This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to transmit and receive information by marine very high frequency (VHF) radio on a vessel according to regulations and includes operating an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB).

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 defined in the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) Part D.

This unit applies to all boaters using marine VHF radio equipment to transmit and receive information to and from shore and vessel-based operators within Australian Territorial Waters – defined as all waters within 12 nautical miles from the coastal baseline.

This unit is consistent with the requirements of the Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station – 27 MHz and VHF) Class Licence 2001.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1

Operate VHF radio equipment to transmit and receive messages

1.1

VHF radio equipment is selected for operation within limits of specifications

1.2

VHF radio equipment is operated to transmit and receive various types of signal according to manufacturer instructions, established radio operation procedures and regulatory requirements

1.3

Regulations and procedures applicable to vessel stations equipped with radio and digital selective calling (DSC) facilities are applied during radio communication

1.4

Work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) procedures and hazard control strategies are applied when operating radio equipment

2

Access search and rescue (SAR) VHF radio facilities

2.1

Information that may be required is identified and documented

2.2

Request is made to the appropriate organisation for the provision of the information in the required format and on the correct channel

2.3

Information is provided and received in the required format and on the correct channel

3

Operate an EPIRB in a distress situation

3.1

Routine checks and maintenance are carried out on EPIRBs, including float free EPIRBs, to confirm their operational capability according to manufacturer instructions and specifications

3.2

EPIRB is operated according to manufacturer instructions and 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:

accurately and consistently using very high frequency (VHF) equipment to send and receive messages and signals under normal and emergency situations according to international and national VHF radio regulations/standards

applying the principles of marine radio and digital selective calling (DSC) to accurately transmit and receive messages, including distress calls

cancelling an inadvertent distress alert or call

carrying out radio communications in compliance with the relevant sections of the maritime provisions of the Radio Regulations adopted by the World Radiocommunication Conference (as amended), including Chapters VII and IX

communicating effectively with other stations by using standard voice procedures, the phonetic alphabet, push to talk (PTT) switch and common radio terminology

deploying an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB)

documenting communication problems

proper housing, securing and automatic release of float-free EPIRB

reading and interpreting regulations and procedures

sending and receiving distress alerts, and urgency and safety announcements by DSC

sending, acknowledging and relaying distress, urgency and safety communications by voice using recognised format

setting up VHF equipment for use, including selecting the channel, adjusting transmitter power level, adjusting squelch and using dual watch facility

using correct procedures for transmitting and receiving signals using VHF equipment.

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:

Australian maritime search and rescue (SAR) system, including satellite distress beacons

available radio services, including:

automated weather stations

DSC

public communications

scheduled broadcasts (skeds)

SAR

EPIRB frequencies:

406 MHz

121.5/MHz (homing)

marine VHF repeater stations

methods of communicating vessel position

organisations with which radio communication may be conducted, including:

coast stations

fishing organisations and co-operatives

limited coast stations

private shore stations, including boating clubs

state/territory police forces

principles of, and procedures for, marine VHF radio communications

procedures for transmitting and decoding the phonetic alphabet

purpose of monitoring the VHF Channel 70 used for DSC, including an awareness of the procedures used in making a DSC distress alert, urgency and safety announcement

radio communication, including:

distress, urgency and safety communications

normal vessel-to-shore service (ship-to-shore)

normal vessel-to-vessel service (ship-to-ship)

sections of relevant regulations related to marine VHF radio communications

VHF radio calling, replying and relaying procedures.

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 assessment must occur via an online radio simulator or simulated VHF radio communications activities and exercises covering a range of normal and emergency communication situations that are typically experienced on a vessel.

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:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations

documentation, such as legislation, regulations, codes of practice, workplace procedures and operational manuals, including:

Marine Radio Operators VHF Handbook

Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station – 27 MHz and VHF) Class Licence 2001

Radiocommunications Act 1992

relevant state/territory legislation – for carriage requirements

VHF transceiver equipment – either fixed or handheld, or approved personal computer (PC)-based simulator, which includes a DSC facility.

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.

Not applicable.

C – Equipment Operations