Description

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to ensure compliance with international and Australian legislative requirements and measures to ensure the protection of the marine environment during operations of an ocean-going vessel, including preventative and precautionary procedures, checking of compliance and remedying non-compliance.

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 Maintain compliance with legislative requirements for protection of the marine environment
1.1Relevant regulations and procedures for the protection of the marine environment are identified
1.2 Appropriate action is taken in day-to-day work to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and procedures for the protection of the marine environment as required
1.3 Appropriate action is taken where incidences of non-compliance or potential non-compliance are identified in accordance with regulations and procedures
1.4 Any breach of regulations and procedures concerning protection of the marine environment is rectified and/or reported as required within the limits of the officer’s
responsibility

2 Implement anti-pollution procedures
2.1 Anti-pollution procedures applicable to vessel operations are followed in the course of day-to-day work
2.2 Appropriate preventative measures are implemented to prevent pollution of the marine environment in accordance with regulations and procedures

3 Maintain documentation related to legislative requirements for the protection of the environment
3.1 Requirements for reports and other documentation related to the protection of the marine environment and any breaches of relevant regulations are identified and interpreted as required
3.2 All required documentation related to the protection of the marine environment and any breaches of environmental regulations is completed in accordance with regulations and procedures

Range Statement

General Context

• Work must be carried out:
  • in compliance with the relevant Work must be carried out in compliance with mandatory rules and regulations concerning protection of the marine environment.
• 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 regulations and measures to ensure the protection of the marine environment in a wide variety of operational contexts.

Worksite Environment

• Vessel may include:
  • any Australian or international commercial ocean-going vessel
• Dangers to the marine environment may occur:
  • by day or night in both normal and emergency situations
  • under any possible conditions of sea and weather
  • while underway
  • during berthing and unberthing operations
  • while anchoring or mooring
  • while moored or at anchor
  • during loading and unloading operations
  • during slipping, docking and maintenance operations
• Items and equipment checked as part if anti-pollution measures include:
  • pumps and valves
  • emission control equipment
  • fuel management systems
  • water management equipment
  • waste storage and recycling equipment
  • ballast management equipment
• Preventative measures to protect the marine environment may include:
  • prevention of spillages of cargo
  • prevention of spillages of fuel and oil
  • control of polluting emissions of gas and smoke
  • policies and practices to minimise the spread and carriage of marine pests
  • effective management of waste, pollution and recycling processes
  • effective management of ballast operations
  • shipboard housekeeping
  • measures to prevent runoff during slipping operations
  • pollution control instructions
• Documentation and records may include
  • operational orders
  • relevant regulations for the type of vessel involved
  • company procedures related to the protection of the marine environment
  • equipment manufacturer’s instructions and recommended procedures
  • instructions of relevant maritime authorities
  • vessel’s log where relevant
  • certificates and other documents required by regulations for the protection of the marine environment
  • relevant standards related to the protection of the marine environment, including guidelines issued under the Australian Intergovernment Agreement on a National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions
• Applicable legislation, regulations and codes may include:
  • STCW 95 Code as it relates to protection of the marine environment
  • sections of AMSA Marine Orders related to protection of the marine environment
  • Australian Intergovernment Agreement on a National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions
  • MARPOL Convention
  • relevant international, Australian and/or State/Territory legislation related to protection of the marine environment, including

Evidence Guide

Required Knowledge

This describes the knowledge required for this unit.

• Relevant legislation, codes of practice, policies and procedures to protect the marine environment
• Effects on the marine environment of various possible pollution incidents
• Pollution control problems and related measures to protect the marine environment
• Certificates and other documents required by relevant Australian and/or international legislation and
  conventions for the protection of the marine environment
• Operational characteristics of emission control equipment used on various types and sizes of vessels
• Operational requirements of water, bilge, waste, pollution and recycling management processes used on
  various types and sizes of vessels
• Requirements under Australian and/or international legislation and conventions for reporting incidents
  related to breaches of the statutory codes and measures for the protection of the marine environment

Required Skills

This describes the basic skills required for this unit.

• Read and interpret instructions, procedures and information relevant to legislative requirements and
  measures to ensure the protection of the environment during vessel operations
• Select and use appropriate communications equipment during environmental protection operations
• Work as a team with others on matters related to the environmental protection during vessel operations
• Take appropriate initiatives related to the protection of the environment during vessel operations
• Interpret and apply practices and regulations for pollution control on a vessel
• Communicate effectively with others on matters related to environmental protection
• Modify activities dependent on differing workplace contingencies, risk situations and environments
• Identify and solve problems associated with the protection of the environment during vessel operations
  and report pollution and environmental issues and take appropriate action based on available information
• Monitor and anticipate problems and risks related to the protection of the environment during vessel
  operations, and take appropriate action

Critical aspects of evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:

• Maintain compliance with regulations for protection of the marine environment
• Implement preventative and remedial anti-pollution procedures as per relevant regulations and procedures
• Identify typical pollution control problems and take appropriate action
• Maintain all records concerning anti-pollution measures and breaches of antipollution regulations
• Communicate effectively with others concerning measures to protect the marine environment

Evidence required for demonstration of consistent performance

• Performance is demonstrated consistently over a period of time and in a suitable range of contexts
• Consistently applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
  • completing activities aimed at compliance with relevant regulatory requirements for protection of the marine environment
  • identifying and evaluating problems related to relevant regulations for environmental protection and determining appropriate courses of action
  • following anti-pollution procedures
  • assessing compliance of vessel with relevant regulatory requirements for protection of the marine environment
• Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures, including:
  • relevant regulatory requirements dealing with environmental protection
  • OH&S regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
  • job procedures and work instructions related to environmental protection
  • following on-board housekeeping processes
  • waste, pollution and recycling management processes, where relevant
• Action is taken promptly to report and/or rectify breaches of environmental protection regulations
• 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 between crew and others

Context of assessment

• 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, and
  • Appropriate practical assessment must occur:
    • at the registered training organisation; and/or
    • on an appropriate working or training vessel

Specific resources required for assessment

Access is required to opportunities to:

• demonstrate performance in suitably simulated activities aimed at the protection of the marine environment covering an appropriate range of situations experienced on a vessel and/or
• contribute to measures to protect the marine environment on a vessel in an appropriate range of situations, weather and loading conditions