This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to interpret and follow work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) policy and procedures, and emergency procedures during mooring and unmooring activities.

This unit applies to people working in the maritime industry as a Linesperson as part of a mooring and unmooring team.

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 

Follow safety and hazard control procedures 

1.1

Tests and inspections of ropes and equipment are conducted according to regulations and company procedures

1.2

Hazards are identified and action is taken to eliminate or minimise risk to personnel, port facilities, vessel and the environment

1.3

Safety precautions and hazard minimisation procedures and regulations are followed at all times during mooring or unmooring operations

1.4

Safe distance from snapback zones and demarcated area is maintained during tensioning and slackening of lines

1.5

Action is taken to secure vessel and to maintain safety of vessel and persons involved, in a mooring or unmooring incident

2 

Use personal protective equipment  

2.1

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is obtained and checked prior to commencement of operations according to company WHS/OHS policy and procedures

2.2

PPE is correctly used as required

2.3

PPE is correctly stored after use according to company procedures

3 

Follow safety and emergency procedures 

3.1

Wharf, port and vessel emergency procedures are accessed and implemented

3.2

Safety drills are conducted according to company procedures

3.3

Escape routes, and internal and external communications and alarm systems are correctly used according to regulatory requirements and established port procedures

3.4

Emergency communications, and alarm signals and systems are used according to port emergency procedures and regulatory requirements

4 

Report safety incidents and emergencies  

4.1

Safety incidents or emergencies that occur during mooring or unmooring operations are correctly and accurately recorded according to regulations and company procedures

4.2

Required reports on safety incidents or emergencies that occur during mooring or unmooring operations are prepared and referred to designated personnel according to regulations and company procedures

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

Hazards include one or more of the following:

• crane movement
• faulty communications equipment
• inadequate lighting
• ship mooring lines and wires in poor condition
• wharf traffic

Personnel include one or more of the following:

• mooring:

• launch and crew
• mooring supervisor
• wharf mooring personnel (bow) forward
• wharf mooring personnel (stern) aft

• pilot
• tug crew/s
• vessel crew

Safety precautions include:

• checking:

• own personal fitness and medical wellbeing
• whereabouts of edge of wharf
• whereabouts of other members of mooring/unmooring team

• confirming availability of a personal flotation device on arrival at mooring operation
• keeping work area hazard-free
• obtaining and using required personal protective equipment (such as safety footwear, safety helmet, suitable gloves were appropriate, safety vest and reflective clothing, personal life vest, safety glasses)
• removing rings from fingers to avoid them being caught on steel wire ropes
• wearing suitable clothing

Hazard minimisation procedures include:

• ensuring ropes and equipment have been tested and are in good condition
• placing warning signage in appropriate places
• testing equipment prior to operation

Mooring or unmooring operations include one or more of the following:

• landing a gangway
• preparing a berth
• receiving heaving line from:

• a launch
• a vessel

• returning heaving line to a vessel
• unmooring and letting go a vessel
• working:

• by day or night
• in normal and emergency situations
• under any permissible conditions of weather
• at various shore-side terminals and wharves

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions on at least one occasion and include:

• communicating effectively with other personnel when mooring and unmooring a vessel
• handling rope appropriately and correctly:

• storing and caring for ropes and lines
• tying knots such as bowline, reef knot, overhand knot, figure of eight knot, sheet bends, clove hitch, splicing and whipping, round turn two half hitches
• applying a chain stopper to a wire rope
• heaving on a line in collaboration with other members of a mooring team
• applying a stopper to a synthetic fibre rope
• applying a chain stopper to a natural cordage rope
• attaching a line to a bollard or bitt with all lines in correct order such as up through the eye (dipping)
• flaking down a rope
• forming a bight

• identifying and correctly using:

• personal protective equipment (PPE)
• various types of ropes, steel wires and mooring equipment

• interpreting and following work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS), and safety management procedures for mooring and unmooring operations, including safety instructions and precautions
• recognising dangers and hazards before and during mooring and unmooring operations, and taking appropriate action to report and rectify them
• recognising safety-related problems that may occur during mooring and unmooring operations, and taking appropriate action to report and resolve these problems
• recording and reporting safety incidents and emergencies
• reporting and/or rectifying hazards, safety incidents or emergencies promptly
• responding to individual differences and applying acceptable behaviour when working with others
• working safely as a member of a mooring and unmooring team
• working systematically with required attention to detail and safety requirements.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions and include knowledge of:

• dangers associated with mooring and unmooring duties:

• being hit by a line being thrown down from a vessel
• stepping inside the bight of a line
• being struck by a parting line
• mixing rings and wire rope
• falling off the edge of the wharf into the water
• back strain from carrying a line, heaving on a line
• ‘snap back’ in the event of a line breaking
• trip hazards such as crane lines

• hazards and safety-related problems that may occur during mooring and unmooring operations, and appropriate preventative and remedial action and solutions
• individual differences and acceptable behaviour when working with others
• legal rights and responsibilities of management, crew and others
• methods for safely mooring and unmooring ocean-going vessels
• procedures for calculating stresses on lifting gear used in cargo handling operations
• relevant documentation and records:

• mooring and unmooring plans, procedures, checklists and instructions
• relevant sections of maritime regulations concerning mooring and unmooring operations
• rope and equipment manufacturer instructions and procedures
• safety instructions and procedures
• instructions of relevant maritime authorities
• reports and records of safety incidents or emergencies

• relevant port and vessel safety and security requirements and regulations
• relevant WHS/OHS legislation, codes of practice, policies and procedures
• reporting requirements for safety incidents or emergencies that occur during mooring or unmooring operations
• safety drills and equipment used for lines launches
• safety instructions for using ropes and other equipment during mooring and unmooring operations
• safety management procedures for mooring and unmooring ocean-going vessels
• use, type and application of PPE required when undertaking mooring and unmooring activities.

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in 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.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations or where this is not available, in simulated workplace operational situations or an industry-approved marine operations site that replicates workplace conditions.

Resources for assessment include access to:

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulated practical and knowledge assessments
• relevant documentation including workplace procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals
• tools, equipment currently used in industry including:

• VHF radios
• ropes and heaving lines provided by shore
• shackles
• wires

• PPE including:

• personal life vest
• reflective clothing
• safety footwear
• helmet
• vest
• suitable gloves
• protective safety glasses.

Practical assessment should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. Performance should be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.