1. Vessel, crew and passenger

preparation

Pre-departure checks

• Vessel seaworthiness: inspect the vessel to make sure it is maintained and in good condition. This could include:
  • Checking hull integrity (look for obvious signs of corrosion, hull damage or

decay)

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  • Checking for watertightness (for example bungs are secure)
• Check oil, cooling, fuel, batteries, steering, ropes and lines
• Check tools and spares on board and that they are safely stowed
  • This could include spark plugs, spanner, spare battery
• Locate and check all safety and fire-fighting equipment, ensuring all is in date

and operational. Must include:

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  • Life jackets
  • Life buoys
  • EPIRB / distress signals
  • Communication systems – radio check Tx and Rx
  • On board alarm systems
  • First aid kit
  • Required fire-fighting equipment
• Check maintenance logbook
  • Confirm that engine and other equipment are serviced and maintained in

accordance with manufacturer’s instructions

• Check total load, number of passengers allowed and stability

Safe working practice awareness in relation to:

• Situational awareness
• Safety Management Systems
  • Confirm familiar with and follow organisation’s SMS
• Domestic vessel legislation. For example, this could include familiarity with:
  • the duties of owners and masters
  • section 27 of the National Law Act – what is reasonably practicable to

ensure safety

• Fuelling – sufficient quantity for voyage and/or safe re-fuelling opportunities
  • Consideration of appropriate quantity of fuel should allow for emergencies /

unforeseen circumstances

• Pollution prevention – noise, wake, wash, waste, bilge water. This should

include:

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  • Knowledge of the local requirements for sewage, grey water and oil discharge, draining of bilge, garbage disposal
  • Understanding what a reportable incident is (for example, oil spills, sewage

discharges) who to report to and how to report it

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  • Considering noise, sub-marine habitats (when anchoring) and marine life
  • Knowledge of environmental zoning charts related to area of operation

Ability to communicate:

• Instructions to crew and passengers

- For example: crew inductions, passenger briefings, safety information, change of conditions, manoeuvring

• Operational intentions to employer / relevant persons ashore (intended area

of operation and planned time of return)

• This should include the use of correct terminology for parts of a vessel during

communications (e.g., bow, stern, port, starboard, helm, tiller, cleat)

• Check forecast for weather and sea conditions and plan voyage and operations accordingly. This should include:
  • accessing and applying weather and wind information and forecasts (sources can include Bureau of Meteorology website, radio, television, VHF marine radio services)
  • identifying risks in the area of intended operation (for example, wind strength, wave height)
  • knowledge of local weather conditions (for example, cyclones, mist, fog, rain, southerly blusters, squalls)
  • assessing the conditions on the water, including effect of wind, effect of tidal flow, effect of current, wash from other vessels, sea conditions
  • anticipating the impact on passenger safety and taking appropriate action (for example, avoid heavy weather conditions, monitor weather conditions and maintain situation awareness at all times)
• Check current tides and plan voyage and operations accordingly. This should include:
  • correctly interpreting tide tables
  • knowledge of tides, depth of water at any given time, tidal streams and

currents in area of operation

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  • passage planning relating to tides

Comply with:

• Navigation aids – marks, buoys, signage and shapes
• Collision regulations and avoidance techniques, including:
  • Maintain a proper lookout at all times
  • Safe speed
  • Overtaking
  • Head-on situation
  • Crossing situation
  • Action by give-way vessel
  • Action by stand-on vessel
  • Responsibilities between vessels
  • Risk of collision and action to avoid collision
  • Restricted visibility
  • Sound signals: port, starboard, astern, unsure of intentions
• Local regulations and signage: speed limits, restrictions etc

• Safely use any on-board navigational equipment

- Compass, GPS, depth sounder, charts

Safely manoeuvre the vessel:

• Should include recognising the features of the vessel that relate to its handling characteristics, including displacement and planning hulls, outboard and inboard propulsion units, rudders and propellers

• Must carry out the following manoeuvres safely in normal conditions at:
  • ahead
  • astern
  • port
  • starboard
  • figure of 8
• Operate the vessel at varying speeds and with consideration of other vessels
• Manoeuvre vessel on and off the plane (if applicable)
• Control the trim and tilt of the engine (if applicable)
• Safely berth and un-berthing the vessel, including:
  • throwing, securing and casting off lines
  • maintenance of sufficient speed for control
  • use of forward, backward and sideways force of propeller
  • regard for tide, wind and sea state
  • considering the stability of the vessel and whether the ramp/jetty/pontoon is

slippery and equipment is stowed correctly

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  • safely embarking and disembarking passengers. Ensuring passengers are seated with hands inboard
• Control the speed of the vessel
• Utilise wind/tidal stream/current when manoeuvring the vessel
• Anchor and retrieve anchor, considering:
  • length of chain/line necessary
  • effect of wind and tide
  • position of other vessels
  • how anchor is lowered and set
  • anchor drift
  • engine power
  • use of deck equipment
• Safely pick up and release a mooring, considering:
  • other vessels
  • downwind approach
  • boat hook handling
  • tidal flow
  • approach speed
  • motor to reduce strain on line
  • mooring line and fouling of propeller
  • use of deck equipment, including windlass, bollards, winches, cleats, bow

rollers

• Perform an emergency stop
• Examples of manoeuvres that would be completed to demonstrate competency:
  • Approach boat ramp with other vessels in vicinity
  • Drive into a headwind
  • Cross the wash of another vessel
  • Handle in a following or quartering sea
  • Safe approach to a floating object or pontoon
  • Safely retrieve a person overboard

Ability to tie and use basic knots, including

• Bowline
• Round turn and two half hitches
• Reef
• Clove hitch

Identify potential hazards on board, such as:

• Lack of safety equipment or out of date safety equipment
• Weather conditions and forecast
• Smoking
• Faulty equipment
• Medical issues
• Dangerous goods
• Engine spark
• Loose lines

For emergencies: (by simulation)

• Ability to use firefighting equipment, including:
  • identifying location and class of fire
  • raising fire alarm
  • wearing appropriate PPE
  • using appropriate method/equipment/extinguisher for fire
  • communication with crew and passengers
  • prevention of further outbreak
• Ability to communicate with, and given clear instructions to, passengers and

crew in the event of an emergency

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  • For example, person overboard procedures, emergency lighting, use of pumping/baling equipment, EPIRB use
  • Correct use of marine radio in an emergency
• Vessel abandonment procedures. This could include:
  • Preparing for rescue: respond to muster and abandon ship signals, organise survival equipment, operate EPIRB, radio distress calls, participate in drills
  • Vessel abandonment: don a lifejacket and check, assist others, muster

passengers and crew

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  • In water survival: stay with vessel if partially afloat, stay together in a group, maintain morale and communication, lookout maintained for rescue craft, follow rescue instructions
• Don a lifejacket and check

Emergency contact details

Inform someone prior to departure and on arrival