Officer of the watch (near coastal) Apprenticeship Standard

Interested in a simple Skills Scan and Learning Progress Tracker tool for the Officer of the watch (near coastal) standard?

Knowledge

K1: The importance of maintaining a watch when in harbour and when at sea.
K2: The ways in which watch-keeping contributes to the safety of the vessel and all of those onboard.
K3: The principles of teamwork.
K4: Different vessel types and structure
K5: Techniques for determining a vessel’s capability. This includes, for example, ship stresses, the impact of external forces on a vessel such as sea state, swell and wind.
K6: Principles and regulations for manoeuvring a vessel in near coastal waters (An area of operation restricted to 150 miles from a safe haven on the coast of the UK and 30 miles from Ireland)
K7: The different types of cargo operations
K8: The range of internationally used cargo codes, their meaning and impact on operations. For example, codes indicating dangerous goods.
K9: The methods for calculating tide conditions and obtaining meteorological forecasts.
K10: The purpose of a passage plan and how it is created.
K11: Methods for finding vessel position or other location.
K12: The different types and purposes of chart work, electronic navigational aids, maritime publications and navigational tools.
K13: Methods for plotting, executing and monitoring vessel progress.
K14: Relevant maritime legislation and regulation, the bodies responsible and the legal consequences for transgression. This covers COSWP (Code of Safe Working Practices), IRPCS/COLREGS (International Rules for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea), class and flag state requirements, health and safety and environmental protection such as SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea), MARPOL (the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) and LOLER (the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations).
K15: Procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency (for example fire, flooding), and crew roles. This includes contingency plans such as the use of distress signals and evacuation procedures.
K16: The international code of signals, its purpose and usage.
K17: A range of verbal and written communication methods and techniques for choosing a method to fit the audience.
K18: Methods for using digital platforms to access and complete reports.
K19: The range of OOW stakeholders, their roles and responsibilities and how the OOW interacts with them.
K20: The importance of their own organisations commercial or operational priorities.
K21: How the OOW occupation fits in the wider digital landscape including the impact of automation and artificial intelligence.
K22: Types of propulsion system(s), their features and uses.
K23: the procedures and techniques for applying emergency first aid to others.
K24: The principles for completing a ships log that accurately describes key internal/external factors that occur during a Watch.
K25: Recognise signs of fatigue
K26: Procedures for maintaining the security of a vessel and its contents

Skills

S1: Keep watch over the vessel and crew.
S2: Co-ordinate your team in order to provide constant watch cover.
S3: Manoeuvre a vessel in near-coastal waters, taking account of compliance requirements, vessel type, capability, loading and external factors like tide and weather.
S4: Select a mooring or anchoring solution that is relevant to the circumstances, including compliance, vessel type, capability, loading and external factors like tide and weather.
S5: Avoid collisions by using chart work and situational awareness, anticipating and responding to all potential threats to a safe navigation. This includes (but is not limited to) both the physical surroundings and other vessel traffic.
S6: Perform calculations and give necessary direction to your team to ensure the vessel has suitable load stability. This applies both when the vessel is moored and also when at sea.
S7: Create a passage plan that meets operational objectives, is safe and complaint and has due regard to the external environment and other vessels.
S8: Execute and adapt a passage plan taking account of the prevailing conditions at sea.
S9: Handle a range of vessel types in near coastal waters. This may include as examples single screw, twin screw, variable pitch, Schottel and other propulsion configurations.
S10: Monitor and respond to data provided by navigation and other equipment available on-board
S11: Cross-compare different data sources to reach an accurate conclusion. (For example, VHF reports).
S12: Support the Master in meeting the legal, regulatory, environmental, and organisational requirements of the vessel and crew.
S13: Coordinate the response in the event of an emergency. Operate emergency equipment and deploy contingency plans appropriate to the situation. (This will range, for example, from recovery of a man overboard through to evacuation of the vessel).
S14: Administer emergency first aid and coordinate with the coastguard in the event of a medevac if required.
S15: Communicate externally deploying the international code of signals when required. This includes for example using the flag system and Morse code as appropriate to the circumstances.
S16: Communicate effectively at different seniority levels of the organisation, selecting an appropriate communication method for the audience.
S17: Develop working relationships with crew, officers and other impacted maritime stakeholders to support the delivery of required performance standards.
S18: Recognise your own limitations and escalate decisions where appropriate to another member of the bridge team, including the Master
S19: Take charge in the event of the Master's incapacitation and take suitable contingency action such as getting the vessel to shore and alerting relevant authorities.
S20: Complete an accurate ship log
S21: Identify skills gaps across the team and deliver coaching and mentoring to less experienced staff.
S22: Identify and respond to all internal/external factors that provide for a consistent watch following a handover.
S23: Check that life-saving appliances and other safety equipment is functioning and assess any remediation needed.
S24: Identify the signs of crew, and one’s own, fatigue.
S25: Implement own organisations security procedures, instructing the crew accordingly.

Behaviours

B1: Follows safe working practices and promotes a safety culture
B2: Seeks to continuously improve and develop
B3: Takes ownership of work
B4: Calm and effective under pressure.
B5: Actively protects the marine environment from pollution.
B6: Role-models own organisations equality and diversity requirements

Duty 1

DUTY: Complete vessel operations by following the Master’s standing orders and escalating to the Master any issues beyond limits of own role.

Duty 2

DUTY: Take charge of a watch at sea, ensuring the safety of the vessel and its crew by taking decisions on navigation and vessel operations such as avoidance of collision with other vessels, and safe navigation of natural and man-made hazards

Duty 3

DUTY: Take charge of a watch in harbour, ensuring the safety of the vessel and its crew, including when embarking and disembarking, and loading and unloading stores / equipment / cargo.

Duty 4

DUTY: Ensure a lookout is kept at all times during the watch and a record kept of notable events.

Duty 5

DUTY: Deliver incoming and outgoing handover of Watch responsibility from/to another officer.

Duty 6

DUTY: Manage the vessel passage plan during a voyage.

Duty 7

DUTY: Manoeuvre the vessel safely, commonly in busy waters, taking account of weather, sea state and tides

Duty 8

DUTY: Supervise specialist operations, such as cargo, instructing the crew and coordinating activities.

Duty 9

DUTY: Take charge of a response team during an emergency, including communication with emergency services, search and rescue coordinators and crew. Use the Safety Management System processes where instructed

Duty 10

DUTY: Comply with all relevant laws, regulations and with organisational procedures

Duty 11

DUTY: Maintain the security of the vessel and its contents

Duty 12

DUTY: Ensure that safety equipment is in good order ready for immediate use, and in compliance with appropriate regulations

Duty 13

DUTY: Monitor crew performance and their ability to conduct duties (e.g., monitor fatigue)

Duty 14

DUTY: Maintain effective communications with all parties onboard and ashore throughout the watch

Duty 15

DUTY: Work within the organisation’s business priorities and constraints, while ensuring the safety of the vessel and its crew

Officer of the watch (near coastal)

Interested in a simple Skills Scan and Learning Progress Tracker tool for the Officer of the watch (near coastal) standard?

Knowledge

Skills

Behaviours

Duty 1

Duty 2

Duty 3

Duty 4

Duty 5

Duty 6

Duty 7

Duty 8

Duty 9

Duty 10

Duty 11

Duty 12

Duty 13

Duty 14

Duty 15

Duty 16

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Interested in a simple Skills Scan and Learning Progress Tracker tool for the Officer of the watch (near coastal) standard?