Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to undertake ship loading/unloading operations for products such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), oil, chemicals and particulates. It applies to loading areas including:
terminal facilities
jetties
production platforms
floating storage and offtake (FSO)/floating production storage and offtake (FPSO).
This unit of competency applies to operations technicians who are required to demonstrate a significant understanding of the process and the equipment operation in order to prepare for and control the cargo transfer rate within safe limits, communicate with the loading master and terminal operator, complete all necessary documentation for the control and calculation of product volumes, and identify and solve operational problems.
This unit of competency applies to an individual working alone or as part of a team or group and working in liaison with other shift team members and the control room operator, as appropriate.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Prepare for work | 1.1 | Receive and give shift handover |
1.2 | Identify work requirements | ||
1.3 | Identify and control hazards | ||
1.4 | Coordinate with appropriate personnel | ||
1.5 | Check for recent work undertaken on ship loading/unloading equipment | ||
1.6 | Note any outstanding/incomplete work | ||
1.7 | Check operational status of ship loading/unloading equipment | ||
2 | Prepare for ship transfer | 2.1 | Check that the vessel is moored and secured in accordance with procedures and the transfer points aligned ready for product transfer |
2.2 | Activate/bring on line all safety systems | ||
2.3 | Ensure all arms/hoses and related equipment connections, are in place and operational conditions for transfer of product are satisfied | ||
2.4 | Ensure safety check documentation is completed | ||
3 | Transfer product to/from ship in accordance with procedures | 3.1 | Check transfer advice/documentation and complete required records |
3.2 | Engage fire and deluge protection systems | ||
3.3 | Launch and retrieve batching pigs | ||
3.4 | Commence the transfer process of the specified product | ||
3.5 | Monitor transfer equipment, its component items and levels frequently and critically throughout transfer using measured/indicated data and senses | ||
3.6 | Take action specified in procedures | ||
3.7 | Identify vapour or product leakages/spills and take specified action | ||
3.8 | Apply emergency procedures, as required | ||
4 | Complete transfer process | 4.1 | Achieve or satisfy capacities and transfer requirements within the allowable timeframes and schedules |
4.2 | Retrieve batching pigs, as required | ||
4.3 | Decommission, isolate and disengage transfer systems from or to the vessel, as required | ||
4.4 | Continue to monitor and control fire, deluge and safety systems during the finalization of the loading process and let-go of the vessel, as required | ||
4.5 | Complete all required logs and documentation and communicate the results of the transfer to the appropriate personnel | ||
4.6 | Shut down and bring transfer facilities off line, ensuring that the area has been made safe after the transfer has been completed | ||
5 | Isolate and de-isolate plant | 5.1 | Isolate transfer plant |
5.2 | Make safe for required work/storage | ||
5.3 | Check plant is ready to be returned to service | ||
5.4 | De-isolate and prepare plant for return to service | ||
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include the ability to:
check that vessel, equipment and safety systems are ready for transfer
start-up and shut down transfer facilities
control and monitor transfer rates and levels to meet capacities and schedules
identify hazards and risks and apply risk control procedures
identify early warning signs of equipment/processes needing attention or with potential problems
resolve routine and non-routine problems
identify hazards and risks and apply risk control procedures.
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
all items on a schematic of the ship loading/unloading system and functions of each
the nature/condition of materials being transferred to and from the vessel and the factors to be considered in the transfer operation
effects of temperature and pressure in transfer operations
storage and product transfer techniques and mediums
principles of operation of plant/equipment
interactions between plant items/processes
systems’ operating parameters and integrity limits, product specifications and tolerances, temperature, pressure and flow,
methods of controlling the rate of transfer and the advantages and disadvantages of each
impact of external factors (e.g. variations in weather)
function and troubleshooting of major components and their problems
hierarchy of control
hazards that may arise in the job/work environment, and:
their possible causes
potential consequences
appropriate risk controls.
Assessment Conditions
The unit should be assessed holistically and the judgement of competence based on a holistic assessment of the evidence.
The collection of performance evidence:
should occur over a range of situations which include typical disruptions to normal, smooth operations
will typically include a supervisor/third-party report focusing on consistent performance and problem recognition and solving. A supervisor/third-party report must be prepared by someone who has a direct, relevant, current relationship with the person being assessed and who is in a position to form a judgement on workplace performance relevant to the unit of competency
must include the use of ship loading/unloading equipment relevant to this unit allowing operation
may use industry-based simulation for part only of the unit particularly where safety, lack of opportunity or significant cost is an issue.
Assessment should occur in operational workplace situations. Where this is not possible, or where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment must occur in a sufficiently rigorous simulated environment reflecting realistic operational workplace conditions. This must cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
Assessment in a simulated environment should use evidence collected from one or more of:
walk-throughs
pilot plant operation
demonstration of skills
industry-based case studies/scenarios
‘what ifs’.
Knowledge evidence may be collected concurrently with performance evidence (provided a record is kept) or through an independent process, such as workbooks, written assessments or interviews (provided a record is kept).
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.
Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.
The regulatory framework will be reflected in workplace policies and procedures and is not required to be independently assessed.
Foundation skills are integral to competent performance of the unit and should not be assessed separately.
Assessors must satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment as set by the VET regulator.
In addition, the assessor or anyone acting in subject matter expert role in assessment must demonstrate both technical competency and currency. If the assessor cannot demonstrate technical competency and currency they must assess with a subject matter expert who does meet these requirements.
Technical competence can be demonstrated through one or more of:
relevant VET or other qualification/Statement of Attainment
appropriate workplace experience undertaking the type of work being assessed under routine and non-routine conditions
appropriate workplace experience supervising/evaluating the type of work being assessed under routine and non-routine conditions
Currency can be demonstrated through one or more of:
being currently employed undertaking the type of work being assessed
being employed by the organisation undertaking the type of work being assessed and having maintained currency in accordance with that organisation’s policies and procedures
having consulted/had contact with an organisation undertaking the type of work being assessed within the last twelve months, the consultation/contact being related to assessment
conducting on-the-job training/assessments of the type of work being assessed
being an active member of a relevant professional body and participating in activities relevant to the assessment of this type of work.
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
This field allows for 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. | |
Regulatory framework | The latest version of all legislation, regulations, industry codes of practice and Australian/international standards, or the version specified by the local regulatory authority, must be used, and include one or more of the following: legislative requirements, including work health and safety (WHS) industry codes of practice and guidelines environmental regulations and guidelines Australian and other standards licence and certification requirements All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environment (HSE) requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence. |
Hazards | Hazards include one or more of the following: electricity gas gases and liquids under pressure liquefied gases structural hazards structural collapse equipment failures industrial (machinery, equipment and product) equipment or product mass noise, rotational equipment or vibration plant services (steam, condensate and cooling water) working at heights, in restricted or confined spaces, or in environments subjected to heat, noise, dusts or vapours or in darkness flammability and explosivity hazardous products and materials unauthorised personnel sharp edges, protrusions or obstructions slippery surfaces, spills or leaks extreme weather other hazards that might arise |
Non-routine problems | Non-routine problems are unexpected problems, or variations of previous problems and must be resolved by applying operational knowledge to develop new solutions, either individually or in collaboration with relevant experts, to: determine problems needing action determine possible fault causes develop solutions to problems which do not have a known solution follow through items initiated until final resolution has occurred report problems outside area of responsibility to designated person Operational knowledge includes one or more of the following: procedures training technical information such as journals, engineering specifications remembered experience relevant knowledge obtained from appropriate people |
Start up/shut down | Start up/shut down includes the following: start up and shut down to/from normal operating conditions start up and shut down to/from isolated, cold or empty start up and shut down to/from other conditions/situations experienced on the plant |
Procedures | All operations must be performed in accordance with relevant procedures. Procedures are written, verbal, visual, computer-based or in some other form, include one or more of the following: emergency procedures work instructions standard operating procedures (SOPs) safe work method statements (SWMS) formulas/recipes batch sheets temporary instructions any similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant |
Operate | Operate is to monitor, adjust/make change to the production unit and/or its component items to meet specifications, by one or both of the following: manually in the plant using local controller in the plant This competency does not require the operation of a central control panel. |
Ship loading/unloading system | This unit of competency includes all items of equipment and unit operations which form part of the ship loading/unloading system. A unit comprises two or more components of plant/equipment that are operated together to achieve the outcome, including, as appropriate to the facility, one or more of the following: loading/unloading systems loading arms gantries gas and other hazard monitoring systems compressors storage tanks pipelines, trunklines and conveyors pig launcher, pig trap and batching pigs measurement systems Ancillary equipment includes one or more of the following: fire-extinguishers, hoses and jets mooring lines fire protection system deluge system |
Sectors
Competency Field
Operations