SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate knowledge of personal safety and survival at sea 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
114923  Demonstrate knowledge of personal safety and survival at sea 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Transport and Logistics Operations 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 11 - Services Transport, Operations and Logistics 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 1  NQF Level 01 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is intended for those going to sea for the first time and who have little or no knowledge of maritime operations. It will be useful to people who wish to follow a career path within the small, medium and micro fishing industry and who commence employment at ordinary seaman level.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • demonstrate knowledge of basic safety and survival at sea
  • demonstrate knowledge of the purpose and functioning of safety equipment
  • carry out safety and survival operations at sea 

  • LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that the learner accessing this unit standard would have achieved the fundamental competencies of Language/Communication and Mathematics/Numeracy at ABET level 3. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    The following scope and context applies to the whole unit standard:
    The unit standard will typically serve to recognize learning in maritime familiarization and pre-sea training for small vessels.
    Such training is required by any person going to sea for the first time and existing fishers on vessels of less than 25 Gross Tons 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate knowledge of basic safety and survival at sea. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Types of emergencies are identified, and the description of actions appropriate to the particular emergency is accurate in terms of SAMSA regulations, and meets the required sequence of reporting and reaction. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Emergencies include: fire, collision, grounding, capsize, injury
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The importance of maintaining calm and presence of mind is explained in relation to personal safety, survival and well-being of others. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The dangers associated with substance abuse is explained in relation to personal well-being and safety, the safety of the team and vessel, and legal requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Substance abuse includes: alcohol, recreational drugs, inappropriate use of mind altering substances (example glue, cough syrups)
    dangers includes: personal incapacitation, inability to carry out duties safely.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The description of actions to take in the event of casualties on board is accurate in terms of the sequence and extent of actions to take before arrival of a qualified person, and complies with onboard safety policy and SAMSA codes. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Extent of activities includes: positioning the casualties, stemming bleeding, treat for hypothermia.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Terms used to identify and describe parts of the vessel, direction and items of equipment are accurate and comply with accepted nautical practice. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Terms include: IMO requirements: direction (example north, south, port, starboard, astern, abeam); parts of a boat (example gangway, bridge, heads); items of equipment, ropes and knots.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Hypothermia is accurately described in terms of its dangers to self and others, as well as cause and effects. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    The need to provide personal and voyage particulars to the skipper and/or competent shore-based personnel is explained in terms of legal obligations, vessel regulations and possible disasters at sea. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate knowledge of the purpose and functioning of safety equipment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Emergency equipment is accurately identified in terms of type, intended use and range of conditions for use. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Safety equipment includes: life jackets, life buoys, life rafts.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Lifejackets and/or flotation aids are confirmed to be operational, and are worn in accordance with their design and manufacturers' specifications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Types of fire extinguishers are accurately identified and described in terms of their purpose, operation and conditions for use. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Extinguishers include: water, foam, dry powder, CO2.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Visual distress signaling equipment is located on board, accurately identified and described in terms of its intended purpose and manner of operation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Distress signaling equipment includes: pyrotechnics, flags, day shapes
    Intended use includes: day and night use, emergency conditions, weather conditions.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Carry out safety and survival operations at sea. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Techniques for remaining afloat and/or moving in water under normal conditions, with and without flotation aids, are demonstrated in accordance with industry accepted standards and methods. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Methods include: treading water, paddling with hands, kicking, floating on back, proper use of flotation aids.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Fire extinguishers used are appropriate to the nature of the fire, and are used in accordance with their purpose, design and accepted fire-fighting practices. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Fire-fighting practices include: use of spray nozzles and jets, direction and placement of spray or jet.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Visual signaling equipment is used in at the appropriate times and in a manner consistent with design, purpose and SAMSA regulations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Actions taken in dealing with casualties are appropriate to the context, severity of the injury and own experience, and are carried out in a manner consistent with accepted first aid practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Actions to be taken for preventing the onset of hypothermia in the event of capsizing meet accepted first aid practices and vessel safety plans. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Actions to prevent hypothermia include: removing self from water (onto hull), warming (space blankets - capsize bottle).
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Personal particulars are accurate and are provided to the skipper before the voyage, in compliance with vessel regulations and legal obligations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Personal particulars include: name, identity number, next of kin and contact numbers.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Providers of learning towards this unit standard will need to meet the accreditation requirements of the relevant ETQA.

    Moderation Option

    The moderation requirements of the relevant ETQA must be met in order to award credit to learners for this unit standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The following essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge.

    This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate's performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard.
  • An emergency situation is identified and promotes the correct response.
  • Guidance in correct operation of equipment is provided in The Code of Safe Working Practices for Seamen. 

  • UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    The learner must be able to work effectively with others in executing basic safety and survival operations. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    The learner must be able to responsibly and effectively organise and manage his / her activities operations and equipment related to safety and survival at sea. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    The learner must be able to collect, analyse, organise and evaluate safety risks, equipment and survival operations at sea. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    The learner must be able to effectively communicate operations related to safety equipment and basic safety and survival. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Assessors should keep the following general principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.
  • Make sure that evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.
  • Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.
  • The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.
  • The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.
  • All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent.

    The following particular issues should be taken into consideration when assessing against this unit standard:
  • Evidence is required with regard to the candidate being medically fit.
  • The candidate must meet SAMSA's requirements for going to sea.
  • The importance of both safety and due care and consideration for the environment is to be kept in mind when assessing a candidate for this unit standard. 

  • REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Definition of Terms:

    Terms have been clarified as far as possible through the use of range statements. Further clarification of terms is provided as follows:

    SAMSA - South African Maritime Safety Authority.
    This body is responsible for issuing certificates of competence at all levels in terms of the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Regulations, 1999
    Issued by the Minister of Transport, under section 356 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951). GG 20772/RG 6707

    ISM: International Safety Management
    This refers to a safety management system stipulated by regulation of the International Maritime Organisation. (IMO)

    SOPEP: Ship Oil pollution Emergency Plan
    Pollution plan in place for a particular ship, as required by the marine pollution regulations (MARPOL) legislated by IMO.

    FFA: Fire fighting Appliances
    LSA: Life saving Appliances
    IOPP: International Oil Pollution Prevention
    MARPOL: Marine Pollution 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  50542   National Certificate: Small Craft Construction  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Registered" 
    2009-08-31  Was MERSETA until Last Date for Achievement 
    Elective  59300   General Education and Training Certificate: Transport  Level 1  NQF Level 01  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  TETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Dionysus Skills Development Initiative (Pty) Ltd 
    2. Learning Exchange Pty (Ltd) 
    3. Makwedeng Training 
    4. New Company FAT 
    5. NOSA LOGISTICS PTY LTD 
    6. Phephani Learnerships cc 
    7. Staffing Logistics 
    8. TEST 3_18 March 2019 



    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.