This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to work as a member of a team under supervision when responding to marine emergencies. It applies to personnel required to respond to an incident involving a marine structure or vessel. The incident may involve fire and hazardous materials.

The fire sector is those sections of government departments, statutory authorities or organisations that have responsibility under jurisdictional arrangements for the delivery of firefighting and fire management services.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1

Proceed to marine emergency

1.1

Information about vessel, location and type of marine emergency is received, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements, with relevant stakeholders and support agencies or organisations immediately notified

1.2

Personal protective clothing and equipment is donned in response to type of marine emergency

1.3

Most effective route to marine emergency is identified

1.4

Access to marine emergency is gained whilst protecting life and minimising damage to property and environment, in accordance with organisational procedures

2

Prepare extinguishing media and/or equipment for use

2.1

Water supplies at incident to support firefighting are located

2.2

Resources and equipment to access and assist in marine emergency operations are identified and assembled

2.3

Nominated extinguishing media or equipment is identified, obtained and accessed

2.4

Equipment is used, in accordance with organisational procedures and manufacturers' specifications

3

Access marine structure orvessel

3.1

Hazards and special risks are identified, monitored and controlled, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.2

Personal protective clothing and equipment selected is appropriate to hazards and special risks

3.3

Breathing apparatus is checked and donned, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.4

Breathing apparatus procedures are followed, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.5

Access to marine emergency site is gained, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.6

Nature and location of marine emergency is determined

4

Conduct search and rescue

4.1

Systematic primary and secondary searches are conducted

4.2

All areas are searched and marked, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.3

Casualties are located, assisted and rescued, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.4

Fatalities are located and protected, in accordance with organisational procedures and relevant legislation

4.5

All persons are accounted for and information is communicated through the chain of command

5

Combat theemergency

5.1

Organisational firefighting objectives and strategies are received, confirmed and implemented under direction

5.2

Firefighting tactics are selected, in accordance with the type of marine emergency and with actual or potential hazards identified

5.3

Firefighting considerations are taken into account when implementing tactics

5.4

Marine emergency is located and access is gained in the safest manner to minimise damage to property or risk of injury

5.5

Incident potential is anticipated and action is taken to protect the safety of self and others

5.6

Strategies and tactics are selected to minimise injury to persons, damage to property and impact on the environment

5.7

Ongoing communication is maintained throughout the operation between firefighters and marine crew members using the chain of command

6

Observe and react to changing conditions

6.1

Changing conditions at the marine emergency site are observed and their effects on vessel behaviour are noted and reported, as required

6.2

Tactics are adapted to meet changing conditions and vessel behaviour

6.3

Safe paths of egress are identified and maintained at all times

7

Participate in ancillary operations

7.1

Ancillary operations are undertaken to complement marine emergency operations and to prevent further damage to the vessel and its contents

7.2

Water runoff is monitored and conditions reported

7.3

Risk and/or damage to the environment is avoided or minimised during ancillary operations

7.4

Marine emergency incident information is completed and recorded, in accordance with organisational procedures

8

Conclude operations

8.1

All equipment is removed from the marine emergency incident site, after completion of activities

8.2

Equipment is cleaned, reinstated and stowed, in accordance with organisational procedures

8.3

Participate in debriefing sessions

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.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

support agencies must include

organisations covered by existing emergency management arrangements such as

environmental agencies

police

volunteer coast guard

personal protective clothing and equipment must include

breathing apparatus

chemical protective clothing

life jacket, including whistle and strobe light

safety harness and lines

turnout uniforms and gloves

resources must include six or more of the following

access craft

aircraft or helicopter

bulk extinguishing agent

communication equipment

deep lift and volume

extrication equipment

hi-x foam equipment

international shore connection

positive pressure ventilation fan

pumps

ship fire control plans

ship manifest

thermal imaging equipment

water drill

firefighting strategies must include

combination attack

defensive and offensive mode

direct and indirect attack

direction of attack

overhead

firefighting tactics must include

boundary cooling

cooling fuels

diluting fuel

excluding oxygen

interrupting chemical chain reaction

removing fuels

ancillary operations must include participating in three or more of the following

damming and/or draining water runoff

guarding against hazards

making up equipment

overhaul

salvage

securing area

Fire

Fire