Maintaining marine communication equipment and systems
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to carry out planned or corrective maintenance activities on marine communication equipment and systems, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to carry out maintenance activities on a range of communication equipment, such as intercom (clear), intercom (secure), medium/high frequency (MF/HF) radio, very high frequency (VHF) radio, ultra high frequency (UHF) radio, voice recorder, satellite position indicators, digital data links, secure radio links, inboard entertainment systems, satellite communications (SATCOM), and selective calling (SELCAL) and rationalised integrated communication equipment (RICE). This will involve checking equipment and cables for signs of damage, replacing faulty units and checking and tuning the equipment to maintain optimal operational performance. You will also be expected to apply a range of testing procedures in order to adjust the equipment correctly.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the maintenance activities undertaken and to report any problems with these activities, or with the tools and equipment used, that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You must ensure that all tools, equipment and materials used in the maintenance activities are removed from the work area on completion of the activities and that all necessary job/task documentation is completed accurately and legibly. You will be expected to work with a minimum of supervision, taking full responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.
Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work and will provide an informed approach to applying maintenance procedures to marine communication equipment and systems. You will understand the maintenance process and its application, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required specification. In addition, you will be expected to report where the outcome identifies the need for further investigation or maintenance work.
You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the maintenance activities, especially those for isolating the equipment and taking the necessary safeguards to protect the equipment and associated systems. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
| 1. work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines 2. follow the relevant maintenance schedules to carry out the required work 3. carry out the maintenance activities within the limits of your personal authority 4. carry out the maintenance activities in the specified sequence and in an agreed time scale 5. report any instances where the maintenance activities cannot be fully met or where there are identified defects outside the planned schedule 6. complete relevant documentation in line with organsiational procedures, and pass them on to the appropriate person 7. dispose of waste materials in accordance with safe working practices and approved procedures |
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
| 1. the specific safety practices and procedures that you need to observe when maintaining marine communication equipment and systems including any specific legislation, regulations/codes of practice for the activities, equipment or materials 2. the health and safety requirements of the area in which the maintenance activity is to take place and the responsibility they place on you 3. the isolation and lock-off procedure or permit-to-work procedure that applies to the maintenance activities (to include electrical isolation, locking off switchgear, removal of fuses, placing maintenance warning notices, proving that isolation has been achieved and secured) 4. how to recognise and deal with emergencies and the procedures to be followed (such as methods of safely evacuating and closing down of compartments in the case of fire or other major incident, first aid, fire fighting and resuscitation of personnel) 5. the specific health and safety precautions to be applied during the maintenance procedure and their effects on others 6. the importance of wearing protective clothing and other appropriate safety equipment (PPE) during the maintenance process 7. the precautions to be taken to prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage to circuits and sensitive components (such as use of earthed wrist straps, anti-static mats, special packaging and handling areas) 8. what constitutes a hazardous voltage and how to recognise victims of electric shock 9. how to reduce the risks of a phase to earth shock (such as insulated tools, rubber matting and isolating transformers) 10. hazards associated with carrying out maintenance activities on marine communication equipment (such as exposure to live conductors, misuse of tools) and how they can be minimised 11. how to obtain and interpret drawings, circuit and physical layouts, charts, specifications, manufacturers' manuals, history/maintenance reports, graphical electrical symbols, regulations and other documents needed in the maintenance process 12. how to carry out currency/issue checks of the specifications you are working with 13. the maintenance schedules and methods to be followed to comply with company procedures for maintenance on marine communication equipment 14. the basic principles of operation of the equipment/circuits being maintained and the purpose of individual components within the circuit 15. the different types of communication equipment listening devices and aerials and their maintenance requirements 16. the application and use of a range of electrical components (such as such as module blocks, terminal blocks, multi-pin plugs/sockets, tray-mounted sockets, earth bonding points) and the likely functions that will require checking 17. the different types of wiring enclosures that are used (to include conduit, trunking, traywork systems and bulkhead penetrations) and what to check during the maintenance activities 18. methods of checking components are fit for purpose and the need to replace 'lifed' items 19. how to recognise defects in marine communication equipment (such as under or over performance) 20. the adjustments/corrections/tuning required to maintain the equipment/system at operational standard through full range parameters 21. how to check that the replacement components meet the required specification/operating conditions (such as values, tolerance, current carrying capacity, voltage rating, power rating, ambient temperatures) 22. the various maintenance schedules that are generally used (such as condition based maintenance, scheduled maintenance and total productive maintenance (TPM)) 23. the procedure for obtaining the consumables to be used during the maintenance activity 24. the appropriate testing procedures to be adopted during the maintenance activity 25. the importance of making 'off-load' checks before proving the equipment with the electrical supply on 26. the importance of ensuring that the equipment is maintained to the prescribed category of cleanliness 27. how to compile maintenance records/logs/reports which satisfy company policy and procedures 28. the problems that can occur whilst carrying out the maintenance activities and how they can be avoided 29. the organisational procedure to be adopted for the safe disposal of waste of all types of materials 30. the extent of your own authority and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve 31. to compile maintenance records/logs/reports which satisfy company policy and procedures 32. the problems that can occur whilst carrying out the maintenance activities and how they can be avoided 33. the organisational procedure to be adopted for the safe disposal of waste of all types of materials 34. the extent of your own authority and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve |
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Behaviours:
You will be able to apply the appropriate behaviours required in the workplace to meet the job profile and overall company objectives, such as:
- strong work ethic
- positive attitude
- team player
- dependability
- responsibility
- honesty
- integrity
- motivation
- commitment