Navigational data is stored electronically or in hard copy as required by organisational procedures and regulatory requirements

4.3

Security and access requirements for data are adhered to according to organisational procedures

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:

communicating clearly and concisely at all times

correctly interpreting and analysing information obtained from radar and automatic radar plotting aids (ARPAs) taking into account the limitations of equipment and prevailing circumstances and conditions

correctly interpreting information received from other bridge equipment and applying appropriate corrections

determining latitude by meridian altitude

making adjustments to vessel course and speed to maintain safety of navigation

making decisions to amend course or speed in a timely manner according to accepted navigation practice

making manoeuvring signals at the appropriate time according to International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs)

planning and conducting celestial observations using a sextant and plotting a position

taking action to avoid close encounter or collision according to COLREGs

using navigational information to aid in command decisions.

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:

ARPA system performance and accuracy, tracking capabilities, limitations and processing delays

blind pilotage planning

bridge navigational watch alarm systems (BNWAS), including:

alarms

carriage requirements

design

operational sequences

purpose

course and speed of other vessels

critical echoes, exclusion areas and trial manoeuvres

detecting course and speed changes of other vessels

detection of misrepresentation of information, false echoes, sea and rain clutter, racons and search and rescue transponders (SARTs)

effect of changes in own vessel course and speed or both

errors of magnetic compass and their function

factors affecting performance and accuracy of radar and other navigational equipment

fundamentals of radar and ARPAs

ground and sea stabilisation and their effects on ARPA data

identification of critical echoes

COLREGs

magnetic and gyrocompasses, including rate of turn gyro

meeting overtaking vessels

methods of position fixing using celestial observations with a sextant

methods of target acquisition and their limitations

misrepresentation. including:

compass errors

false echoes

incorrect radar settings for heading marker and range marker

incorrect setting up of electronic chart system (ECS) or electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS)

incorrect setting up of satellite navigation systems

satellite and differential satellite navigation system errors

sea and rain clutter returns

navigational data, including:

navigation safety warning

recording of courses steered

weather and oceanographic reports

parallel indexing

plotting techniques and relative and true-motion concepts

principal types of ARPAs, their display characteristics, performance standards and the consequences of over reliance on ARPAs

principles of the magnetic compass and their correction

range and bearing by radar

sea and ground stabilisation and their effect on ARPA data

setting up and maintaining displays on radar

time, distance and bearing of closest point of approach of a closing vessel

true and relative vectors, graphic representation of target information and danger areas

use of operational warnings and system tests

voyage data recorder and simplified voyage data recorder, including:

authorised access to data by personnel for investigations

carriage requirements

data items recorded

data output interface

data security and software

design and operation

purpose

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 and 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