Release 1. New unit of competency. Licensing/regulatory information has been incorporated in accordance with Regulatory requirements. Assessment Requirements have been strengthened in accordance with Regulatory requirements.

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to manoeuvre a vessel up to 12 metres in length. This includes the ability to berth, moor, anchor and manoeuvre a vessel during emergencies.

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

• coxswain on vessels <12 m in length, with propulsion power that is unlimited for an outboard engine or <500 kW for an inboard engine, operating in inshore or designated waters or
• coxswain on tenders or auxiliary vessels operating within 3 nautical miles (nm) of a parent vessel within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Licensing/Regulatory Information 

Legislative and regulatory requirements are applicable to this unit. This unit is one of the requirements to obtain Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) certification as a Coxswain Grade 2 NC and Coxswain Grade 1 NC as defined in the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) Part D. The AMSA mandated practical assessment (AMPA) is a requirement for AMSA certification. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) mandated practical assessment (AMPA) will cover a range, but not all, of the requirements identified in the Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence. The AMPA shall be undertaken in accordance with its instructions.

Assessors of AMPA must hold as a minimum:

• a current certificate of competency issued under Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 at the same level as the qualification being assessed with at least 12 months relevant sea service, or
• a relevant seafarer certificate, as master or deck officer, issued under the Navigation Act 2012.

Not Applicable

K – Manoeuvring Vessels

Not Applicable

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1 

Handle vessel in normal conditions 

1.1 

Features of vessel that relate to its handling characteristics are recognised

1.2 

Details of manoeuvres are communicated to relevant personnel clearly and concisely using standard maritime vocabulary

1.3 

Situational awareness is maintained to ensure safety of manoeuvres

1.4 

Manoeuvres are completed to meet passage requirements

1.5 

Propulsion equipment is used and monitored to assist in completing manoeuvres safely

1.6 

Safe operating limits of propulsion and steering equipment are not exceeded

2 

Handle vessel in adverse weather conditions 

2.1 

Nature of adverse weather conditions is identified and potential impact on the manoeuvrability of the vessel is determined

2.2 

Appropriate action is determined to ensure the safety of the vessel

2.3 

Correct use of propulsion equipment is established to assist in completing manoeuvres safely

2.4 

Safe operating limits of propulsion and steering equipment are not exceeded

2.5 

Situational awareness is maintained at all times to review actions and ensure the safety of the vessel

3 

Handle vessel in emergencies 

3.1 

Nature of emergency is established and required action is determined

3.2 

Risks to vessel and safety of persons on board are assessed and safety of required action is confirmed

3.3 

Details of action are communicated to relevant personnel clearly and concisely using standard maritime vocabulary

3.4 

Appropriate manoeuvres are made during the emergency to maintain the safety of the vessel and those on board, and any other vessels or persons involved

3.5 

Propulsion equipment is used and monitored to assist in completing manoeuvres safely

3.6 

Safe operating limits of propulsion and steering equipment are not exceeded

4 

Tow and be towed 

4.1 

Preparations for towing are made safely according to established nautical practice

4.2 

Correct towing procedures and precautions are applied when towing and being towed

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.

This unit replaces and is equivalent to MARK001 Handle a vessel up to 12 metres.

Release 1. New unit of competency. Licensing/regulatory information has been incorporated in accordance with Regulatory requirements. Assessment Requirements have been strengthened in accordance with Regulatory requirements.

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:

• anchoring a vessel
• applying work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements and work practices
• handling a disabled or partially disabled vessel
• manoeuvring a vessel to:

• berth and leave a berth
• come to and leave a mooring
• maintain a steady course
• retrieve a person overboard
• steer astern
• turn short around
• turn a vessel across the tide and across the wind

• maintaining situational awareness
• undertaking preparations for towing, including:

• crew briefings that include the task at hand and risks to persons on both vessels
• ensuring means of communication between the two vessels is available
• ensuring tow ropes are in good condition and of adequate strength and length for the proposed tow
• ensuring tow line is of sufficient length to minimise shock loading on tow-line
• making tow fast to the towing vessel to ensure steerage can be maintained
• making provision for rapid slipping of the tow in emergency situations
• preparing messenger ropes for passing tow lines

• towing and being towed
• using appropriate communication.

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:

• adverse weather conditions, including:

• fog and restricted visibility
• tropical revolving storms
• wind and sea conditions that may affect the safety of the vessel

• avoidance of tropical revolving storm activity
• elliptical turn
• features of a vessel that relate to its handling characteristics, and their effects, including:

• displacement and planing hulls
• propellers
• propulsion units, including:

• jet units
• inboard engines
• outboard motors

• rudders
• trim and displacement

• manoeuvring in the event of emergencies, including:

• collision
• disabled or partially disabled vessel
• grounding
• person overboard

• manoeuvring characteristics of small power-driven vessels
• manoeuvring a vessel in the vicinity of large vessels
• manoeuvring to beach and re-float the vessel
• manoeuvring a vessel in adverse weather conditions, including:
• altering course to minimise the effect of wind and sea

• berth and leave a berth in various wind and tidal conditions
• deploying a sea anchor to keep vessel head to sea
• heading to wind and sea to ride out the adverse weather
• reduction of speed
• seeking shelter

• procedures for towing and being towed
• stability of a small vessel and stability terms
• techniques for crossing a coastal bar with and against the sea
• techniques for handling a vessel in heavy swell and surf
• trim and displacement
• use of a sea anchor
• Williamson turn
• WHS/OHS requirements and work practices.

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.

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, safety management system (SMS), workplace procedures, operational manuals and maritime publications and procedures relating to emergency response
• a vessel ≥5.0 m in length
• tools, equipment, machinery, materials and relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) currently used in industry.