Description

This unit involves the skills and knowledge communicate effectively on board a commercial vessel through written, verbal and non-verbal methods, including the use of charts and other nautical publications, interpreting and understanding meteorological information and messages concerning vessel’s safety and operation, communicating with vessels and coast stations, and performing required officer’s duties involving communication with a multilingual crew. It includes the ability to use, understand and apply standard maritime terms.

Unit Sector

Pre-Requisites

The unit must be assessed in conjunction with other units that relate to the functions of the occupation(s) concerned.

Performance Criteria

1 Read, interpret and apply information in nautical charts and publications 
1.1 Charts required for watchkeeping and navigational duties are read and correctly interpreted and required information is extracted and appropriately applied to work activities in accordance with established practice
1.2 Information in nautical publications used in day-to-day work is correctly accessed, read and interpreted, and applied to work activities

2 Receive, interpret and apply meteorological information and messages
2.1 Published and radio transmitted meteorological information is obtained, interpreted and applied to work activities
2.2 Messages concerning vessel safety and operations involving written or verbal communication are read or received, clarified, correctly interpreted and applied to work activities

3 Communicate with other vessels and coast stations
3.1 Communication with other vessels and coast stations is correctly carried out with the aid of radio communication equipment using standard nautical vocabulary and following established protocols and regulatory requirements
3.2 Information given during communication with other vessels and coast stations is accurately and clearly provided, including confirmation that it has been correctly received and understood
3.3 Information received during communication with other vessels and coast stations is clarified if necessary, correctly interpreted and acted upon
3.4 Where required, received information is recorded or relayed to others in accordance with established procedures and regulatory requirements
3.5 Records of communication with other vessels and coast stations are completed as per established procedures and regulatory requirements

Range Statement

General Context

• Work must be carried out:
  • in compliance with relevant maritime regulations
• Work is performed:
  • relatively independently under broad operational requirements, with limited accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the prescribed outcomes
• Work involves:
  • the application of established communication principles and practice and the standard nautical vocabulary in written, electronic, verbal and non-verbal communication with others in the course of officer duties. Limited accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the outcomes is involved
• Work requires:
  • the judgement and ability to communicate effectively with others in the course of maritime duties

Worksite Environment

• Vessel may include:
  • any Australian or international commercial vessel
• Communication may include:
  • reading and interpretation of nautical charts and publications
  • reading and interpretation of signs and symbols used on board vessels
  • communication with other vessels and coast stations using appropriate equipment
  • electronic communication, including email
  • written, verbal and non-verbal communication with crew, officers and others in the course of normal duties
• Communication may be with:
  • English speaking persons
  • multilingual crew
  • persons with limited ability to communicate in English
• Communication problems may include:
  • misunderstanding
  • limited ability of others to communicate in English
  • noisy environments or communication channels
  • illegible writing or print
  • use of non-standard vocabulary
  • incorrect assumption that message has been received and/or correctly understood
  • faulty communication equipment
• Documentation and records may include:
  • ISM Code safety management system plans, procedures, checklists and instructions
  • IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases
  • operational orders
  • navigational charts
  • navigational warning records
  • annual and weekly notices to mariners
  • protocols for vessel-to-vessel and vessel-to-shore communication
  • company communication procedures
  • vessel’s log
  • industrial award requirements
  • instructions of relevant maritime authorities
• Applicable legislation, regulations and codes may include:
  • IMO STCW 95 Convention and Code
  • relevant sections of AMSA Marine Orders
  • relevant sections of State/Territory maritime regulations, NSCV and USL Code
  • relevant international, Commonwealth, State and Territory OH&S legislation
  • Australian equal employment legislation and related policies

Evidence Guide

Required Knowledge

• Relevant sections of applicable maritime regulations
• Relevant OH&S legislation and policies
• Maritime communication techniques, including barriers to effective communication and how to overcome them
• Established written, verbal and non-verbal communication practices
• Relevant industrial award requirements as they relate to shipboard personnel responsibilities, obligations
  and entitlements
• Principles of effective communication
• Standard nautical vocabulary as described in IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases
• Protocols and procedures for communicating with others on board a vessel and with other vessels and
  coast stations
• Techniques for reading and interpreting charts and other graphical information as per role and
  responsibility
• Techniques for communicating effectively with a multilingual crew
• Typical communication problems and appropriate action and solutions 

Required Skills

• Listen to and interpret verbal orders, instructions, and information as per role and responsibility
• Read and interpret written orders, regulations, instructions, charts and other information as per role and
  responsibility
• Communicate both verbally and in writing as per role and responsibility
• Recognise and interpret non-verbal communication
• Follow correct protocols and standard operating procedures for communicating with others on board a
  vessel and with other vessels and coast stations
• Interpret and apply established communication practices, including standard marine terms and phrases
• Identify and solve problems that may arise during communication and take appropriate action based on
  available information
• Communicate with multilingual crew where applicable using established techniques
• Adapt to differences in vessel, communication equipment and standard operating procedures
• Select and use internal and external communication equipment as per role and responsibility 

• Communicate with others effectively using written, verbal and non-verbal methods when performing duties
• Use the standard nautical vocabulary when communicating with others on board a vessel and with other vessels and coast stations
• Read and interpret charts, signs and symbols relevant to duties
• Identify typical communication problems and take appropriate action

• Performance is demonstrated consistently over a period of time and in a suitable range of contexts
• Consistently applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
  • communicating on board a vessel
  • identifying communication problems and taking appropriate action
  • identifying and implementing improvements to communication methods
  • assessing the effectiveness of communication
• Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures, including:
  • relevant sections of applicable maritime regulations
  • vessel’s safety management system and procedures
  • standard operating procedures and work instructions
• Action is taken promptly to report and/or rectify communication problems in accordance with statutory requirements and company procedures
• Work is completed systematically with required attention to detail
• Recognises and adapts appropriately to cultural differences in the workplace, including modes of behaviour and interactions and communication with others

• Assessment of competency must comply with the assessment requirements of the relevant maritime regulations
• Assessment of this unit must be undertaken within relevant marine authority approved and audited arrangements by a registered training organisation:
  • As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral examinations
  • Appropriate practical assessment must occur:
    - at the registered training organisation; and/or
    - on an appropriate working or training vessel

• demonstrate performance in a range of suitably simulated communication exercises and case studies covering communication situations that are typically experienced on a vessel; and/or
• demonstrate communication skills and knowledge in an appropriate range of operational situations on board an operational commercial or training vessel