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: 

Direct damage control activities 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
244544  Direct damage control activities 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Maritime Defence 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Safety in Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  8 
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 will be useful for people who have completed warship safety management and bridge watch-keeping within a naval context, as well as warship operations management, and wish to progress to positions of command in a maritime surface warfare environment. This standard will give them the opportunity to develop and balance their practical skills with the essential knowledge needed to earn a formal qualification in Warship Command and Control.

More specifically, this unit standard will recognise the ability to direct damage control activities as part of the required competence for Warship Command.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Prepare damage control plans for a combat vessel.
  • Direct and monitor damage control activities.
  • Evaluate the command aim.
  • Evaluate damage control techniques and activities.
  • Debrief drills, simulations and incidents. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are competent in:
  • Watchkeeping.
  • Warfare operations management skills and knowledge.
  • Surface warfare command in the SAN. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria.

    The following scope and context applies to the whole unit standard:
  • Damage to the ship includes: fire, combat damage; collision, abandon ship.
  • Damage may have the following effects: injuries to personnel and passengers, water leakage due to loss of structural integrity, loss of power, necessity to abandon the ship.
  • Evaluation of damage control techniques focuses on the nature of damage and the effects on: operational effectiveness, response time, number and extent of injuries. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Prepare damage control plans for a combat vessel. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Pre-incident plans are comprehensive and cover all anticipated contexts relative to planned passage and/or mission. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Contexts include:
  • Damage resulting from heavy weather, navigational dangers; damage resulting from combat.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Pre-incident plans are prepared using the results of simulations designed to test the effectiveness of responses in a variety of situations, as well as the skills and experience of senior officers. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Experience may result from:
  • Routine inspections; observations of training evolutions; observation of simulation drills; sea-going experience; combat experience; reports from experience of others.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Plans are modified to eliminate deficiencies observed during simulations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Plans, and changes to plans, are communicated to appropriate persons in the chain of command, and reinforced through scheduled training evolutions. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Direct and monitor damage control activities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Responsibility to coordinate damage control techniques is delegated to competent officers, in accordance with standard operating procedures and SAN doctrine. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Competence includes:
  • Watchkeeping certificate; NBCD training; technical competence (engineering).
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Feedback on the progress of damage control activities is obtained and evaluated to ensure that damage to the ship and injury to personnel is minimised, and the operational effectiveness of the ship is maintained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Feedback includes:
  • Verbal, written and/or personal observation on the cause and extent of the damage to the vessel; number and extent of injuries to personnel.

    Operational effectiveness includes:
  • Fight, move, float in accordance with mission.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Personnel are allocated to damage control teams so that the teams possess the correct balance of skills for the actual or anticipated situation, and competent personnel are made available as required to cover losses of key personnel in teams. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Steps are taken to ensure that personnel allocated to first aid teams have the necessary competence to handle a wide variety of injuries. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Responsibility for emergency and temporary repairs is delegated to a competent officer, equipped to effect repairs to ensure the effective performance of the ship within the constraints of the situation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Repairs include:
  • Breaches, repair of damaged equipment; fire-fighting, flooding.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Priorities for damage control and/or repair are consistent with the command aim and are communicated clearly and concisely to the officers responsible for directing operations. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Evaluate the command aim. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Feedback on the propulsion and electrical systems is evaluated in terms of the anticipated power loss and/or downtime, and the consequent impact on the command aim. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Feedback on sensors and weapon availability is evaluated in terms of the anticipated reduction or loss of combat effectiveness, and the consequent impact on the command aim. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Priorities established for damage control and/or repair work are consistent with the command aim and the capacity required to achieve the aim. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Priorities established for damage control and/or repair work show regard for the availability of personnel, the skills available, and the availability of equipment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Evaluation of information and feedback results in responses appropriate to the current capacity of the vessel and the requirements for manoeuvrability and weapons delivery demanded by the command aim. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Responses include:
  • Engagement, limited engagement, withdrawal; abandon ship.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Evaluate damage control techniques and activities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Final reports on the outcomes of damage control techniques and activities are evaluated to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of techniques and strategies. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Activities are evaluated to confirm that they have been carried out effectively and as directed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Information is collected and collated from all personnel who have been involved in the incident. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Reports are prepared using the required report forms and in the format required by SAN procedures. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Debrief drills, simulations or incidents. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Debriefing sessions are conducted in a positive and constructive manner. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Participants involved in an incident, drill or simulation are debriefed in accordance with established naval debriefing procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Participants are debriefed to a degree, which minimises trauma or other similar effects. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Information relating to the drill, simulation or incident is disseminated via approved channels to assist with refinement of equipment, responses and procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Debriefs are conducted to validate and/or contribute to the development of effective training evolutions. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this unit standard must be accredit as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the ETQA's policies and guidelines for assessment and moderation.
  • Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments at exit points of the qualification, unless ETQA policies are specified otherwise. Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described both in individual unit standards as well as the integrated competence described in the qualification. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Embedded knowledge includes:
  • IMO Performance Standards.
  • SOLAS Convention, as amended.
  • STCW Convention, as amended.
  • Merchant Shipping Notices.
  • Marine Radar Performance Specifications.
  • Automatic Radar Plotting Aids Performance Specifications.
  • Reports of Courts of Marine Enquiry relevant to safe navigation.
  • Marine Accident Investigation Bureau reports relevant to safe navigation. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentations. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

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

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Notes to Assessors:

    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:

    Every candidate for certification shall:
  • Be required to demonstrate the competence to undertake, at operational level, the tasks, duties and responsibilities listed in the STCW Code (Table A-II/1).
  • At least hold an appropriate certificate for performing VHF radio-communications in accordance with the requirements of the Radio Regulations.
  • If designated to have primary responsibility for radio-communications during distress incidents, hold an appropriate certificate issued or recognised under the provisions of the Radio Regulations.

    In addition, every candidate for certification shall:
  • Be required to provide evidence of having achieved the required standard of competence in accordance with the methods for demonstrating competence and the criteria for evaluating competence tabulated in STCW Code (Table A-II/1).

    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:
  • Officer means a member of the crew, other than the Captain (or Master), designated as such by international law or regulations or, in the absence of such designation, by collective agreement or custom.
  • Deck officer means an officer qualified in accordance with the provisions of Chapter II of the STCW Convention.
  • Rating means a member of the ship's crew other than the Captain (or Master) or an officer.
  • STCW Code means the Seafarer's Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code as adopted by the 1995 Conference resolution 2, as it may be amended.
  • Seagoing service means service on board a ship relevant to the issue of a certificate or other qualification.
  • Standard of competence means the level of proficiency to be achieved for the proper performance of functions on board ship in accordance with the internationally agreed criteria.
  • Management level means the level of responsibility associated with:
    > Serving as captain (or master) or first officer on board a seagoing ship.
    > Ensuring that all functions within the designated area of responsibility are properly performed.
  • Operational level means:
    > Serving as officer in charge of a navigational watch on board a seagoing ship.
    > Maintaining direct control over the performance of all functions within the designated area of responsibility in accordance with proper procedures and under the direction of an individual serving in the management level for that area of responsibility.
  • Naval architecture means engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction and repair of marine vehicles.
  • Stability is normally broken into two classes: Intact and Damage:
    > Intact: The vessel is in normal operational configuration. The hull is not breached in any compartment. The vessel will be expected to meet various stability criteria such as GMt, area under the Gz curve, range of stability, trim, etc. while subjected to sustained winds, passenger heeling, manouvering, lifting, etc.
    > Damage: Based on the Worst Operating Condition the vessel is analytically damaged by opening various combinations of watertight compartments to the sea. The vessel will be expected to meet various stability criteria such as freeboard, trim, list, GMt, etc. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  58783   National Certificate: Warship Command and Control  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 


    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.
     
    NONE 


    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.